pouting. 



THIS amusement is generally condemned, as being 

 only an employment for fishermen, because it sometimes 

 interferes with ease and comfort ; and bucks (who shoot 

 as they hunt, merely for the sake of aping the Adonis 

 at breakfast, or recounting their sport over the bottle) 

 shiver at the idea of being posted, for hours, by the side 

 of a river, or anchored, half a night, among the chilling 

 winds in a creek. 



This, however, is only the actual service of the sport* 

 as it may, like all others, be enjoyed with moderation. 



The usual way of sallying forth, for this purpose, is 

 to drive to an inn on the coast, call the waiter, who 

 recommends an honest boatman, for whom the boots is 

 immediately despatched. On his arrival, he sees how 

 eager you are to set sail, fixes his price accordingly, 

 shows you thousands of birds, where he knows a boat 

 can never get at them, obliges you with a few of his 

 own killing, at double their value, and your day ends 

 with a ten pound bill, and, perhaps, bagging a couple 

 of sea gulls. 



If even there was a chance on the shore, or in a fen, 

 to see a flock of fowl well pitched ; send a gentleman- 

 sportsman after them, and he generally comes back 

 without a bird ; while a common fellow would get a 

 shot, and kill three or four. Why is this? The gentle- 



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