INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. xxix 



created out of the very circumstances calculated to 

 afford elucidation ; for what is this hut presenting 

 Walton to us in the midst of his own relations and 

 family friends ? * proving him to have been in a walk 

 of life, whatever it exactly was, consistent even with 

 their alliance, as well as countenance and protection ! 

 To reason but a little further (see only the list of 

 intimates named in his will!) — he appears to have 

 known almost every body who was worth knowing ! — 

 and were it not that there seems to be no record of 

 his intimacy with the congenially- minded Evelyn, we 

 should apply to him what was said by Johnson of 

 Congreve — " He lived only for himself and his 

 friends, and amongst his friends, he was able to name 

 almost every man of his time whom wit or elegance 

 had raised to reputation !" 



That he was bred to trade may be accounted for, 

 either from the circumstance of his father's dying 

 when he was only two years old, or even from his 

 own choice : and that there existed no necessary 

 incompatibility between the character he held and 

 that of a gentleman, surely he may be said to have 



* Even of John Offley, Esq. (see p. xvii ante,) it is stated by 

 Sir H. Nicholas, " He dedicated the work to John Offley of 

 Madeley Manor in Staffordshire, Esquire," his most honoured 

 friend " who, there is grounds for supposing was remotely re- 

 lated to him," — in another place, Sir Harris, also observes, 

 " This dedication is not the only evidence of a personal ac- 

 quaintance between the families of Walton and Offley : a John 

 Offley proved the will of Agnes Walton of the parish of Madeley 

 on the 22nd of April, 1573. 



