THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 261 



connected with the maintenance of fox-hunting, which, 

 I have asserted, is, so far as concerns general relaxation 

 from farming, and all other occupations, fraught, more 

 or less, with the cares of business — the last tie, the last 

 firm hold upon the country gentleman. — 



From the increase of population, and for some other 

 reasons, the resources of amusement have been, of late 

 years, drawn into a much narrower compass than here- 

 tofore ; without amusement in the country, it is not 

 surprising that many leave their homes either for the 

 varieties of touring, the diversions of the capital, or 

 the watering places. Shooting, which, in the interval 

 of the chase, was wont 



" To solace many a neiglibouring squire,'^ 



is now a dead letter, excepting in the domains of gran- 

 dees, protected by an army of keepers and watchers. 

 The last new Game Bill put the finishing stroke to the 

 preservation of game, on petty principalities. The shel- 

 tering roof of one " licensed dealer in game," covers the 

 whole multitude of crime committed by all the gangs 

 of poachers in the vicinity. Previous to this enactment, 

 some show of concealment was necessary ; some little de- 

 licacy was requisite in the disposal of the booty ; but now 

 all obstacles are removed, by a safe and sure asylum for 

 the spoil ; a premium is offered to successful theft ; the 

 perpetrator has only to escape detection in actual com- 

 mission. It is well known that these dealers consider 

 game, which is shot, scarcely worth their purchase ; 



