'ARMA VIRUMQUE CANO* 89 



down what I pretty well know, as we painters say, 

 ' from nature,' and what I do not know shall say 

 nothing about, and possibly my reader, if he be a 

 member of 'the public,' may never discover my 

 ignorance. Talking of the public, I have never yet 

 been able to discover who the public are. I think in 

 this country there is a public for everything. I know 

 there is one for partridge-shooting, just as I am con- 

 vinced there is one for organ-grinding, and just as I 

 belong to the one, so I am very sure I do not belong 

 to the other. Then, again, the shooting public, to 

 whom I am advised to appeal, is much divided. 

 There are, and always were since I can recollect, the 

 two classes of men to whom shooting is a pleasure, 

 but who look at.it from very different points of view ; 

 although with each the pursuit of game is a ruling 

 passion. They have only that instinct in common. 

 One man, whom I will call A., is the accomplished 

 driving shot, the fin de stick exponent of the modern 

 art of gunnery, or of the management of an im- 

 portant beat, shooting very brilliantly, and though 

 luxurious by habit, probably no faineant at other 

 vigorous sports and pastimes. He is armed with the 

 most beautiful pak of guns, his cartridges are loaded 

 with the utmost care and the best of powder, and he 

 has a well-trained servant to load for him. 



