64 BREECH-LOADERS. 



in The Field, the Country Gentleman's News- 

 paper, of the 31st October, 1857, in which I 

 enumerated thirty advantages that breech-loaders 

 possess over ordinary muzzle-loading guns. 

 Little did I dream of " the hornets' nest " in 

 which this innovation placed me. I was attacked 

 on all sides, by gun-makers, book-makers, and 

 contumacious, pedantic old sportsmen, who all 

 declared forsooth, " that the Old Shekarry must 

 be demented to think of adopting French fads 

 and foreign gimcracks." However, that party 

 (whose motto is Frangas nonflectes) being some- 

 what remarkable for pertinacity in his opinions, 

 and inflexibility of purpose,* continued to dis- 

 seminate his doctrine in spite of the sarcastic 



* The Old Shekarry, when a very small boy, went with his 

 Maternal to have his bumps felt. The phrenologist, a quaint 

 old card, went on with his work in a very matter-of-fact style 

 until he came to a protuberance which seemed to puzzle him ; 

 he grunted, felt again, and then speaking to the boy who wrote 

 to his dictation, said : " No. 16. Firmness immoderately large," 

 (sotto voce to the Maternal), " amounting, I am afraid, madam, 

 to obstinacy." The old lady, who, up to that time, had enter- 

 tained doubts as to the truthfulness of phrenology, went home 

 quite a convert. 



