2G4 THE POACHING FRATERNITY. 



all classes of Her Majesty's liege subjects, and the 

 ignorant hands in which they are continually to be 

 found, that accidents of this kind are not multi- 

 plied fifty-fold. Where one gun was in use fifty 

 years ago, there are now at least thirty. This is, 

 of course, all the better for the trade ; and when 

 the French land on our shores there ought to be 

 no lack of sharp-shooters, though I much question 

 if our poaching vagabonds would relish trying 

 their hands at any larger game than hares, phea- 

 sants, or partridges. In my time, I have become 

 acquainted with many of the poaching fraternity, 

 but never yet met with any of their profession 

 who could be called a brave man. The same may 

 be said, perhaps, of the general breakers of the law 

 in other respects, — '' Conscience makes cowards of 

 us all." Poachers, however, when in a body toge- 

 ther, and allowed time for deliberation, do often 

 commit cowardly and brutal attacks upon the 

 keepers and their watchers, when they have supe- 

 riority in numbers. Shice the sale of game has 

 become legalised, there is now little excuse for 

 poaching, as the market is constantly supplied 

 from the large game preserves, and by our hattue 

 men, whose bloody exploits are so pompously 

 paraded in print. Slaying whole hecatombs of 

 hares, pheasants, and other game, with the sole 



