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　　ThesewerethemainActsforpunishingpoachersthatwerepassedduring

　　thelastphaseoftheancientr&eacute；gime。Howlargeaparttheyplayed

　　inEnglishlifemaybeimaginedfromafactmentionedbythedukeofRichmond

　　in1831。41*Inthethreeyearsbetween1827and1830oneinsevenofall

　　thecriminalconvictionsinthecountrywereconvictionsundertheGameCode。

　　Thenumberofpersonssoconvictedwas8502，manyofthembeingundereighteen。

　　Someofthemhadbeentransportedforlife，andsomeforsevenorfourteen

　　years。Insomeyearstheproportionwasstillhigher。42*Wemustremember，

　　too，whatkindofjudgeshadtriedmanyofthesemenandboys。’Thereis

　　notaworse-constitutedtribunalonthefaceoftheearth，’saidBrougham

　　in1828，’noteventhatoftheTurkishCadi，thanthatatwhichsummaryconvictions

　　ontheGameLawsconstantlytakeplace；Imeanabenchorabraceofsporting

　　justices。Iamfarfromsayingthat，onsuchsubjects，theyareactuated

　　bycorruptmotives；buttheyareundoubtedlyinstigatedbytheirabhorrence

　　ofthatcaputlupinum，thathostishumanigeneris，asanHonourableFriend

　　ofmineoncecalledhiminhisplace，thatferanaturae——apoacher。From

　　theirdecisionsonthosepoints，wheretheirpassionsarethemostlikely

　　tomisleadthem，noappealinrealityliestoamorecalmandunprejudiced

　　tribunal；for，unlesstheysetoutanymatterillegalonthefaceofthe

　　conviction，youremovetherecordinvain。’43*

　　Thecloserelationofthisgreatincreaseofcrimetothegeneraldistress

　　wasuniversallyrecognised。CobbetttellsusthatagentlemaninSurreyasked

　　ayoungman，whowascrackingstonesontheroadside，howhecouldliveupon

　　halfacrownaweek。’Idon’tliveuponit，’saidhe。’Howdoyoulivethen？’

　　’Why，’saidhe，’Ipoach：itisbettertobehangedthantobestarvedto

　　death。’44*Thisstoryreceivesillustrationafterillustrationintheevidence

　　takenbyParliamentaryCommittees。ThevisitingJusticesofthePrisonsin

　　Bedfordshirereportedin1827thatthegreatincreaseincommitments，and

　　particularlythenumberofcommitmentsforoffencesagainsttheGameLaws，

　　calledforaninquiry。Morethanathirdofthecommitmentsduringthelast

　　quarterhadbeenforsuchoffences。TheReportcontinues：——

　　’Inmanyparishesinthiscountythewagesgiventoyoungunmarriedagricultural

　　labourers，inthefullstrengthandvigouroflife，seldomexceed3s。or

　　3s。6d。aweek，paidtothem，generally，underthedescriptionofroundsmen，

　　bytheoverseersoutofthepoorrates；andoftenintheimmediatevicinity

　　ofthedwellingsofsuchhalf-starvedlabourersthereareabundantly-stocked

　　preservesofgame，inwhich，duringasinglenight，thesedissatisfiedyoung

　　mencanobtainarichbootybysnaringharesandtakingorkillingpheasants……

　　offenceswhichtheycannotbebroughttoacknowledgetobeanyviolation

　　ofprivateproperty。Detectiongenerallyleadstotheirimprisonment，and

　　imprisonmentintroducestheseyouthstofamiliaritywithcriminalsofother

　　descriptions，andthustheybecomerapidlyabandonedtounlawfulpursuits

　　andalifeofcrime。’45*Mr。Orridge，GovernoroftheGaolofBurySt。

　　Edmunds，gavetotheCommitteeonCommitmentsandConvictions46*thefollowing

　　figuresofprisonerscommittedtotheHouseofCorrectionforcertainyears：

　　Hestatedthatthegreatincreaseinthenumberofcommitmentsbeganin

　　theyear1815withthedepressionofagricultureandthegreatdearthof

　　employment：thatmenwereemployedontheroadsatverylowrates：thatthe

　　commitmentsundertheGameLawswhichin1810werefive，in1811four，and

　　in1812two，wereseventy-fivein1822，ayearofgreatagriculturaldistress，

　　sixtyin1823，sixty-onein1824，andseventy-onein1825。Somemenwere

　　poachersfromtheloveofsport，butthemajorityfromdistress。Mr。Pym，

　　amagistrateinCambridgeshire，andSirThomasBaring，amagistrateforHampshire，

　　gavesimilarevidenceastothecauseoftheincreaseofcrime，andparticularly

　　ofpoaching，inthesecounties。Mr。Bishop，aBowStreetofficer，whosebusiness

　　itwastomixwiththepoachersinpublic-housesandlearntheirsecrets，

　　toldtheCommitteeontheGameLawsin1823thattherehadnotbeenemployment

　　forthelabouringpoorinmostoftheplaceshehadvisited。Perhapsthe

　　mostgraphicpictureoftherelationofdistresstocrimeisgiveninapamphlet，ThoughtsandSuggestionsonthePresentConditionoftheCountry，

