INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. xlix 



time by the Rev. M. Browne, as not even then (1759), 

 agreeing with " the poetical taste of the times." The 

 following lines, however, signed Rob. Floud, seem, 

 equally for their brevity and terseness, to deserve their 

 share of lasting popularity. 



To my dear Brother, Mr. Izaak Walton, on his 

 Complete Angler. 



" This book is so like you, and you like it, 

 For harmless mirth, expression, art, and wit, 

 That I protest, ingenuously, 'tis true, 

 I love this mirth, art, wit, the book, and you." 



Thus have we furnished a brief history of the 

 effects produced by this matchless work upon the 

 intelligent part of mankind, from its first appear- 

 ance to the present time ; and when it is recol- 

 lected that Walton himself was the first to set the 

 example of graphic embellishment, boasting from 

 the first, of the "excellent picture of the Trout;" 

 also that " Young Master Izaak" was so pleased 

 with a certain portion of " Peak Scenery" "as to 

 draw it" (as Cotton tells us, Part n. Chap, vi.) " in 

 landscape in black and white, in a blank book I 

 have at home, as he has done several prospects of 

 my house also, which I keep for a memorial of his 

 favour, and will shew you when we come up to din- 

 ner," thus early indicating the propriety of topogra- 

 phical illustration : recollecting all this, (and Oh ! 

 what would we not give even for a sight of " Young 

 Master Izaak's" genuine " Sketch Book?") surely no 

 d 



