GAME LAWS. 447 



with a spyglass, at any time on the forbidden ground 

 (so as to be able to swear to his person), and have a 

 warrant for him as a wilful trespasser *. By this means 

 also, the poor farmer, who has no money to go to law, 

 has some protection against infringement on his rights 

 by the man who tramples on him, from this very cir- 

 cumstance. But having no share in, and, therefore, 

 no profit on, the penalty, he has no temptation to take 

 any advantage merely for the sake of getting the %l. 10s. 

 himself. Any person thinking himself aggrieved should 

 have the law open to him ; and the risk of an extra 5/. 

 in such a case could be no object. 



For the second, and all future wilful trespasses, on that same person 

 to whom the offender had before been made to pay the 5L, to be not less 

 than 51. nor more than 50L, at the option of magistrates, 



Who should have a great extent of discretional power 



* I one day happened to be, for some time, in conversation with 

 one of the shrewdest fellows, and most finished poachers, that ever 

 lived ; who, after defying all his pursuers, has left off the trade, and 

 retired to a lawful business. He laughed at the game laws. I 

 then named to him the new laws, as lately proposed. He smiled, 

 and said, " that won't do." I next named what I before, as well as 

 what is here, suggested; as if another act contemplated by Parlia- 

 ment. He then put on a very serious face, and said, " Upon my 

 soul, sir, that's the only plan: that would properly do them. No 

 one would trust a man for 100/. ; but 5/. is no object to either a 

 buyer or even a poor man, if he has got plenty of friends under his 

 thumb ! A man, too, must be a poor hand to let people see him at 

 work; but if a gentleman could work him for a mere trespass, he 

 could not go to his ground to 'plant his men f before feeding 

 time." 



It absolutely requires a very old sportsman, who has discovered all 

 the secrets of poachers, to strike at the roots of this evil, and not legis- 

 lators, who are worthy of a better office. 



f Poachers' term for setting wires. 



