ailE THIEF A^■D I'OACHEU. 83 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE THIEF AND POACHER — PRESERVATION OF GAME. 



Characteristics of the Poacher — Poor Families not thankful for 

 Food, but prefer Money — Mischief of Indiscriminate Charity — 

 Giving Tracts, Anecdote — How to Treat Petitions — Vigilance 

 best tends to the Suppression of Crime — State of things at 

 Alderney Manor when I first took it — Preservation and Non- 

 Preservation— Stump Orators— Strikes— Fair Pvemuneration. 



Perhaps there is no subject on Avhicli so much 

 nonsense has been talked as on the above, nor 

 any m which so much false sympathy has been 

 set on foot, by way of screening a low villain 

 from the consequence of drur^kenness and crime. 



What used to be denominated '' poaching," is 

 now regarded by the law as '^ theft," for, the 

 moment game is killed by unqualified or uncer- 

 tificated persons — or, indeed, by any man, without 

 permission, on another man's land — it becomes 



private property. The fact of private property 



g2 



