The Sun. — 1819-04-24 (London, England)

FOR THE SUN.  NEW GAME BILL.  MR. EDITOR—It has been presumed fratber too hastily 1 think) that when Game becomes propetty and saleable, it will soon become more abundant, that poaching will cease, and crime will be diminished. It has been said, that the penalties under the Game Laws are too severely dis• proportioned to the offence, and that their abolition is required by the laws of humanity and the rights of nature; but some of these opinions are so inconsistent in themselves, and others so contradictory, that they are tar from cart ying conviction with them. What have the rights of nature to do with mankind in a state of eivilization ? or why are they to be in force in this solitaty in,tanee, when in every other esie they are abridged ? In fact, it is a mere pretence. By the rights ef nature strength would prevail and would take what it pleased ; reservation and preservadon would he out of the question; and that it is a mere pretence, I appeal to the very first step proposed to be taken upon making Game property, viz. " that the penalties against the Poacher Most be made tremendously severe "* What then becomes of that boasted humanity? If the offence of poaching be made Felony, how will the crime be diminished ? Mitt it would be less frequently committed seems very much to be doubted, unless indeed it' happens (as I strongly suspect it • will) that the Game will he nearly extirpated, fur if the penalty upon the unqualified man for having Game in his possession shall be !aken away, the chief, if not the only safeguard, of its protection will he taken away with it. If pool ry cannot be kept but in a locked up hen-house within gunshot of the owner's chamber window, which is known to be the case, what chance of escape will the pheasant have that roosts on the exposed hazel ? It has not, like the speckled hen, Marks by which it can be known and sworn to, and the only means that will remain of detecting the offender, will be to catch him in the act of stealing it, which will be so difficult that gentlemen will no longer care to be at the great expence of preserving what others will so easily reap the benefit of, and where there are no preserves there is no Game. As to the laws of humanity, let the country gentlemen take care—nee ista illis me suetudo et miserieordia in miseriam venial. They plainly see that the advocates for the Bill cry down the penalties in the old law as too severe, and yet call them forth again with increased seventy in the new, making that a felony which was before only a penal offence, and this under an idea that it will diminish crime, as if tho,e supposed rights of nature would not still have the Same influence over the minds of men ; if those, who now go. out in armed gangs, with hill intent to commit murder, should occasion reqiiite it, would be deterred by the name of felony, and as if they would be less daring as their detection became more difficult..  It is understood, that Lords of Manors are stilt to depute Gamekeepers as before, but that every Farmer is to have ar right to kill Game on his own farm.' Now, it two persons go to the same purse, there will soon he a scramble for the con. tents. The Gamekeeper will shoot to the List bird, end the Farmer will some how or other retaliate at night on the Lord's demesne. A