THE GAME LAWS. 269 



then view it in no other light than absolute robbery, and though 

 they might purchase game from a poacher with indifference, or 

 perhaps with delight, they would shudder at the idea of being 

 connected with professed thieves ! 



At present, poaching is by no means confined to the lower 

 orders ; for it is a certain fact, however difficult the proof might 

 be, that there are to be found in higher life, those who do not 

 hesitate to supply the market clandestinely with game. 



I am no enemy to the rich, nor would I encroach on the 

 rights of any class of men ; but I cannot help regarding the dis- 

 tinction in the qualification for killing game as most unjust 

 why, in the name of all that is reasonable, should the merchant 

 be debarred from the pleasures of the chase ? It is very well 

 known that the revenue arising from merchandize or moveable 

 property is far greater than that derived from land ; and there- 

 fore, since it pays more towards the support of government and 

 the protection of the country, why should it not entitle its pos- 

 sessor to the same privileges as the land-holder ? I do not mean 

 to say, that a merchant ought to have the privilege of entering 

 upon the grounds of any person without the consent of the 

 owner quite the contrary : property should and must be held 

 sacred, or anarchy will ensue. But as the matter stands at 

 present, an unqualified person is liable to be prosecuted, even 

 should he be sporting with the consent of the owner of the 

 ground, and in possession of a game certificate ! 



Many of these strict game preservers, though they may have 

 an immense extent of land, yet, if they find any of the neigh- 

 bouring land-holders indifferent as to the game, they volunteer 

 their services for what is called its preservation ; or, in other 

 words, they manifest the utmost anxiety to prevent a partridge 

 from falling into plebeian hands ; and while they rigorously en- 

 force the most odious part of the law against any of the inferior 



order who happens to do any thing more than look at the game-, 



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