THE TWEED — JOHN YOUNGER. 79 



dresser, that we take the liberty of making mention of 

 our patriarchal friend here. Eighteen years ago he 

 published (through the Blackwoods) a treatise " on 

 Kiver Angling for Salmon and Trout, more particu- 

 larly as practised in the Tweed and its Tributaries," 

 full of sound information, as well as containing some 

 original suggestions. Since then, he has written, we 

 believe, several articles upon the natural history of 

 salmon, all evincing much sagacity and careful obser- 

 vation. As a fly-dresser, John has turned out as ser- 

 viceable insects, whether for salmon-fishing or trout- 

 fishing, as any man on Tweedside, and, aided by his 

 son Willie (who, like his father, is himself an eminent 

 angler) he continues to di-ess most killing Tweed flies. 

 Some very noted flies, indeed, are John's own inven- 

 tion, imitated from natural insects. Besides writing 

 on angling, he gained the second prize for an essay on 

 Sabbath observance several years ago, and in conse- 

 quence made his appearance on the platform at Exeter 

 Hall and delivered a homely speech in his mother- 

 tongue. He has, we are informed, been long engaged 

 in compiling an Autobiobraphy, containing some most 

 interesting sketches of contemporary border-life ; but 

 the " sad sentence of an ancient date," that man 

 should make his daily bread by toil, interferes un- 

 luckily with his literary labours. A man of original cast 

 of mind, of strong natural sagacity, and of honest manly 

 character, all anglers ought to hope that he will be en- 

 abled to complete it and leave behind him the homely 

 print of his border-foot amongst the sands of time. 



After making a pleasant bend round Dryburgh and 

 back by Maxton, the Tweed passes Mertoun, the seat 



