THE GAME LAWS. 265 



wished to extend the liberty of the poor, and thus put a stop to 

 the present frightful system of poaching. According to his 

 plan, the farmer would be at liberty to breed game for the 

 market in the same manner as domestic poultry or rabbits, with- 

 out, however, restricting the land owners from making any 

 agreement they thought proper with their tenantry : hence the 

 great would be still enabled to preserve what quantity of game 

 they thought proper ; yet, as the proposition would evidently 

 annihilate that odious distinction of qualification, and in all pro- 

 bability render partridges as plentiful as common poultry, it was 

 not to be endured : and though neither the hostility of minis- 

 ters, nor any thing like sound argument, was urged against the 

 measure, it was lost, notwithstanding ; and an attempt made to 

 raise on its ruins the following " to authorise the sale of game 

 under certain restrictions : Lords of manors and gamekeepers 

 authorized by deputation to kill game, may sell game to licensed 

 persons. Justices may grant licences to certain persons, upon, 

 entering into a recognizance. Justices empowered to revoke 

 licences, upon proof of the conditions of the recognizance being 

 broken. Licensed persons selling game to affix a ticket to the 

 same, signed with his name. Persons obtaining certificates 

 under false pretences liable to penalties* Not to affect former 

 acts for the preservation of game." 



This, which went merely to enable great land owners to de- 

 rive a pecuniary profit from the sale of game, and increase per- 

 haps the grievance complained of, did not pass into a law, owing, 

 however, more to the late period of the session at which it was 

 introduced, than to any intention of the proposers; and even 



when, for this reason, it was reluctantly abandoned, notice was 



given that it would again be brought before the House at the 



first convenient opportunity. 



There are many causes to which the great extent of poaching 



is to be attributed, and it will be necessary to glance at these 



