Amongst the names of the licensed sportsmen for Yorkshire, we
find fifty -five with the word "Reverend " prefixed to them.—Sheffield Iris.
- Mr. Steele, a clergyman in Dr. Mocias's novel of Zeluco, being asked what could have induced him to take orders, as lie appeared utterly unqualified for the sacred calling, answered honestly, "My passion for shooting and hunting." How many buck-parsons of the present day, in real life, would have been dangling their legs from a high stool behind a desk in a counting-house, or poring over musty and profitable parchments, had not their " passion for shooting and hunting" called them to the church? We should not see any thing very criminal in a clergyman's partaking. in field sports, were it not for the collision with his parishioners which, Linder the game-laws, is almost certain to be the consequence of a passion for shooting. We have observed in country villages, that when the parson is a sportsman, he is almost always desirous of being a magistrate, in order those effectually to punish and put down poaching. He loses the character of a minister of mercy, in that of an officer of the law. The punishment he awards at Quar- toesessions is more severe than the culprit would receive at the Assizes. Hence the anxiety which is always observable among poachers to be tried by "my Lord Judge ;" and hence the reputa- tion of being a vindictive Justice, which the clerical magistrate rarely escapes from. Of course, tithes are paid grudgingly to such a man : his church is deserted for the meeting-house; and per- hops his horses are hamstrung, and his dogs shot. Surely the en- S)yment of the sports of the field is dearly purchased at this rate.
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