ON THE GAME LAWS, SHOOTING, &c.

BY CECIL.

(Continued.)

The great improvements which have been presented to the public by different artistes in the manufactory of guns, afford ample scope for the most fastidious to select from. The London makers, unquestionably, excel in this important article, inasmuch as their locks are superior, and the finish of the whole is more elaborately executed; but, having said that much, I cannot go farther. There are many gunmakers in Birmingham who can turn out guns in other respects equally useful-that is to say, they are equally safe, and will do equal execution. Still there is a finish about a London gun from a firstrate maker, which decidedly supersedes all others: it is like the dress of a fashionable woman, who procures every article from the most celebrated dressmakers, and who doubtless will, in that respect, eclipse her companions who provide themselves through the medium of country purveyors. The same comparison is applicable in both cases if a lady, regardless of expense, desires to adorn her person, and add to her charms in the highest degree, she must resort to the great emporium, London, for the purpose; and so it is with the gun. Those knights of the trigger who determine upon having a most perfect specimen must seek for it from a London maker, and they must pay for it accordingly-in fact, it is the finish that causes most of the additional expense. A very good gun may be obtained in Birmingham at a cost of twelve or fifteen pounds; whereas a London maker will charge twenty-five or thirty for one not intrinsically better, but more exquisitely got up. It may be observed, how can so great a difference arise as to make so large an addition to the charge? The observation is answered thus: A good mechanic in the gun trade obtains great wages in town; and those makers who have attained celebrity profit by their "good names," and charge accordingly. It therefore remains to be determined, is the user of the gun an economist, or is he a connoisseur? If the former, he must seek Birmingham for the purchase of his object; if the latter, he must go to London. The greater part of the gun-barrels are made in Birmingham, some which are for the London trade being forwarded in a partially finished state, and very many are quite finished before they are sent to the great city; the latter are generally sold at a moderate price, unless by those of the trade who, not over-scrupulous, pass them off as of genuine London manufacture, at the highest price. When it is observed that Mr. Westley Richards, one of the most celebrated gunmakers in London, carried on his business for several years in Birmingham, where he acquired a great portion of his present renown, it is a convincing proof that very excellent guns may be procured at the latter place. Some years since I was in the habit of seeing many

of them, and they did great execution. Mr. Richards, no doubt, acted a judicious part in opening an establishment in London, as it gave a degree of importance to his name; for I have no hesitation in believing that many persons would readily give ten guineas more for a gun out of his London shop than for the selfsame article out of the manufactory at Birmingham, so strong is the prejudice that exists in the human breast.

So much has from time to time been written on the subject of handling fowling-pieces, that, if it were to be collected together, it would from a large volume; but so little attention is paid to the admonition, that we have daily instances of accidents occurring from the neglect of due caution. It therefore appears useless to enlarge upon it; and, although so much has been laid before the public, the whole may be combined in a few precepts, the first and most important of which is, never, on any occasion, to present the muzzle of a gun, whether loaded or not, either towards the person of any human being or towards yourself; the second, to be very careful that, in loading, the hammer of the lock is at half-cock. The barrel about to be loaded should have the copper cap adjusted to the nipple previously to the powder being rammed down, to prevent any escaping-an event which a tight wadding will sometimes cause. An undeviating rule should, on all occasions, be established of discharging the piece before it is brought into the house: it is a means of preventing accidents in more ways than one, as it obviates the possibility of an accidental discharge in the house, and, moreover, the slightest moisture absorbed by the powder will corrode the inside of the barrel, and render it more likely to burst. This is a consideration that should never be lost sight of. Early impressions are generally very strong ones; and a circumstance occurred to me when a boy which has ever since operated upon my mind. I was shooting at sea-gulls between Brighton and Shoreham, and, reclining on the beach, close to the water's edge, watching the movements of several gulls far out of reach, and more intent upon them than the rising of the tide, when a wave threw its surf so far as to wet my single-barrel (the first I ever possessed). I wiped the outside-in fact, not conceiving the saltwater had found its way into the barrel, and, not obtaining a shot, went home and put the gun away for two or three days. Before using it again, I took the precaution--a fortunate one, no doubt-of drawing the charge, and proceeded to wash the barrel. I soon discovered the injury which it had sustained, and, upon consulting with a gunmaker, was recommended to have the barrel fresh bored or polished, in order to get rid of the corrosion that was formed. I did so; but it never afterwards shot so strongly or correctly. That might arise from want of skill in the operation; but it cost me a guinea, which was a strong draw on my exchequer in those days; and my gun was seriously injured into the bargain. But I profited by the lesson, and have ever since made a point of discharging my gun or withdrawing both shot and powder before putting it away, and almost invariably wash the barrels-in fact, always, if they have been discharged half-a-dozen times-a precaution very requisite, if the gun be not used again for several days.

