126 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



mingham, was summoned to attend a 

 board, or, more properly speaking, a com- 

 mittee, composed of some of the direc- 

 tors, in Leadenhall Street, respecting a 

 contract for guns, to be shipped to their 

 possessions in the East. The president 



of this committee was Captain M , 



who officiated also as spokesman to the 

 conclave, and, after some preliminary hig- 

 gling, as to price, &c., the contract was 

 agreed upon. As is customary on simi- 

 lar occasions, several patterns of guns and 

 fowling-pieces were produced before the 

 board, and, from amongst divers samples 

 handed to the contractor, one single- 

 barrelled gun, of foreign manufacture, 

 was selected as the ne plus ultra of per- 

 fection. 



Mr. W. D , the individual in ques- 

 tion, was, rather tauntingly, asked by 



Captain M , if he could make such a 



barrel as the one produced. A modest. 



