preservation of 



HAVING said enough on the destruction, let me now 

 proceed to the preservation of game. 



A man, who, as a friend, had been hospitably enter- 

 tained, or, as a stranger, accommodated with a day's 

 shooting, would scarcely deserve the name of a gentle- 

 man, if he afterwards, clandestinely, set his foot on the 

 ground of one, to whom he was thus far indebted ; and 

 it is, therefore, extremely illiberal to infer, that a good 

 shot cannot sport like a gentleman ; or that, when in- 

 vited to shoot, he would destroy an unfair quantity of 

 game ; so far from it, a first-rate sportsman takes a pride 

 in showing mercy to what is in his power, and piques 

 himself upon strictly conforming to what he thinks 

 would please his host, and being called a " nice gentle- 

 man" by an honest gamekeeper. Not only this, but, 

 from being cool and steady, he has better nerves to 

 withstand all temptation, than a raw shot, who has 

 scarcely any command of himself on springing a for- 

 bidden bird. There are many 'squires, however, so 

 hoggishly tenacious of their game, that, in spite of all 

 reason, they continue their prejudice against a cracked 

 shot so far, as studiously to avoid his acquaintance ; be- 

 cause there are some greedy destroyers, who take an 

 unfair advantage of their own skill and their host's in- 

 dulgence; and, on the other hand, correct men, who 



