268 



THE GAME LAWS. 



ready alluded to. If to this were added something more equitable 

 or more satisfactory, in regard to qualification, I have no hesi- 

 tation in declaring my firm conviction, that poaching would 

 nearly, if not altogether, cease. At the same time, far from re- 

 ducing the price of the certificate, I would have it increased. It 

 is a good and legitimate source of revenue : it is, in fact, a 

 oluntary tax, and therefore in the eye of reason and justice, ap- 

 pears unexceptionable. 



Admitting, then, for the sake of argument, that the measures 

 just proposed would answer the end in view, it is but fair that 

 we should examine the other side of the question, in order to see 

 how far such regulations would affect what have been hitherto 

 considered as the peculiar privileges of the great and wealthy 

 classes of society. In the first place, I conceive, it will be readily 

 admitted, that game, under such circumstances, would abundantly 

 increase ; and while the regular market might be thus well sup- 

 plied, the noble and wealthy sportsman would experience an 

 increase rather than a diminution ; and, if economy were an ob- 

 ject, a considerable expense might be saved in keepers. The 

 law of trespass should remain precisely as it is at present it is 

 an excellent law ; and would operate, in the case I propose, as 

 it does at this moment, as a protection to the land-holder, and, 

 consequently, as a sufficient guard against the illegal destruction 

 of game. Landholders would still possess the right of granting 

 leases upon such specific conditions as might give satisfaction to 

 both parties ; as, at present, a clause is generally inserted re- 

 specting the game. Therefore, upon every view of the case, 

 while the proposed system would render game abundant, it would 

 not abridge, in the most remote degree, the amusements of the 

 higher orders : it would infringe no privilege ; and would, I have 

 no doubt, in a little time, effectually destroy the now-growing 

 evil of poaching. Moreover, most of those who give encourage- 

 ment to poaching, and which they now regard as no crime, could 



