xxxvi INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 



pher, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Zouch, an equally ho- 

 nourable testimony is selected. 



" In this volume of the Complete Angler, 

 which will he always read with avidity, even by 

 those who entertain no strong relish for the art 

 which it professes to teach, we discover a copious 

 vein of innocent pleasantry and good-humour. The 

 dialogue is diversified with all the characteristic 

 beauties of colloquial composition. The songs and 

 little poems which are occasionally inserted, will 

 abundantly gratify the reader who has a taste for 

 the charms of pastoral poetry. And, above all, 

 those lovely lessons of religious and moral instruc- 

 tion, which are so repeatedly inculcated throughout 

 the whole work, will ever recommend this exqui- 

 sitely pleasing performance." 



Yet the enthusiastic admirer of Walton, will be 

 still more delighted with the wonder-working effects 

 of his book, as set forth by that deservedly-popular 

 writer, Mr. Washington Irving ; whose applause 

 being that of a man of acknowledged taste and 

 brilliant fancy, bespeaks its own peculiar value, in 

 pointing out our author's claims upon the present 

 and succeeding ages. 



From the " Sketch Book" of this gentleman, 

 published under the assumed name of Geoffrey Crayon, 

 we extract the following. 



" It is said that many an unlucky urchin is in- 

 duced to run away from his family, and betake him- 

 self to a seafaring life, from reading the history of 



