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there only that this uncertainty can be cor- 

 rected. I look upon your errors as having their 

 immediate, if not their only, foundation in some 

 habitually unskilful management of your piece 

 and of your person ; and it is in the drill alone 

 that you can hope to amend this, and to work 

 out your own reformation. It is not with a 

 bird on wing, that the mind is altogether at 

 leisure for the study of personal adjustments. 

 Let your gun stand by you in the corner, or 

 hang it up within your constant reach ; its flint 

 supplanted by a wooden driver, to save the 

 hammer ; and give yourself a lesson three or 

 four times a day, in the intervals of better occu- 

 pation. It is not the length of the lesson which 

 is the object; three or four minutes at a time 

 will be quite sufficient: it is by the frequent 

 repetition, that an improved method of handling 

 must be wrought into a habit. Here take the 

 alternate sweeps, and practise the diagonal, in 

 every direction; never omitting to " take form," 

 and to feel yourself " in balance," as directed : 

 here let the two methods of coming to the pre- 

 sent be learned, until the advancing and retreat- 

 ing step adapted to each, become instinctive 

 impulse. Lay aside the gun for weeks, and 

 again resume it : you will find it coming better 

 to shoulder. Repeat this until at length it gets 



