The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-24
WHOLE NO. 159.

city and nose could be engrafted upon the
agility of the Pointer, we should have all the
essentials of good dog.
Next in importance to the dog is the gun.
There are various species OF barrels in use,
the best of which are the twisted stub, wire
twisted and Damascus barrels. The first,
made of old horse shoe nails twisted together,
are said by English sportsmen to be the safest
and the best. The Damascus, however, are
in greater repute here most people, we pre-
sumo, being influenced by the same conside-
ration we are, their great beauty Thomas
Tyrer, Esq, gunsmith, &c. &c, Main street,
can furnish every variety and suit every taste,
as any one can see by looking into his adyer-
tisements or his store. A barrel five-eighihs
OF an inch in diameter, and from 26 to 30
inches in length, is the best adapted for birds
Many experiments have been made to ascer-
tain the best length for fowling-piece, the
result Of which has proved that the length
above given is the best The old notion, that
the longer the barrel the farther and stronger
the shot will be thrown, has been wholly ex-
ploded; and on philosophical principles tested,
feet two inches will shoot fully as strong, if
not stronger than any other.
There is no more comparison between the
percussion and flint, than between the latter
and the oil match-locks, whether on the score
of expense, (he former requiring at least a
third less powder,) quickness, force and GER
tainty. A percussion gun, with waterproof
copper caps, is proof against all weather, and
if the lock and powder be good, never snaps
The dog and gun, and all necessary tack
ling provided, the sportsman takes the field
two hours by the sun on fine bracing morn
ing in October. The English season opens
on the lst September. The birds there come
to maturity sooner than with us. The best
time OF day to 60 out is between and |
o'clock in the morning. and from till night.
Partridges do not feed about noon--but retire
to some secluded spot, where they are not
easily found, and do not lie well for the APP
proach Of the dog. The sportsman, upon en-.
tering the field, loads his gun, having pre-
viously ascertained the exact quantity and the
due proportion Of powder to shot, which best
suits his piece. He rams both powder and
shot, particularly the latter, if he uses double
barrel gun.
To one who has practised enough to kill
every shot, there are few more interesting
moments than when beautiful pointer makes
a dead stand. In the language of the British
poet
"How beautiful he looks! with ou,stretch'd tail,
With head immoveably and eyes fast fixed,
One fore-leg raised and bent-the other firm,
Advancing forward, presses on the ground"
The gunner, if he be not so hackneyed in
the sport as to be insensible to its delights,
approaches with intense anxiety His heart
beats, his hand trembles, his eye-balls culver
in their sockets, he is not certain whether he
stands upon his head or feet. First love
scarcely yields bliss to surpass the rapture Of
that moment. The covey is sprung-he fires
and ten to one, but in his delirious and agi-
tated state, he misses every feather. But he
is compensated; he has had exquisite enjoy
ment, and hopes for more. But this excessive
eageness must be curbed; this nervous agi-
tation must be restrained, if the tyro would
ever make good shot. Not that we would
commend or covet degree of frigidity and
nonchalance, and consequent certainty in
shooting, which strips the sport Of all its fasci-
nation. An old sporting friend told us that he
had no fancy for these perfect shots, who 60
through the operation with the GOODNESS and
composure of an automaton. He had seen
many enjoy more pleasure in shooting and
missing, than these do in shooting and killing.
1t was nothing with them but cold-blooded
murder. But in hunting, as in politics, the
mere pleasure of the chase will not satisfy;
success, to some extent must perch upon our
banners, to console for past defeats, and in
spire hopes for future triumph. To this end,
some degree of composure must be command
ed; the hand must be firm and the eye steady,
however violent may be the throbbings of tho
heart; the exterior mus, be icy, though there
be a volcano within. To acquire this COM
posture of the eye and limb, is to become
good shot. An English writer, discoursing
on this subject, thus speaks:
"The secret of shooting may be easily ex-
planned, as it is comprised merely in GOODNESS
and elaboration these however are not so
easily attained as the superficial observer
might be led to suppose. A friend of mine,
who has followed this diversion forty years
still continues a very indifferent shot the
rise of the covey never fails to dissipate his
previous mental resolves, and he has nineteen
times out of twenty, the modification of seeing
the game 60 away untouched and it must be
observed that, to say nothing of his firing too
soon, he has contracted habit which forever
must preclude any thing like certainty in shoot
ing; no sooner does his finger touch the trig-
ger, than he shuts both his eyes! And yet,
though conscious Of this preposterous defect,
and aware that if bird fall from his gun, il is
merely the effect Of accident, should he be
in company, and happen to fire at the same
time as his companion, he will not fail to
claim the merit of having killed the bird; in
deed to judge from his conversation over the
bottle, stranger would suppose, that as a
shot, he was equal to Sir John Shelley. !
have seldom met with bad shot who was not
extremely anxious to be thought otherwise,