THE PEOPLE OISINHEPITED OF GAME, 3T 
sponge on these ladies. They no longer thrash the watchmen, but 
their lawful wives. I declare once again, that such infamy cannot 
last much longer. 
Still then another glory lost to France and to the chase. Glory 
lost, notwithstanding the benedictions of Heaven, which varied so 
richly the climates, influences, and productions of the soil of France, 
so that all the quadrupeds and birds of Europe should find a coun- 
try there. Vainly had God placed this horse country bordering 
on three seas, and in the center of the continent, to make it the 
chief resort of all migratory birds in their periodical migrations 
from north to south and back. In vain had God ordered the bus- 
tard, the snipe, the ortolan, the becafico, the quail, the thrush, 
and all the birds of the marshes and rivers of the north, to stop 
in France twice a year. The birds have obeyed, but despite their 
obedience the mass of the French people is still ignorant of the 
snipe, the ortolan, and the quail, as well, alas, as of simple butch- 
er’s meats, natural wine, and wheat bread. Government of my 
country, here is an ignorance for which you shall answer before 
God. Ah, it is a pity, on my honor, thus to see so many treasures 
wasted, and the civilizee does not deserve the providence of heaven ! 
The chase, alas 1 was long in France, as elsewhere, a feudal, 
warlike institution, destined to serve as the apprenticeship to hu- 
man butchery for the young males of the oppressor caste, and to 
provide their papas during peace with a genteel means of keeping 
their hands in. It is known that the favorite pastime of the Spar- 
tans, a people of caste, consisted in shooting the Helot. These 
Spartans were to the unfortunate inhabitants of Laconia, what the 
FTormans of England are to the Saxon and the Irish. The Spar- 
tans made their helots drunk to inspire in their children the disgust 
of drunkenness. 
The Normans imbruted the Irish and the Saxon, to render them 
more governable. It appears, from what I have heard in my 
classes, that the Spartan people was excessively virtuous, and ex- 
cessively moral, although not less distinguished by its love of rob- 
bery, its barbarity, and ferocity. I have never been able to endure 
it myself, either in version or in theme. I recollect that one of 
my few pleasures at college, where they were scarce, was to shoot 
4 
