90 HIS RETIREMENT. 



indulged in his favourite pursuit of angling. The 

 beauteous Trent, which winds its way through 

 some of the finest parts of Staffordshire, its shallow 

 waters glittering in some places over the pebbly 

 bottom, on which I have seen cattle cooling them- 

 selves, and looking as if they were waiting for 

 Cuyp to paint them, must have afforded him a 

 great resource during his retirement. At this 

 period he enjoyed the society of many learned and 

 excellent men, and amongst others, that of Sir 

 Henry Wotton, and their congeniality of disposi- 

 tion probably led them together to the river side. 

 Staffordshire can boast of thirteen streams, and 

 Plot has celebrated the fish to be found in several 

 of them. On the banks of some one or other, we 

 may fancy Walton and his friend occasionally 

 strolling, talking over the chances of the restora- 

 tion of their legitimate Monarch, and now and 

 then plying their rods in some favourite locality. 

 We find Sir Henry Wotton writing to the honest 

 Angler, and telling him, that he hopes shortly to 

 enjoy his ever- welcome company at the approach- 

 ing time of the fly and the cork. He also sends 

 him his beautiful hymn, beginning 



Oh, thou great Power ! in whom I move, 

 For whom I live, to whom I die, &c. 



But it was on the banks of the charming 

 Thames, where its rural beauties begin to unfold 

 themselves, that these two friends " took sweet 



