KANDOM THOUGHTS ON HUNTING. 285 



selves, their horse and a couple of hounds, devote 

 their days and nights to hunting. Their profits are 

 greater than accrue from the cultivation of the soil ; 

 and the freedom from restraint enjoyed in this kind 

 of life, is more congenial to their tempers. It is 

 too much to expect of this class of men to refrain 

 from "fire hunting," though forbidden by law. 

 Who can detect the offender? or who would 

 become informer, if the trespass was not com- 

 mitted by entering his own inclosure ? In a few 

 years, the game is destroyed, or driven off. OUT 

 hunter follows them to their new retreats, pitches 

 his tent, or builds his cabin in another quarter ; and 

 re-commences his career of destruction. 



The incessant hunting of their grounds by pro- 

 prietors, may lead to the same result ; but the sport? 

 in their hands, is not apt to be pursued so reck- 

 lessly, or carried to the extent of extermination ex- 

 cept when the overseer takes it up for the six months 

 during which the proprietor is absent. In this case, 

 the landholder soon finds that his grounds provide 

 him neither with amusement nor supplies. 



The right to hunt wild animals is held by the 

 great body of the people, whether landholders or 

 otherwise, as one of their franchises, which they 

 will indulge in at discretion ; and to all limitations 



on which, they submit with the worst possible 

 182 



