PROPOSED FISHING EXCURSION. 17 



rious and interesting facts, as it were, forced 

 upon your observation. I consider you, 

 (Physicus,) as pledged to make one of our 

 fishing party ; and I hope, in a few days, to 

 give you an invitation to meet a few worthy 

 friends on the banks of the Colne. And 

 you, (Poietes,) who, I know, are an initiated 

 disciple of Walton's school, will, I trust, 

 join us. We will endeavour to secure a fine 

 day ; two hours, in a light carriage with 

 good horses, will carry us to our ground; 

 and I think I can promise you green mea- 

 dows, shady trees, the song of the nightin- 

 gale, and a full and clear river. 



Poiet. — This last is, in my opinion, the 

 most poetical object in nature. I will not 

 fail to obey your summons. Pliny has, as 

 well as I recollect, compared a river to 

 human life. I have never read the passage 

 in his works, but I have been a hundred 

 times struck with the analogy, particularly 

 amidst mountain scenery. The river, small 

 and clear in its origin, gushes forth from 

 rocks, falls into deep glens, and wantons and 

 meanders through a wild and picturesque 



c 



