Lords Sitting of 20 February 1824

GAME LAWS.
Lord Suffield, not having been in the House yesterday when a noble earl called their lordships' attention to the Game Laws, wished now to say a few words on that subject. When the question as to altering the laws had formerly been agitated, it was alleged, that sufficient evidence for forming an opinion did not exist. He wished, therefore, to remind their lordships, that they had before them the report made to the House of Commons last session. That report had also been ordered to be printed for the use of their lordships House, and was accessible to them. However, when the bill for altering the game laws might come, as he expected it would, it was possible that some noble lord might even then insist that the evidence was not

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sufficient. In that case it would be but candid in any noble lord who might entertain such an opinion, to move for the appointment of a committee to hear further evidence. This would be the proper course for those to take who were not yet satisfied on the subject; but, if no proposition for the appointment of a committee should be brought forward, it would be most unfair, in the progress of the bill, to raise any objection on the ground of want of evidence. He agreed in opinion with the noble earl who addressed their lordships yesterday, that the legalizing of the sale of game would not diminish it; but, so enormous were the evils produced by the present system, that he would give his support to the proposed alteration, though its effect were to be to sweep every head of game from the face of the earth.