XXXV111 



to cultivate this science (both for direction* and 

 manuels) I modestly prefer before any other. 



Yet how frequently is this art promulged by 

 mudlers, and under the plausible pretence of ang- 

 lers ? when upon examine you'lfind them deficient 

 in practices, and indigent in the lineal and plain 

 tracts of experience ; yet so fortified with confi- 

 dence and ignorance, enough, I declare, to make 

 an artist blush., if only but to hear them assert, 

 that from one river in a nation, all the rest may 

 be nationally understood : which preposterous im- 

 pertinent opinion, if I should not publickly op- 

 pose, it would seem to confirm and assign me a 

 confederate with the rout and rabble so ignorant- 

 ly opinionated. But I shall offer my reason, to 

 avoid the suspicion of an imposture, lest I be 

 thought to traduce my proselytes into the extreams 

 of an error ; otherwise I had shrowded my self 

 under a taciturnity, had not I dreaded the cen- 

 sure of other able and practical anglers, that in 

 reason may expect a replication from me. For 

 that end, I publish this Treatise to the world, 

 where my arguments are synonymous, connect to- 

 gether like links in a chain, in opposition to that 

 inconsiderate opinion, that by one river all the ri- 

 vers in England, 8$c. may be included for fish 

 and diversion. Which is alike probable, that an 

 orchard without cultivation, should produce fo- 

 reign fruit : or the Peak in Derbyshire^ should 



