GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 251 



different battles which have taken place between 

 them and the gamekeepers. Amongst a number of 

 instances, I will beg leave to relate one which occurred 

 on the estate of Edward Wilbraham Beetle, Esq., at 

 Lathom, in Lancashire, on^the 1st of January, 1809, 

 attended with circumstances peculiarly distressing. 



On the night of the day above mentioned, a far- 

 mer in the neighbourhood, having been disturbed by 

 the firing of a gun, rose from his bed, dressed him- 

 self, and proceeded towards the place where the re- 

 port of the gun had led him to believe there were 

 poachers. He was not deceived, for he saw several; 

 and, uriperceived by them, made the best of his way 

 to inform Mr. Bootless gamekeeper of the circum- 

 stance ; when, calling two others to their assistance, 

 they went immediately (armed) in search of the 

 poachers. They found them ten or twelve in num- 

 ber, and were foolish enough to attack them. The 

 consequence was, the poachers instantly shot one 

 dead, severely wounded another, and, had they been 

 further molested, no doubt would have killed the 

 whole. But it appears they acted merely on the de- 

 fensive; for, on the keeper and his party abstaining 

 from farther assault, they walked quietly away. 



The ill-fated being, who thus lost his life, left a 

 widow and four or five small children to lament his 

 untimely fate. He was a poor man, and lived with his 

 family in a small lodge at one of the gates of Mr. 

 Bootle's park. 



After a considerable time had elapsed (a large re* 



