190 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



from the circumstance of the principal 

 hold of the lock itself being through the 

 grasp, where it necessarily tapers off, and 

 the long narrow plates do not make up 

 for the diminution of strength and solidity- 

 occasioned by boring through the stock 

 at this important point ; and, secondly, a 

 gun mounted in this way can never shoot 

 so sharply as on the usual plan, because, 

 from the peculiar construction of the 

 back-action lock, the hammer has a 

 greater distance to travel ere it falls on 

 the nipple, and it is consequently less 

 quick in its operation. The locks of a 

 gun, like wheel-horses in a mail, cannot 

 be too near their work. 



Notwithstanding the excellence of Mr. 

 John Manton's guns, and their superior 

 powers of carrying ball, I would earnestly 

 recommend the boar-shooter to arm him- 

 self with a rifle ; this is decidedly the 



