XXIX 



the minority of youth) were laid in Cam ; 

 yet silver Trent's orient streams graduated 

 my juniour experiments, by unfolding her 

 meanders, and making obvious the intrigues 

 of her rapid fords, replenished with variety; 

 nay so great variety of fish, that only to ex- 

 press it would almost bring truth into sus- 

 picion ; when from the more profound and 

 solitary deeps, the artist (if expert) may 

 summons up lucit, and the generous race 

 of salmon. 



But, gentlemen, I am not angling now, 

 Fm only telling you those original motives 

 to this solitary (and piscatorian) science, 

 that grew up with me when an adult ; for 

 then I courted the shady streams of Cam ; 

 but Trent (as I told you above) gave me 

 education. To Trent therefore (and the 

 place of my nativity) I direct my influences, 

 let malice do its worst ; nor are they extra- 

 vagant notions, nor broken fragments, col- 

 lected from foreign nor domestick authori- 

 ty, but lineal and practical experiments and 

 demonstrations, drawn up and cultivated 

 by the mediums of art, and the exact me- 

 thods of observation ; which without vanity, 

 I dedicate to your Society inhabiting the 



