SHOOTING. 133 



proper distance ; and let those, who are not to be trusted 

 with both barrels cocked, get the gravitating stops, or 

 use a single gun. 



Since publishing the first edition of this work, I have 

 seen, on the plan here recommended, Jifteen double shots 

 at partridges fairly killed in succession, provided I may 

 be allowed to include one of the number which towered 

 and fell at so great a distance that it was never bagged. 

 It is, of course, not meant to include among these 

 doublets such birds as were sprung by the report of 

 one barrel, arid killed with the other. Shots of this 

 kind certainly intervened, as well as single ones at dif- 

 ferent sorts of game. The number altogether, killed 

 by the same person, in about five days, amounted to 

 sixty head, without one miss. 



As a further proof of the quickness with which two 

 barrels may be correctly fired, provided the gun is kept 

 to the shoulder, I shall mention an instance. Mr. Ford, 

 gamekeeper to the Earl of Portsmouth, and a man about 

 six feet six! laid his gun on the ground, of course with 

 both barrels cocked ; and, after throwing off two penny- 

 pieces himself, he took up his gun, and hit them both, 

 most handsomely, before either fell to the ground. He 

 requested me to try, with his gun, if I could do the 

 same. At first I failed, for want of being, what we 

 used to call at Eton, a good " shy ;" but, after Ford 

 had given me a few lessons in the throwing department, 

 I did it the first time (though, perhaps, more by luck 

 than skill), putting five shot in one, and six in the other ; 

 which led me to conclude that, by practice, this might 

 be reduced to about the same degree of certainty as other 

 quick double shots. As to a man with his gun in his 