B B

The keeping of a gun in nice order requires a little attention. I must confess I do not like to see one knocked about; bruises and injuries inflicted upon the stock, and rust and filth upon the barrels, create unsightly appearances, which are easily avoided with a little care. Some men will do more injury to the appearance of a gun in one week than others in a whole season; and I am not aware that the careless part of the community do more execution than those who are more particular-in fact, generally the reverse.

The selection of a gun is in some measure a matter of taste and, to a certain degree, of habit; the length of the user's neck will determine the requisite bend of the stock: a short-necked man will prefer that which is straighter than a long-necked individual. Some consider lightness to be a sine quâ non; for my own part, I never was partial to light guns: there must be greater probability of their bursting, and, if a man be apprehensive of that, he never can shoot well. Loss of confidence is a great impediment to success on such occasions; besides which, as men go out to shoot for their amusement, any cricumstance that influences their feelings of perfect personal safety must, of course, diminish the pleasure. The length of barrel is considerably reduced, to what it was formerly the custom to use, and, I think, with great consistency. It has the effect of more metal being used in the breach-the part from whence danger of bursting emanateswithout having additional weight to carry at a part where it is not requisite. From two feet four inches to two feet six is quite long enough, and I should generally prefer the shorter length of the two. Some persons conceive that so good an aim cannot be obtained with a short as with a long barrel; but I must confess I never found it so: and the facility with which a short barrel can be handled, in my opinion, exceeds any trifling drawback which can be adduced on the correctness of aim obtained by a longer barrel, even if such an advantage does exist.

A very great reformation has taken place, within a few years, in the size of the shot now used. It was formerly considered requisite to increase the size of the shot as the season advanced, but experience has determined that small shot is at all seasons the most effectual; and when this matter is carefully considered, I have no hesitation in declaring that theory will dictate the same position: for example, if you shoot at a partridge, or any other game, at a distance of thirty-five yards, a given portion of the shot strikes the bird-say five of the larger sized; if you use smaller shot, the probability is that a greater number will hit him, something about the proportion of seven. The chances are, that none of the shot may hit him in a vital part; thus, with the large, there are five chances for that event, but with smaller there are seven: it is consequently seven to five in favour of small against large shot, and there is very little difference, if any, in the force with which shot is propelled to those distances at which game can reasonably be expected to be brought down. I am quite convinced that more game may be wounded, without being bagged, with large than with small shot. Humanity, therefore, steps forward in favour of the small.

The patent cartridges are so well known-their efficiency at long shots, and their imperfections at close ones, so thoroughly established

-that it appears to be quite useless to occupy time and space with the subject.

So many different descriptions of wadding, many of which are very excellent in their way, have been offered to the sporting world by gunmakers and others, who have turned their attention to such inventions, that a man must be fastidious who cannot find something to please his fancy. The metallic waddings were thought much of when first introduced; but their constant use is said to injure the barrels this may be true; but one used occasionally over the powder is an excellent remedy to prevent the barrel from fouling; and I must confess I am an advocate for a thin wadding between the powder and shot: this is a matter of opinion; but it is certainly reasonable to infer that, the nearer the shot is to the power of explosion when the powder ignites, the more correct and certain the effect will be.

