Thecrimeforwhichmenweremaimedorkilledbytheseenginesortorn
　　fromtheirhomesbysummaryandheartlessjusticewas，itmustberemembered，
　　nocrimeatallintheeyesofthegreatmajorityoftheircountrymen。At
　　thistimethesaleofgamewasprohibitedundersternpenalties，andyet
　　everyrichmaninLondon，fromtheLordMayordownwards，entertainedhis
　　guestswithgamethathehadboughtfromapoulterer。Howhadthepoulterer
　　boughtit？Therewasnosecretaboutthebusiness。Itwasexplainedtotwo
　　SelectCommittees，thefirstoftheHouseofCommonsin1823，andthesecond
　　oftheHouseofLordsin1828，bypoultererswholivedbythesetransactions，
　　andbypoliceofficerswhodidnothingtointerferewiththem。DanielBishop，
　　forexample，oneofthechiefBowStreetofficers，describedthearrangements
　　totheCommitteein1823。52*
　　’CanyoustatetotheCommittee，howtheGameisbroughtfromthepoachers
　　uptoLondon，orothermarket？……Thepoachersgenerallymeetthecoachman
　　orguardsofthemailsorvans，anddeliverittothemaftertheyareout
　　ofatown，theydonotdeliveritinatown；thenitisbroughtuptoLondon，
　　sometimestotheiragents；butthecoachmenandguardsmostlyhavetheir
　　friendsinLondonwheretheyknowhowtodisposeofit，andtheyhavetheir
　　contractsmadeatsomuchabrace……Thereisnointermediatepersonbetween
　　thepoacherandthecoachmanorguardthatconveysitto。town？……Veryseldom；
　　generallytheheadofthegangpaystherestofthemen，andhesendsoff
　　theGame……WhenthegamearrivesinLondon，howisitdisposedof？……They
　　havetheiragents，thebookkeepersatmostoftheinns，theporterswhogo
　　outwiththecarts；anypersonstheyknowmaygoandgetwhatquantitythey
　　like，bysendinganorderadayortwobefore；therearegreatquantities
　　comeuptoLeadenhallandNewgatemarkets。’NobodyinLondonthoughtthe
　　worseofapoultererforbuyingpoachedgame；andnobodyinthecountrythought
　　anytheworseofthepoacherwhosuppliedit。AwitnessbeforetheCommittee
　　in1823saidthatinonevillagethewholeofthevillagewerepoachers，
　　’theconstableofthevillage，theshoemakerandotherinhabitantsofthe
　　village。’AnotherwitnessbeforetheLordsin1828saidthatoccupiersand
　　unqualifiedproprietorsagreedwiththelabourersinthinkingthatpoaching
　　wasaninnocentpractice。
　　ThosewhowishedtoreformtheGameLawsarguedthatifthesaleofgame
　　werelegalised，andiftheanomalousqualificationswereabolished，thepoacher’s
　　prizewouldbecomemuchlessvaluable，andthetemptationwouldbecorrespondingly
　　diminished……ThisviewwascorroboratedbytheevidencegiventotheSelect
　　Committees。Butallsuchproposalswerebitterlyattackedbythegreatmajority
　　ofgamepreservers。LordLondonderryurgedagainstthisreformin1827’that
　　itwoulddeprivethesportsmanofhishighestgratification……thepleasure
　　offishinghisfriendswithpresentsofgame：nobodywouldcareforapresent
　　whicheverybodycouldgive！’53*Othergamepreserversarguedthatitwas
　　sportthatmadetheEnglishgentlemensuchgoodofficers，onwhichtheEdinburgh
　　Reviewremarked：’ThehuntingwhichXenophonandCiceropraiseasthebest
　　disciplineforforminggreatgeneralsfromitsbeingwarinminiaturemust
　　havebeenveryunlikepheasantshooting。’54*LordDeerhurstdeclared，when
　　theproposalwasmadefourteenyearsearlier，thatthiswasnotthetime
　　todisgustresidentgentlemen。TheEnglisharistocracy，liketheFrench，
　　wouldonlyconsenttoliveinthecountryontheirownterms。Whenthesquires
　　threatenedtoturné；migré；sifanybodyelsewasallowedtokill
　　arabbit，orifapoacherwasnotputtoriskoflifeandlimb，SydneySmith
　　gaveananswerthatwouldhavescandalisedtheHouseofCommons，’Ifgentlemen
　　cannotbreathefreshairwithoutinjustice，letthemputrefyinCranbourne
　　Court。’
　　Butwhataboutthejusticeofthelawsagainstpoachers？Tomostmembers
　　ofParliamenttherewouldhavebeenanelementofparadoxinsuchaquestion。
　　FromthediscussionsonthesubjectoftheGameLawsamodernreadermight
　　supposethatpoacherswerenotmenoffleshandblood，butsomekindofvermin。
　　Therewereafewexceptions。In1782，whenCokeofNorfolk，actingatthe
　　instanceofthemagistratesofthatcounty，proposedtomaketheGameLaws
　　morestringent，Turner，thememberforYork，madeaspiritedreply；he’exclaimed
