The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-21 00:00:00

GAME LAWS.

Mr. BLACKBURN presented a petition from the Sheriff awl
Grand Jury of Lancaster, praying the Rouse to direct their at-
tention to the Game Laws, which were at present in a very un•
finished state.

Lord LOWTHER thought the system adopted by the Lanca-
shire Gentlemen in defence of their game was truly reprehensible.
This was done by wholesale importation of gu' and ammu-
nition from Birmingham. It was nothing uncommon fttr par-
ties of gamekeepers and their assistants, to the number of
twenty, (and in many instances more) to parade the different
Preecrveth and, upon seeing a company of poachers, to fire upon
them as long as their ammunition lasted, and there were instances
of young men who had died from the effects of wounds received
in these skirmishes, in the different hospitals, without knowing
to whom they could attribtite their death. He, did not mean to
say that the fire was not in many instances returned from the party
thus attacked, and the sooner this system of murder and warfare
was put an end to, the better. Ile attributed this system of
poaching, to the avidity witb which the fruits of such predatory
excursions were sought after. Men could be found fouls enough
to risk their lives in such encounters at the hiee of 4id. per night.
The Petition was signed; he `pereeived, 'by the Grand Jury, the
major part (if not the whole) of whom were engaged in the nulli-
fier he had thus deecribed; in the defence of their game, and who
felt an anxious wish to have some measures devised which should
preserve their property without Tisking the lives of their fellow-
creatures. He heartily concurred in the prayer of the Petition,
and hoped the Hon. Member for Yorkshire would persevere in
bringing forward his plan of relief on this subject.
After a few observations from Mr S. WORTLEY,
Mr. B. WILBRAHAM role to make an observation,- which
went to exculpate in a great measure the Gentlemen of Lancas-
ter, against whom an insinuation had been made as to their man-
ner of defending their game from the attack* of poachers.—
There were many instances upon record, in which, when a party
of poachers to the number of 18 or 20 met a gamekeeper, they
instantly fired at him, and if not killed by this, they would at-
tack him with their guns, and so disable him, that it was a chance
if he recovered from the effects. This was just the reverse of
what
an Hon. Member had advanced, but it was no less true for
that. It was, therefore, with the intention of protecting the
lives of their servants, that these Gentlemen increased the number
of their gamekeeper', and provided them with' means of defence
and not offence.

After a slight conversation bet Ween Lord 11111..r0w and two
other Hon. Alembers, the petition was brought up and ordered to
be printed.
Colonel BAGWELL presented a Petition from the Earl of
Glengall against the extension of the Spring
.Gun Bill to
hnd.

Mr. CURTEIS assured the Hon. Member that as the action of

the Bill was never intended to extend to Iteiand, it was uselesS pe-
titioning against it.

CORN LAWS.

Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition, signed by 2,100 inha-
bitants of Todmorden, praying the House (as they bail, already
granted several beneficial measures relative to Foreign Trade) not
to relax in these beneficial measures, but to devise some alteration
of the present Corn Laws. —Or&red to be printed.