i64 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
again, a sensible interval of time to ensue after the finger 
begins to press the trigger, before the load issues from the 
barrel, does it not seem evident, that were that interval 
sunk by placing the load at the muzzle, when bearing full 
on the object, that the discharge and effect must be so nearly 
simultaneous, as hardly to admit of a perceptible difference 
in time? Now, going upon the principle that I support, 
of ec keeping up the swing of the gun, in proportion to the 
flight of the bird,” and not altering its bearing upon it 
when pulling trigger, the load is always, as it were, kept at 
the muzzle of the gun. No time being lost in the passage 
of the contents from the breech or in pulling trigger, and 
allowing a certain lateral, in connexion with the forward 
force of the shot, and several feet for its spread, it appears 
almost impossible, with good cover or aim, for a bird ever 
to escape. The mode of shooting in advance, I am aware, 
is practised by many sportsmen, but it appears to be, as I 
before observed, the consequence of habit and confirmed 
prejudice, and, in a great measure, attributable to the fact 
of the swing of the gun being stopped at the time of pulling 
trigger, thereby rendering a certain allowance necessary. 
At best, it is but a very uncertain mode of shooting, and 
liable to too much discretionary exercise, which the ardour 
of the sportsman seldom admits of, and which can never be 
relied on in emergencies. Let I. T. S. but try the experi- 
ment of shooting on my plan, on his next excursion to the 
Chesapeake, and I feel assured he will never again resort to 
his own. I have conversed with many of our best shots on 
the subject, who all decidedly coincide with me in my 
views. I was much amused with the reply of an old 
sportsman, (a man who follows shooting for a living, and, 
than whom few better shots can be found,) to a question 
put to him, as to his mode of directing the gun. He had 
just come out of the marsh, covered with mud and mire, 
and with the best evidence of his success — a bag full of 
game. “ B.,” said I, “ were a duck to pass you at fifty or 
sixty yards distance, it is more than probable you could kill 
it.” “ I think so.” “ Tell me, now, in taking your aim, 
how much headway would you give; six inches or a foot?” 
“ Headway,” replied he smiling; “ why, as for that, I 
think I might kill it as soon by giving it a foot ahead as a 
foot behind.” 
The subject having now been viewed in all its different 
bearings, I am satisfied to leave it to sportsmen to pronounce 
on the merits of our respective modes; and, on closing, 
cannot but express my gratification at the courtesy and for- 
bearance which has been manifested by your correspondent 
throughout this discussion, and the candour with which he 
has admitted or acknowledged the correctness and force of 
my argument, when convinced in his mind of its truth. 
Count de Launay’s 
DESCRIPTION OF A FOX HUNT. 
Sir — B y my vord, Mr. Redacteur, I voud me much 
relate von vare great chasse I have me just vitnessed avec 
des chiens de Monsieur Craving, at the chateau Of mi Lor 
Chichester, von league from this ville. 
I vas me sitting at mine dejeun6 ce matin ven I view 
von gentlemans ride past upon a vite cheval, vit him a 
coleure de rouge coat on, and von long vip in him hand. 
Yat for dis gentleman coat ? ' I demande of de vaiter ; shall 
it be de king? “No, sare,” said he, “it be Monsieur 
Jacque Bunce going a honting.” — “ Vot him hunt?” said 
I. — “ De Fox,” said he. “Ah de Renard ! I have me 
moch heard of this hont de Renard in Angleterre ; I most 
me certainly go. I vill me get my pistolets tout suite.” — 
“You must have an orse,” said the vaiter. “Certaine- 
ment ! ” said I ; “ a vite orse same as Monsieur Bunce : ” 
but the stoopid vellow f got me von black, at vich I vas 
much enrage, as I thought I vood be ridicule, for I did me 
see another gentlemans on a vite orse same as Monsieur 
Bunce ; and de stoopid vellow brought von saddle sans 
chose pour les pistolets, and so being in moch hurry I did 
me pot them in mine surtout poche.” 
A great fracas vas at my behind, and ven I look me 
round I shall find von fine English lady attired in rouge 
and blue, gallop along de street in moch haste, and anoder 
gentlemans on anoder vite cheval same as Monsieur Bunce 
gallop vit her, and him had rouge on also. 
At de chateau vare many peoples had come, and a large 
flock of dogs, and two gentlemens in rouge habits and black 
bonnets, who vere grand chasseurs under Monsieur Crav- 
ing, de grand maitre de chiens. — “ Ou est votre mousquet ? 
vere is your musket ? ” said I to von of these gentlemens, 
but he touch him bonnet and said noting. Then com Mon- 
sieur Craving, and they both did de same to him. « How 
be de vind, George ? ” said he to the grossest von ; “ shall 
ve have moch scent to-day ? ” — “ De vind be in de East,” 
said George, “ but I think de scent may do .” — u Yill you 
accept som scent from me ? ” said I to George, offering 
him von flacon. “Be it gin?” said he. “No, not gin, 
but bouquet du Roi, vare fine scent, trois franc cinque sous 
per bouteille.” By my vord the stoopid dem vellow he 
did him drink de perfume, and then he spit it out. 
“ Ve shall go,” said Monsieur Craving ; and avay ve all 
vent in moch speed. “Vere de Renard ? vere de Renard ?” 
I demanded. “ Hold your jaw ! ” said von gentlemans in 
de bonnet, “ you vill make him steal away.” — “ Ah, him 
steal moch poulet, moch turque, n’est-ce-pas ? de same in 
France, de same in France ; him vare great voleur ; I shall 
him shoot, I shall him shoot ! ” 
I 
SPORTSMAN. 
