LETTER XIV. 147 



game, for the use of the landed proprietor and his friends. 

 Neither is the preservation of game, on liberal principles, 

 any nuisance. As all landed proprietors are not fox- 

 hunters, they require relaxation and amusement as well 

 as their neighbours, and, in the winter season, hunting 

 and shooting are the chief inducements to remain at 

 their country seats. A country gentleman, with a gene- 

 rous heart, may have as much game as he requires for 

 himself and neighbours at a very trifling expense, and 

 without supplying the county gaols with many inmates. 

 I never had more than one keeper for many years, and 

 there was always as much game as I required for the 

 house, and my neighbours as well ; and although the 

 parish was large in which I lived, there were very few 

 poachers in it. In the course of twenty years I do not 

 think I ever caused more than two or three offenders 

 against the Game Laws to be corrected ; and those were 

 incorrigible vagabonds — mauvais sujets in every respect. 

 The tenants on the property were never refused hares 

 or rabbits whenever they applied for them ; and when 

 game of any kind was shot on their land, a certain por- 

 tion was always left for them, so that they became inte- 

 rested in its preservation. Neither were the poor for- 

 gotten. If any man wanted a hare as a present he was 

 never refused, or a couple of rabbits for himself. In 

 covert shooting, men were employed instead of dogs for 

 beaters. At the close of the day, the rabbits were laid 

 out, and each man received according to his family, with 

 a shilling also for his day's work. In my shooting and 

 coursing expeditions, during the dead months, I was 

 never without attendants ; though not invited, they knew 

 they were not unwelcome, and they all shared in my good 



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