　　publishedin1830byMr。PotterMacqueen，lateM。P。forBedford。

　　’InJanuary1829，therewereninety-sixprisonersfortrialinBedford

　　Gaol，ofwhomseventy-sixwereable-bodiedmen，intheprimeoflife，and，

　　chiefly，ofgeneralgoodcharacter，whoweredriventocrimebysheerwant，

　　andwhowouldhavebeenvaluablesubjectshadtheybeenplacedinasituation，

　　where，bytheexerciseoftheirhealthandstrength，theycouldhaveearned

　　asubsistence。Therewereinthisnumbereighteenpoachers，awaitingtrial

　　forthecapitaloffenceofusingarmsinself-defencewhenattackedbygame-keepers；

　　oftheseeighteenmen，oneonlywasnotaparishpauper，andhewastheagent

　　oftheLondonpoulterers，who，passingundertheapparentvocationofarat-catcher，

　　paidthesepoorcreaturesmoreinonenightthantheycouldobtainfromthe

　　overseerforaweek’slabour。Iconversedwitheachofthesemensingly，

　　andmademinutesoftheirmodeoflife。ThetwofirstIwillmentionare

　　thetwobrothers，theLilleys，incustodyunderachargeoffiringonand

　　woundingakeeper，whoendeavouredtoapprehendthemwhilstpoaching。They

　　weretworemarkablyfineyoungmen，andveryrespectablyconnected。Theelder，

　　twenty-eightyearsofage，married，withtwosmallchildren。WhenIinquired

　　howhecouldlendhimselftosuchawretchedcourseoflife，thepoorfellow

　　replied：’Sir，Ihadapregnantwife，withoneinfantatherknee，andanother

　　atherbreast；Iwasanxioustoobtainwork，Iofferedmyselfinalldirections，

　　butwithoutsuccess；ifIwenttoadistance，Iwastoldtogobacktomy

　　parish，andwhenIdidso，Iwasallowed……What？Why，formyself，mybabes，

　　andmywife，inaconditionrequiringmorethancommonsupport，andunable

　　tolabour，Iwasallowed7s。aweekforall；forwhichIwasexpectedto

　　workontheroadsfromlighttodark，andtopaythreeguineasayearfor

　　thehovelwhichshelteredus。’Theotherbrother，agedtwenty-two，unmarried，

　　received6d。aday。Thesemenwerehangedatthespringassizes。Oftheothers，

　　tenweresinglemen，theiragesvaryingfromseventeentotwenty-seven。Many

　　hadneverbeeningaolbefore，andwereconsideredofgoodcharacter。Six

　　ofthemwereontheroadsat6d。perday。Twocouldnotobtaineventhis

　　pittance。Onehadbeenrefusedreliefonthegroundthathehadshortlyprevious

　　obtainedaprofitablepieceofjobwork，andonehadexistedon1s。6d。during

　　thefortnightbeforehejoinedtheganginquestion。Offivemarriedmen，

　　twowithwifeandtwochildrenreceived7s。，twowithwifeandonechild

　　6s。，andonewithwifeandfoursmallchildren11s。’47*

　　Ifwewishtoobtainacompletepictureofthesociallifeofthetime，

　　itisnotenoughtostudytheconstructionofthisvindictivecode。Wemust

　　rememberthatasortofcivilwarwasgoingonbetweenthelabourersand

　　thegamekeepers。ThewoodsinwhichTomJonesfoughthisgreatfightwith

　　ThwackumandBlifiltocovertheflightofMollySeagrimnowechoedona

　　stillandmoonlessnightwiththedinofadifferentsortofbattle：the

　　noiseofgunshotsandblowsfrombludgeons，andbrokencursesfrommenwho

　　knewthat，iftheyweretaken，theywouldneverseetheEnglishdawnrise

　　overtheirhomesagain：abattlewhichendedperhapsinthedeathorwounding

　　ofakeeperorpoacher，andthehangingortransportationofsomeofthe

　　favouriteDonQuixotesofthevillage。AwitnessbeforetheCommitteeon

　　theGameLawssaidthatthepoacherspreferredaquietnight。Crabbe，in

　　thepoacherpoemBookXXIofTalesoftheHallwhichhewroteat

　　thesuggestionofRomilly，takeswhatwouldseemtobethemoreprobable

　　viewthatpoacherslikedanoisynight：

　　’ItwasanightsuchbolddesirestomoveStrongwindsandwintrytorrentsfilledthegrove；

　　Thecracklingboughsthatintheforestfell，Thecawingrooks，thecur’saffrightedyell；

　　Thescenesabovethewood，thefloodsbelow，Weremix’d，andnonethesingiesoundcouldknow。

　　“Loudblowtheblasts。”theycried，“andcallusastheyblow。”’

