446 GAME LAWS. 



" Star" another communication on the subject ; which 

 will here follow, with some additions : 



" SIR, 



" As you did me the honour to publish my 

 last letter of the 12th ult., on the game laws, I beg 

 leave to propose an amendment in the act for the 

 punishment of trespass ; and, at the same time, to trans- 

 mit you a few more observations on the subject of the 

 game laws in general. I am," &c. 



TRESPASS. 



FIVE pounds PENALTY (open to mitigation) for one who goes, or 

 wilfully continues, on the land of another, after he has received either 

 a written notice, or a verbal notice in presence of a witness. One 

 half of this penalty to go to the collector of taxes for government, 

 and the other half to the poor of the parish wherein the offence is 

 committed. 



The defendant, if dissatisfied with the decision of the magistrates, 

 may refer his case to trial at the assizes, &c.; but, if he lose his 

 cause, he must pay the 51. in addition to the damages that may be 

 awarded by the jury j and, in this latter case, the 51. should go to 

 the plaintiff, in order to liquidate his costs, or any expense that 

 might have been incurred by the trouble which the defendant would 

 have given him. 



No compromise to be taken for this, or any other, penalty, unless 

 before, and with the consent of, magistrates. It should, of course, 

 however, be arranged so that information for the penalty of TRES- 

 PASS could be only laid by (or by order of) the person, or persons, 

 on whom that trespass was committed. 



By this means we can at once take a warrant against 

 the poacher, who, if a shrewd fellow, and master of his 

 business, would clear off half the game in a small 

 manor, before he might be detected in the very act of 

 poaching. All seizures, bloodshed, and danger, might 

 thus be almost wholly avoided. Only see him, even 



