SHOOTING. 211 



several pointers. The more humble pursuers of the chase seize 

 the opportunity offered to them by numerous extra stage coaches 

 of reaching their destination in time ; and thus by the eve of the 

 1 2th, every one is at his post, palpitating with the eager expecta- 

 tion of to-morrow's sport, and uttering the most fervent ejacula- 

 tions for fine weather. 



Grouse when sent to a distance should be packed air tight, 

 and not drawn. 



I am not aware that I can give those who have never visited 

 the moors a better idea of a grouse shooting excursion, than by 

 sketching one of my own visits to the moors : Myself and my 

 companion reached Bowes, a smalltown in Yorkshire, on the con- 

 fines of Durham, about three o'clock in the afternoon of the 12th 

 (this day falling on a Sunday, in 1821, and the shooting not 

 commencing till Monday) and having mounted ponies, provided 

 for the purpose, we left the high road, and, with but a slight 

 knowledge of the country, set out in search of a small village, 

 called Chapel in Weardale, in Westmorland. In order to reach 

 the point cTappui as soon as possible, by the advice of a rustic, 

 whom we met, we attempted to cross a considerable extent of 

 moorland : for this purpose, we followed a path pointed out to 

 us, and traced it for a considerable distance, till at length, it 

 dwindled into a sort of sheep-walk, and shortly afterwards van- 

 ished altogether. Still we kept onward in the direction that had 

 been pointed out, till, the lowering appearance of the horizon 

 threatening unfavourable weather, scarcely sufficient light remain- 

 ing to enable us to avoid the bogs which frequently obstructed 

 our progress. It was but an indifferent bridle road at best ; and 

 as we became enveloped in the dusk of the evening, we found 

 ourselves in the midst of boundless moorlands, dotted here and 

 there with lead mines, which we could but just discover by the 

 aid of the murky twilight; not a human being was to be seen 

 on this dreary waste. After wandering about for some time in 



