16 E. B. CEOFT IZAAK WALTON AND THE EIVEE LEA. 



pleasant montli of MayP Fortunately, with this exception, the 

 first words of the charming song, 



•' Let me live harmlessly, and near the brink 

 Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling-place," 



relieve us from the necessity of determining the present names of 



" Eed Hyacinth, and yellow Daffodil, 

 Purple Narcissus like the morning rayes, 

 Pale Ganderglass, and azure Culverkayes." 



I may be excused if in conclusion I say a few words about the 

 history of the book of which I have been talking this evening. 

 The first edition was published in 1653, and in 1655 it was followed 

 by the second, much enlarged and with more woodcuts. In this 

 edition the Ealconer is first introduced in the introductory chapter. 

 The third edition was published in 1664, the fourth in 1665, and 

 the fifth (the last in the author's life) in 1676. "With this edition 

 was published a second part written by Walton's friend and adopted 

 son, Charles Cotton, and the work is now commonly called "Walton 

 and Cotton's Complete Angler. In 1750 the Eev. Moses Brown 

 revived the ' Complete Angler ' ; in 1760 Mr. John Hawkins (after- 

 wards Sir John Hawkins) published an edition, with lives of Walton 

 and Cotton, and copious notes of sufficient value to be retained in 

 almost every subsequent edition. From that time till the present, 

 edition after edition has appeared, some very good and others of 

 less value. That of Major, 1823, is interesting to us as it contains 

 several woodcuts of the Lea valley, as also does that of Jesse, 1856. 

 In 1877 a facsimile of the first edition (a book which every true 

 admirer of Walton ought to possess) was published by Elliot Stock. 

 The last edition which has come under my notice is a marvel of 

 cheapness, and, having been edited by a sympathetic naturalist, 

 Mr. Christopher Davies, is a most satisfactory work, the wood- 

 cuts of Major's edition are reproduced, and a modern treatise on 

 angling is included. 



Those who may wish to further study the history of the various 

 editions will find full particulars in a forthcoming work, ' Biblio- 

 theca Piscatoria,' by T, Westwood and T. Satchell, in wliich I am 

 told by the latter gentleman that no less than eighty reprints (dated, 

 re-dated, and un-datcd with dissimilar imprints) are chronicled. 



The ' Compleat Angler ' has been, since its first publication, one 

 of the treasui'es of our literature. It has not inaptly been de- 

 scribed as "England's one perfect Pastoral." As such I commend 

 it to those members of this Society who have not read, or having 

 read have forgotten it, and I cannot better conclude these some- 

 what discursive notes than in the words of the honest old angler 

 whose masterpiece I have been endeavouring to describe : " And 

 let the blessing of Saint Peter's Master be upon all that love Vertue, 

 and to be quiet and go a.-fishingy 



