The shooter discharged both barrels of his gun, in some cases with only the interval of a second or two, and immediately exchanged it for a loaded one. Rabbits fell in all directions. The warning cry of "Rabbit!" from the relentless keepers was heard continuously, and each cry was as quickly followed by the sharp crack of a gun--a pretty sure indication that the rabbit referred to had come to an untimely end, as the majority of the sportsmen were crack shots. Of course all this is quite natural to a sporting people who have learned to like the smell of gunpowder, sulphur, and gas-tar, better than that of violets and thyme. But, putting the baby-poisoning, pigeon-shooting, and rabbit-shooting of to-day in comparison with the pleasures of the German Madonna, and her simple company; and of Chaucer and his carolling company: and seeing that the present effect of peace upon earth, and well-pleasing in men, is that every nation now spends most of its income in machinery for shooting the best and bravest men, just when they were likely to have become of some use to their fathers and mothers, I put it to you, my friends all, calling you so, I suppose, for the last time, (unless you are disposed for friendship with Herod instead of Barabbas,) whether it would not be more kind and less expensive, to make the machinery a little smaller; and adapt it to spare opium now, and expenses of maintenance and education afterwards, (besides no end of diplomacy) by taking our sport in shooting babies instead of rabbits? Believe me, Faithfully yours, J. RUSKIN. NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. ==> The first number of 'Fors Clavigera' for the year 1873 will be published (I hope) on 1st January next, and in the course of that month the Index to the two first volumes, for the years 1871, 1872, as an extra number, which will be sent gratis to subscribers to the complete work. Subscriptions to the St. George's Fund have been sent to me to the amount of 104l. 1s. I have therefore sent a cheque for 100l. to be added to the fund accumulating in the hands of the trustees. I think it inexpedient at present to give the names of my--not numerous--subscribers. Each of them knows his or her number in the subjoined list:-- £ s. d. 1. Annual, 4l. (1871, 1872) 8 0 0 2. Annual, 20l. (1871, 1872) 40 0 0 3. Gift (1871) 5 0 0 4. Gift (1872) 30 0 0 5. Gift (1872) 20 0 0 6. Annual (1872) 1 1 0 ---------- £104 1 0 It is a beginning. We shall get on in time--better than some companies that have started with large capital.