Copper caps become the next subject for consideration, and one of no little importance. Many trumpery, wretched things of this kind have been imported from France, where they are made of very thin metal, and without any slit or section at the sides; consequently the explosion of the fulminating powder blows them all to pieces, and thus the eyes of the shooter are endangered: they are sold at a very low price; but what is the saving of a few shillings, in the course of a season, compared with the risk of losing an eye? One of the most extensive percussion-cap manufactories in England is that of Mr. Walker, at Birmingham, where they are finished with great care and attention; their superiority has induced persons to get up spurious imitations. When individuals have bestowed a great portion of time and expenditure of capital, not only in trying experiments, but also in protecting the fruits of their ingenuity and labour by a patent, it is a most unprincipled act for others to attempt to rob them of their profits; and yet how commonly is this done! The man who purchases an estate, or he who rents a farm, would not permit his neighbour to depasture his cattle and sheep on the property; and it is just as unreasonable and unjust to infringe upon a patent. The paltry resources that are daily practised in copying inventions, so nearly as to give the spurious article so near a resemblance to that which is protected, though in general at the loss of some very essential portion of the invention, but yet so varying as to steer clear of the specification, is one of the most nefarious robberies that can be perpetrated; and it is to be regretted, when such cases are proved to be infringements, that the culpable parties cannot be brought to account under the criminal laws. If a poor hungry wretch steals a loaf of bread, he is severely punished; while an affluent manufacturer robs his brother trader of the profits arising from the ingenuity, labour, and capital of the latter with impunity. Very few inventions have stood the ordeal of the patent copper cap in question; it has withstood them all; the demand exceeds that of any other for articles of the kind; therefore nothing more need to be added in recommendation of Walker's percussion caps.

(To be continued)

SCENERY OF THE RIVER WYE.

The Wye has been often celebrated for the extremely picturesque and diversified scenery which adorns its meandering channel. Rising near the summit of Plinlimmon hills, in Montgomeryshire, called by the Welsh, Plynhymmich. It flows betweeen the counties of Brecknock and Radnor, and enters Herefordshire two miles above Clifford, the reputed birth-place of the unfortunate Fair Rosamond. The first bridge over the Wye is at Rhayder, where the stream begins to increase by the various little rivulets which flow into it. There is a very remarkable waterfall here, where the water is stopped from its natural course, and forces its way over a precipice about seventy feet. There are three falls; the first about thirty feet, and the other two, twenty. Accommodation may be had at a little inn at Rhayder for any travellers who may be inclined to visit this truly grand village.

The next place worthy of observation is Builth, in Radnorshire. The Welsh used to have a strong-hold here in the time of Daniel Gam. It is a small town, the population being, in the last census, only 1134.

Fifteen miles south of Builth is Hay, commonly termed "The Welsh Hay," on the borders of Herefordshire, Radnor, and Brecknock. From this town various hills in Wales may be seen-videlicet, Brecknockshire, Beacon, The Black Mountains, Mirbrich Hill, &c., &c. Winding to the east, above Clifford Castle, the Wye glides beautifully between orchards, meadows, and corn fields, till it reaches the abrupt and commanding eminence of Mirbrich Hill. The bridge over the Wye at the Welsh Hay is composed of half wood, half stone; formerly it was all wood, till the frequent severe floods carried part away, and it was judged more advisable to rebuild it with a substance more likely to withstand the impetuous current of the river, which in spring, when the snow on the Welsh hills begins to melt, suddenly rises sometimes to twelve or fifteen feet in twenty-four hours. Great quantities of the banks are often carried away by these sudden floods. What is lost on the one side is, however, gained on the other. The ancient name of the Wye was Vaga, from its meandering The principal fish found in the Wye are salmon, trout, pike. lastsprings, graylings, and chub, besides perch, roach, dace, and gudgeon. The salmon have become more plentiful since the "Wye Fishing Association" has been formed for the suppression of illegal nets, and preventing salmon being killed within the fence months, viz., from October to March.

course.

Having passed round Mirbrich Hill, the river takes a less rapid course, and glides peacefully through Selton and Bredwardine, about