WM. ALLAN.
Sunderland.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] "Love" here means the Chief.
THE GAME LAWS.
[The conductors of the Celtic Magazine in their prospectus, and in their first number, state that "they will at all times be ready to receive contributions from both sides on any question connected with the Highlands, and of interest to Highlanders." In whatever light the subject of the following remarks may be viewed, it will readily be admitted that it has an interest for Highlanders sufficient to entitle it to temperate discussion in these pages]:—
The Game Laws in Scotland, as our readers are aware, consist chiefly of various statutes designed to secure to landed proprietors what the common law, while it leaves them without the means of effectually securing, declares them entitled to, the exclusive possession and use of their land. The common law maxim, that an owner is entitled to the sole enjoyment of his own ground, the legislature has practically given effect to from time to time by passing various enactments pointing to that end. These somewhat numerous statutes are almost identical in effect in the three kingdoms, to which some of them extend; nor does the common law throughout materially vary. It is not our intention, however, to emulate Sir Roger de Coverley, whose explanations of the Game Acts used to gain great applause at quarter sessions, by entering upon a minute analysis of them here. We mean to confine ourselves simply to a critical examination of the various attacks to which they have been subjected, and an endeavour to make a brief and impartial survey of their effect on the prosperity of the Highlands.