PREFACE. 



and alfo that in introducing two of Chalkhill's 

 fongs into the " Complete Angler," he does not 

 beftow on them the cuftomary words of com- 

 mendation. This theory has been rebutted by 

 others, who aflert that Walton was of too truthful 

 and guilelefs a nature to refort to fuch an artifice. 

 We confefs that we are unable to fee anything 

 difhoneft in the adoption, as a pfeudonym, of the 

 name of a deceafed friend, or anything more than 

 Walton appears to have done on another occa- 

 sion when he publifhed his two letters on " Love 

 and Truth/' It is certain, however, that a family 

 of Chalkhills exifted, with whom Walton was 

 clofely connefled by his marriage with the fifter 

 of Bifhop Ken. But that an " acquaintant and 

 friend of Edmund Spenfer," capable of writing 

 fuch a poem as Thealma and Clearchus^ fhould 

 have kept his talents fo concealed, that in an age 

 of commendatory verfes no flighted contem- 

 porary record of him exifts — is, to fay the leaft, 



extraordinary. 



