

SHOOTING. 237 



between the left elbow and left cheek, if the piece fires ever so 

 often by accident, can never do harm ; and from this position it 

 may be presented with more ease, expedition, and correctness, 

 fhan from any other. 



" Beware of the muzzle of the gun being kept hanging down- 

 wards ; when so carried, the shot is apt to force its way from 

 the powder, especially in clean barrels ; if it happen that a space 

 o r sixteen or eighteen inches is thus obtained, and the gun fired 

 with its point below the horizon, it is ten to one but the barrel 

 bursts. There are other perilous consequences besides those 

 that generally accompany the diruption of a barrel, for the men, 

 horses, and dogs, are in perpetual danger of being shot, when a 

 gun is carried in the beforementioned pendent manner. 



" In shooting with a stranger, who keeps his gun cocked, 

 and the muzzle usually pointed to the left, plead for the right 

 hand station, and that you cannot hit a bird flying to the left ; 

 with a gamekeeper, take the right hand without ceremony. In 

 getting over a fence, constantly endeavour to go last, notwith- 

 standing the usual assurance of ' My dear Sir, I am always re- 

 markably careful :" and if a person beats bushes with a cocked 

 gun, get out of his company as a shooter, with all possible 

 expedition. 



" Recollect, both in the house* and in the field, always to con- 



* At Dr. Bennet's, vicar of Chapel- en -le- Frith, a person in 1803 left 

 his gun loaded. A servant girl, unconscious of its being charged, pre- 

 sented it in a sportive manner at another girl, and instantly shot her dead. 

 The unintentional author of this accident was so affected that she has 

 remained in a melancholy state ever since. This is one selected out of 

 the too numerous and fatal effects from wantonly handling fire-arms : 

 and it ought to be recollected, that should any previous quarrel between 

 the parties be brought forward, the laws of the country may bring the 

 unhappy survivor to an ignominious end. 



Two recent instances, (which are mentioned with the wish of in- 

 creasing the caution necessary to be observed in all cases where fire-arms 