　　Suchanencounterisputintocoldarithmeticinanofficialreturnlike

　　’AnaccountofthenineteenpersonscommittedtoWarwickGaolfortrial

　　attheLentAssizes1829forshootingandwoundingJohnSlinnatCombeFields

　　intheCountyofWarwickwhilstendeavouringtoapprehendthemfordestroying

　　gameinthenightwiththeresultthereof：——

　　Above14andunder20yearsofage11

　　Above20yearsofage8

　　Capitallyconvictedandrepreivedwith——

　　Transportationforlife7

　　Transportationfor14years9

　　ImprisonmentwithhardlabourinHouseofCorrectionfor2years1

　　AdmittedtoEvidence2

　　Sevenpeasantsexiledforlife，nineexiledforfourteenyears，andtwo

　　condemnedtotheworstexileofall。Inthatvillageatanyratetherewere

　　manyhomesthathadreasontorememberthedaywhenthepleasuresofthe

　　richbecamethemostsacredthinginEngland。

　　Butthewarfarewasnotconductedonlybythesemethods。Forthegentlemen

　　ofEngland，asforthegeniuswhofoughtMichaelandGabrielinthegreat

　　battleinthesixthbookofParadiseLost，sciencedidnotspread

　　herlightinvain。Therewasacertainjoyofadventureinanightskirmish，

　　andamanwhosawhiswifeandchildrenslowlystarving，towhomoneofthose

　　goldenbirdsthatwassleepingonitsperchtheothersideofthehedge，

　　nightafternight，tillthedaywhenitshouldpleasethesquiretosend

　　ashotthroughitspurplehead，meantcomfortandevenrichesforaweek，

　　wasnotverymuchafraidoftrustinghislifeandhisfreedomtohisquick

　　ear，hislightfoot，orattheworsthispowerfularm。Sothegamepreservers

　　inventedacoldandterribledemon：theystrewedtheirwoodswithspring

　　guns，thatdealtdeathwithoutwarning，deathwithouttheexcitementofbattle，

　　deaththatcouldcatchthenimblestasheslippedandscrambledthroughthe

　　hidingbracken。Themanwhofellinanaffrayfellfighting，hiscomrades

　　byhisside；itwasagrimanduncomfortedfatetogooutslowlyandalone，

　　lyingdesolateinthestainedbushes，beneaththeunheedingsky。Itisnot

　　clearwhenthesediabolicalengines，asLordHollandcalledthem，werefirst

　　introduced，buttheywereevidentlycommonby1817，whenCurwenmadeapassionate

　　protestintheHouseofCommons，anddeclared，’Betterthewholeraceof

　　gamewasextinctthanthatitshouldoweitspreservationtosuchcruelexpedients。’49*

　　FortunatelyforEnglandthespringguns，thoughtheyscatteredmurderand

　　wounds。freelyenoughPeelspokein1827of’dailyaccidentsandmisfortunes’，

　　didnotchoosetheirvictimswithsoniceaneyeasaJusticeofthePeace，

　　anditwasoftenagamekeeperorafarmservantwhowassuddenlytripped

　　upbythislurkingdeath。By1827thisstateofthingshadbecomesucha

　　scandalthatParliamentintervenedandpassedanAct，introducedintheLords

　　byLordSuffield，whohadmadeapreviousattemptin1825，tomakethesetting

　　ofspringgunsamisdemeanour。50*

　　TheBilldidnotpasswithoutconsiderableopposition。Tennyson，whointroduced

　　itintheCommons，declaredthatthefeudalnobilityinancientFrancehad

　　neverpossessedaprivilegecomparablewiththisrightofkillingandmaiming，

　　andhesaidthatthefactthatCokeofNorfolk51*andLordSuffield，both

　　largegamepreservers，refusedtoemploythemshowedthattheywerenotnecessary。

　　MembersofbothHousesofParliamentcomplainedbitterlyofthe’morbidsensibility’

　　thatinspiredtheproposal，andsomeofthemdefendedspringgunsasalabour-saving

　　machine，speakingofthemwiththeenthusiasmthatamanufacturermightbestow

　　ontheinventionofanArkwrightoraCrompton。OnememberoftheHouseof

　　Commons，aColonelFrench，opposedtheBillwiththeargumentthatthehonest

　　Englishcountrygentlemanformed’theverysubjectandessenceoftheEnglish

　　character，’whileLordEllenboroughopposeditintheotherHouseonthe

　　groundthatitwascontrarytotheprinciplesoftheEnglishlaw，whichgave

　　amanprotectionforhispropertyinproportiontothedifficultywithwhich

　　itcouldbedefendedbyordinarymeans。