of the Old World. 489 



the person of the loader; no mistake can be made, 

 such as putting two charges of powder or shot into 

 one barrel ; there is no chance of losing a hand by 

 pouring powder from a flask down the muzzle of a 

 gun recently discharged, in which, perhaps, a bit of 

 lighted tow, or, what is oftener the case, a small 

 piece of cork (got among the powder in opening the 

 canister) may remain an accident which may happen 

 to the most careful sportsman. Again, one is always 

 enabled to see clearly through the barrels, and can 

 be certain that no dirt or obstruction has got in, 

 which is a great advantage, as many people have 

 been injured by guns bursting from the muzzle being 

 accidentally plugged up with clay, which may have 

 got in whilst jumping a ditch, climbing pver a fence, 

 or stumbling in an uneven turnip-field, The sports- 

 man can never meet with an accident by loading one 

 barrel whilst the other is on full-cock, which the 

 ramming down of a wad or the catching of a twig 

 might cause to go off; and when game is abundant,- 

 in the hurry of reloading or the excitement of the 

 moment, accidents from this cause frequently occur: 

 also there is no danger of an unlucky cap flying 

 and endangering the eyesight not a very uncommon 

 occurrence. 



As to the pleasantness of shooting, both to self and 

 company, there can be no doubt; for what an ad- 

 vantage it is for sportsmen, when beating country, to 



