GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 255 



the remedy is not only simple, but attended with no 

 inconvenience : it is merely to remove the cause. 

 Take away the cause, and the effect will cease, is an 

 axiom no one will attempt to deny. The cause of 

 poaching arises almost solely from that rigour with 

 which the game laws are put in force by the gentle- 

 men of great landed property ; who indeed but too 

 frequently convert them into an engine of litigious 

 oppression. 1 do not mean to say this is the case with 

 all ; but I am inclined to believe the exceptions are 

 comparatively few. Even members of the British se- 

 nate, who complain of the encroachments of the 

 crown, and make long harangues in favour of the li- 

 berty of the people, are frequently found to manifest 

 much of the Norman spirit in respect to those ani- 

 mals denominated game ; which, as has been before 

 observed, can fairly and strictly be called the abso- 

 lute property of no one. 



Now, if by chance a gentleman (who is qualified, 

 and has taken out a certificate) happen to stray on one 

 of these preserved manors (and I believe few will now 

 be found which are not preserved), lie is immediately 

 assailed by the tenantry of such manor, or an inso- 

 lent gamekeeper, and ordered off, after having been 

 compelled to produce his certificate to an ignorant 

 fellow, who perhaps is scarcely able to read it. Nor 

 does it always stop here : if the lord of the manor 

 happen to be particularly ill-natured, an attorney re- 

 ceives orders to try the sportsman's qualification, 

 with the intention of ruining the latter, if possible, 