　　againstthoselawsascruelandoppressiveonthepoor：hesaiditwasa
　　shamethattheHouseshouldalwaysbeenactinglawsforthesafetyofgentlemen；
　　hewishedtheywouldmakeafewforthegoodofthepoor……Forhisown
　　part，hewasconvinced，thatifhehadbeenacommonman，hewouldhavebeen
　　apoacher，inspiteofallthelaws；andhewasequallysurethatthetoo
　　greatseverityofthelawswasthecausethatthenumberofpoachershad
　　increasedsomuch。’55*Fox29thApril1796protestedwithvigouragainst
　　themoralitythatcondemnedpoacherswithoutmercy，andcondonedallthe
　　vicesoftherich，buthe，withSheridan，Curwen，Romilly，andafewothers
　　wereaninfinitesimalminority。
　　Thearistocracyhadsetupacode，underwhichamanorboywhohadoffended
　　againstthelaws，buthaddonenothingforwhichanyofhisfellowsimputed
　　discredittohim，wassnatchedfromhishome，thrownintogaolwiththieves
　　andcriminals，andperhapsflungtotheothersideoftheworld，leaving
　　hisfamilyeithertogoupontheratesortopickupalivingbysuchdishonesties
　　astheycouldcontrive。Thislastpenaltyprobablymeantfinalseparation。
　　Mr。T。G。B。Estcourt，M。P。，statedinevidencebeforetheSelectCommittee
　　onSecondaryPunishmentsin183156*thatasmenwhohadbeentransported
　　werenotbroughtbackatthepublicexpense，theyscarcelyeverreturned，57*
　　thatagriculturallabourersspeciallydreadedtransportation，becauseit
　　meant’entireseparation’from’formerassociates，relations，andfriends，’
　　andthatsinceheandhisbrothermagistratesinWiltshirehadtakentotransporting
　　morefreely，committalshaddecreased。Thespecialmiserythattransportation
　　inflictedonmenofthisclassisillustratedinMarcusClarke’sfamousnovel，FortheTermofHisNaturalLife。Inthepassagedescribingthebarracoon
　　onthetransportship，Clarkethrowsonthescreenallthedifferenttypes
　　ofcharacter——forgers，housebreakers，cracksmen，footpads——pennedup
　　inthatpoisonousprison。’Thepoachergrimlythinkingofhissickwifeand
　　childrenwouldstartasthenight-houseruffianclappedhimontheshoulder
　　andbadehimwithacursetotakegoodheartandbeaman。’ReadersofMr。
　　Hudson’scharactersketchesofthemodernWiltshirelabourercanimagine
　　thescene。Totheladwhohadneverbeenoutsidehisownvillagesuchasociety
　　musthavebeenunspeakablyalienandterrible：aringofcallousandmocking
　　faces，hardened，bycrimeandwrongandbasepunishment，tomakebitterridicule
　　ofallthememoriesofhomeandboyhoodandinnocencethatweresurgingand
　　breakingroundhissimpleheart。
　　ThegrowingbrutalityoftheGameLaws，ifitisthechief，isnotthe
　　onlyillustrationoftheextenttowhichthepressureofpovertywasdriving
　　thelabourerstopressuponlawandorder，andthekindofmeasuresthat
　　therulingclasstooktoprotectitsproperty。Anotherillustrationisthe
　　MaliciousTrespassAct。
　　In1820ParliamentpassedanActwhichprovidedthatanypersonconvicted
　　beforeasingleJ。P。withinfourmonthsoftheactofdoinganymalicious
　　injurytoanybuilding，hedge，fence，tree，wood，orunderwoodwastopay
　　damagenotexceeding£；5，andifhewasunabletopaythesedamageshe
　　wastobesenttohardlabourinacommongaolorHouseofCorrectionfor
　　threemonths。ThelawbeforethepassingofthisActwasasitisto-day，
　　i。e。，theremedylayinanactionatlawagainstthetrespasser，andthe
　　trespasserundertheActofWilliamandMaryhadtopaydamages。TheAct
　　of1820waspassedwithoutanydebatethatisreportedinHansard，butit
　　isnotunreasonabletoassumethatitwasdemandedfortheprotectionof
　　enclosuresandgamepreserves。58*ThisActexemptedonesetofpersons
　　entirely，’personsengagedinhunting，andqualifiedpersonsinpursuitof
　　game。’Theseprivilegedgentlemencoulddoasmuchinjuryastheypleased。
　　Oneclauseprovidedthateverymaleoffenderundersixteenwhodidnot
　　paydamages，andallcostsandchargesandexpensesforthwith，mightbesent
　　bythemagistratetohardlabourintheHouseofCorrectionforsixweeks。
　　Thusachildwhobrokeaboughfromatreebytheroadsidemightbesent
　　bythemagistrate，whowouldinmanycasesbetheownerofthetree，tothe
　　HouseofCorrection，theretolearnthewaysofcriminalsatanagewhen
　　themagistrate’sownchildrenwereabouthalf-waythroughtheirluxurious
　　education。Thiswasnobrutumfulmen。Childrenweresenttoprisoningreat
