"Poaching" by "Phiz" (Illustration for Charles Lever's "Barrington")

Poaching

Phiz (Hablot K. Browne)

1863

Charles Lever's Barrington (Chapter XIV), p. 4

Image scan and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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Commentary

The illustration indicates that Fred has fully recovered from mishap earlier, for he is now agile enough to retrieve the metal fish that hangs above the door of "The Fisherman's Home," proclaiming that it is an inn. At Dinah's instigation, the "inn" is to become a private house since it never has turned a profit as a public house. The plates title refers to the frequent nocturnal thefts from the Barringtons' river of their salmon. Watching with amusement are Peter Barrington and his attorney from Dublin, Withering, distinguished as gentlemen by their beavers: "'A poacher caught in the fact, Barrington!' said a deep voice from below; and Conyers, looking down, saw two men both advanced in life, very gravely watching his proceedings" (34).

Last modified August 2002