xii NOTE TO THE PRESENT EDITION 



present work will be equally appreciated by a 

 new generation of readers, to whom the first 

 portion at least has never been accessible. 



The whole of the Ham Hall estate, including 

 the Izaak Walton estate and Dove Dale Hill 

 and Wood, was offered for sale by auction by 

 Messrs. Knight, Frank & Rutley on July igth, 

 1910. I felt flattered that in their elaborately 

 illustrated catalogue they quoted freely from my 

 Days in Dove Dale> 1884, as an extra tempta- 

 tion to purchasers. The reserved price was 

 not reached in any of the lots, but the an- 

 nouncement will probably result in a sale by 

 private contract. The spirit of the age is far 

 too enterprising to leave the ancient hotel 

 alone. 



A grand hotel, replete with all modern con- 

 veniences, will probably replace it ere long, 

 numerous fashionable visitors will be attracted, 

 and the romance, the peaceful, quiet charm of 

 the Dale, will have departed for ever. 



A. A. 

 July, 



