294 THE LAST SUMMERS AND WINTERS. 



so by annotations would require the notes to be more 

 voluminous than the work itself. I thought at one time 

 of indicating certain inaccuracies and contradictions in 

 his natural history statements ; but, besides that you are 

 so much more competent to do this yourself than I am, I 

 find there is a recent edition of Walton by Eennie, in 

 which a good many things of that kind are noted. I 

 have, therefore, been nonplussed what to do. Any bio- 

 graphical illustration of the old worthies enumerated 

 would be in good hands if in yours, from your retentive 

 memory, and ready access to all books. All I can now 

 hope to do, if not already too late, is to answer any 

 queries you may be inclined to put. I have Rennie's 

 edition by me, and a cheap one (Thomas Johnson, Man- 

 chester, 1851), and should like much if I could serve your 

 views ; but really the practice of a Scotch angler is so 

 entirely discordant from that of ' England in the olden 

 time' that they cannot be reconciled. 



" I have been a good deal occupied this winter by the 

 Royal Society (of Edinburgh) matters in consequence of 

 Professor Forbes's absence, and my having been called 

 upon (a sad substitute !) to act for him as secretary. I 

 was a little anxious occasionally when there were few 

 papers in expectancy, but on the whole we have got 

 through the session wonderfully well, and I am now 

 arranging the papers and transmitting them to the 



