SHOOTING. 



and with our heads reclined against one of these soli d, not downy, 

 pillows, we enjoyed a very comfortable nap. And here young 

 sportsmen should be cautioned against lying at full length, or 

 sleeping on the ground, unless it be uncommonly dry, as well as 

 against drinking cold water when heated to excess; it being 

 better to alleviate thirst with a little diluted spirit, or if the flask 

 should be prematurely exhausted, by washing or rinsing the 

 mouth at the first spring or rivulet. The most fatal consequen- 

 ces have often resulted from a disregard of these precautions. 

 Like giants refreshed, we sprung from our slumbers, and pur- 

 sued our sport till we could no longer distinguish the flight of a 

 bird ; better success than we expected to meet stimulated exertion 

 and left us no time to think of fatigue. As the evening closed 

 in, however, we sought our ponies in the valley below, and al- 

 though they were not more than several hundred yards off, we 

 could scarcely reach the spot from excessive fatigue. Arrived 

 at our homely inn, we made a hearty supper, took a cheerful 

 glass, talked over the day's sport, and threw ourselves into the 

 .arms of Mr. Morpheus, who strewed his poppies over us without 

 much solicitation. On demanding our account in the morning 

 from " mine host," we found that his name should have been 

 " Woodcock) by the length of his bill" his charges very much 

 resembling those of Peacock, at the London Tavern, although 

 the accommodations were of a very different description. 



The Bishop of Durham has a great extent of moor-land in 

 this part of the country, and is very liberal in giving permission 

 to sportsmen to range his mountains ; but, at the same time, his 

 hilly domain is overrun by the most audacious and determined 

 set of poachers to be found in any part of the kingdom ; who, 

 when pursued, seek protection in the bowels of the very moun- 

 tains on which they have committed their depredations. The 

 miners are, almost to a man, poachers ; and so desperate are 

 tljey, that the bishop's gamekeeper confessed to me that he was 