　　numbers。59*Broughamsaidin1828：’TherewasaBillintroducedbythe
　　Rt。Hon。Gentlemanoppositeforextendingthepaymentofexpensesofwitnesses
　　andprosecutorsoutofthecountyrates。Itisnottobedoubtedthatit
　　hasgreatlyincreasedthenumberofCommitments，andhasbeenthecauseof
　　manypersonsbeingbroughttotrial，whooughttohavebeendischargedby
　　theMagistrates。Thehabitofcommitting，fromthisandothercauses，has
　　grievouslyincreasedeverywhereoflate，andespeciallyofboys。Eighteen
　　hundredandodd，manyofthemmerechildren，havebeencommittedintheWarwick
　　districtduringthelastsevenyears。’60*TheGovernoroftheHouseof
　　CorrectioninColdbathFields，givingevidencebeforetheCommitteeonSecondary
　　Punishmentsin1831，saidthathehadunderhischargeaboyoftenyears
　　oldwhohadbeeninprisoneighttimes。Capper，theSuperintendentofthe
　　ConvictEstablishment，toldthesameCommitteethatsomeoftheboyconvicts
　　weresoyoungthattheycouldscarcelyputontheirclothes，andthatthey
　　hadtobedressed。RichardPotter’sdiaryfor1813containsthis。entry。
　　’Oct。13——Iwasattendingtogiveevidenceagainstaman。Afterwards，
　　twoboys，JohnandThomasClough，aged12and10years，weretriedandfound
　　guiltyofstealingsomeIrishlinenoutofJosephThorley’swarehouseduring
　　thedinnerhour。TheChairmansentencedthemtosevenyears’transportation。
　　Onitsbeingpronounced，theMotherofthoseunfortunateboyscametothe
　　Bartoherchildren，andwiththemwasingreatagony，imploringmercyof
　　theBench。Withdifficultythechildrenwereremoved。Thescenewassohorrifying
　　Icouldremainnolongerincourt。’61*Parliamentputthesetremendous
　　weaponsintothehandsofmenwhobelievedinusingthem，whoadministered
　　thelawontheprinciplebywhichSirWilliamDyottregulatedhisconduct
　　asamagistrate，that’nothingbuttheterrorofhumansufferingcanavail
　　topreventcrime。’
　　Theclassthathad，inGoldsmith’swords，hunground’ourpaltriestpossessions
　　withgibbetts’neverdoubteditspowertodofulljusticetothehelpless
　　creatureswhotumbledintothenetofthelaw。Until1836amanaccusedof
　　afelonywasnotallowedtoemploycounseltomakehisdefenceintheCourt。
　　Hiscounselifhecouldaffordtohaveonecouldexamineandcross-examine
　　witnesses，andthatwasall；theprisoner，whateverhisconditionofmind，
　　orhisconditionofbody，hadtoanswerthespeechoftheprosecutingcounsel
　　himself。Inninecasesoutoftenhewasquiteanunlearnedman；hewasswept
　　intotheglareoftheCourtblinkingfromlongmonthsofimprisonmentin
　　darkcells；thecaseagainsthimwaswovenintoacompleteandperfectstory
　　bytheskilledfingersofalawyer，anditwaslefttothisrudeandilliterate
　　man，bytheaidofhisownmemoryandhisownimagination，hislifeonthe
　　razor’sedge，hismindbewilderedbyhisstrangeandterriblesurroundings，
　　topickthatstorytopieces，toexposewhatwasmereanddoubtfulinference，
　　toputadifferentcompletiononalongandtangledsetofevents，toshow
　　howaturnhereoraturnthereinthenarrativewouldchangeblackinto
　　whiteandapparentguiltintomanifestinnocence。SydneySmith，whoseopinions
　　ontheimportanceofgivingthepoorafairtrialwereasenlightenedas
　　hisopinionsontheirpropertreatmentinprisonwerebackward，hasdescribed
　　thescene。
　　’ItisamostaffectingmomentinaCourtofJustice，whentheevidencehas
　　allbeenheard，andtheJudgeaskstheprisonerwhathehastosayinhis
　　defence。Theprisonerwhohasbygreatexertions，perhapsofhisfriends
　　savedupmoneyenoughtoprocureCounsel，saystotheJudge“thathe
　　leaveshisdefencetohisCounsel。”WehaveoftenblushedforEnglish
　　humanitytohearthereply。“YourCounselcannotspeakforyou，you
　　mustspeakforyourself；“andthisisthereplygiventoapoorgirl
　　ofeighteen——toaforeigner——toadeafman——toastammerer——tothe
　　sicktothefeeble——totheold——tothemostabjectandignorantofhuman
　　beings！……Howoftenhaveweseenapoorwretch，strugglingagainsttheagonies
　　ofhisspirit，andtherudenessofhisconceptions，andhisaweofbetter-dressed
　　menandbetter-taughtmen，andtheshamewhichtheaccusationhasbrought
　　uponhishead，andthesightofhisparentsandchildrengazingathimin
　　theCourt，forthelasttimeperhaps，andafteralongabsence！’62*