SPORTSMEN, FARMERS, &C. 119 



given the mathematicians to square the 

 circle. 



Respecting locks. Every year some Respectin| 

 new trick is held out to induce us to be- 

 lieve that they make the guns shoot quicker. 

 A simple, plain lock, well made, with main- 

 spring and hammer-spring, acting with a 

 due and proper resistance to each other, 

 will go off quick enough for my use. I 

 have none of their new tricks and vagaries 

 to my locks, and I find them act quick and 

 well. One gun-maker bores a hole in the 

 lock here, another there, in another part : 

 both assure you that, from this, the gun 

 will be fired quicker, and that it is a won- 

 derful improvement ; for which they charge 

 you from three to five guineas extra. The 

 only wonderful improvement I know, that 

 they possess, is improving the price. 



I can affirm, that as good a double gun 

 can be made in London for about thirty- 

 four or thirty-six guineas, as a sportsman 

 can wish to shoot with : notv/ithstanding 

 this, many gentlemen give fifty to sixty-five 

 guineas for a double gun, v/hich will not 

 shoot better, nor kill one inch further than 



I 2 



