6 SALMONIA. 



Lord Byron, I mention the philosophical and 

 powerful poet of the lakes, and the author of 



" An Orphic tale indeed, 

 A tale divine, of high and passionate thoughts. 

 To their own music chanted ; " * 



who is a lover both of fly fishing and fly fish- 

 ermen. Gay's poem you know, and his 

 passionate fondness for the amusement, which 

 was his principal occupation in the summer 

 at Amesbury; and the late excellent John 

 Tobin, author of the Honey Moon, was an 

 ardent angler. 



Phys. — I am satisfied with your poetical 

 authorities. 



Hal. — Nay, I can find authorities of all 

 kinds, statesmen, heroes, and philosophers ; 

 I can go back to Trajan, who was fond of 

 angling. Nelson was a good fly fisher f, and 

 as a proof of his passion for it, continued the 

 pursuit even with his left hand. Dr. Paley 



* The Friend, page 303., by S. T. Coleridge. 



f I have known a person who fished with him at 

 Merton, in the Wandle. I hope this circumstance 

 will be mentioned in the next edition of that most ex- 

 quisite and touching Life of our Hero, by the Laureate, 

 an immortal monument raised by Genius to Valour. 



