COURSING, ETC. 209 



it is that the grain be even and close, and as 

 free as possible from knots and burrs, which, 

 though they may add to the beauty of the 

 stock, seldom fail to take away its strength, 

 unless they are confined entirely to the but 

 part; as to the curvature, no particular de- 

 gree can be assigned as a standard ; different 

 persons requiring different degrees, according 

 to the length of their necks, and to the man* 

 ner in which they hold their heads whilst 

 taking aim; this therefore, as well as the 

 length of but, depends partly upon the cir- 

 cumstances just mentioned, but chiefly upon 

 the length of the arm, which can be deter- 

 mined with great accuracy by the gun-smith, 

 from his observing the manner that the shoot- 

 er presents his piece and takes his aim. 



With regard to the lock I have nothing 

 material to offer ; the genius and industry of 

 the English workmen having already brought 

 them to such a degree of elegance and per- 

 fection, that I have nothing further to hope 

 for or require. The real improvements are 

 T 3 



