370 NOTES. 



It is from these variations, the most important of 

 which will lie found carefully preserved in the following 

 Notes, that a conception may he formed of the editions 

 used by Walton of the authors whom he cites ; and it is 

 from a careful collation of these earlier impressions, that 

 some illustrations of the text have been recovered, from 

 marginal notes which were afterwards omitted. Nor 

 from the author only have such illustrations been com- 

 piled, but the Editions of the Complete Angler by the 

 Reverend Moses Browne, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Henry 

 Ellis, and the elaborate and beautiful impression edited 

 by Sir N. Harris Nicolas, published eight years since by 

 Mr. Pickering, — have been also consulted ; and the col- 

 lection formed into abrief but comprehensive abstract of 

 all. Brief indeed, the plan of the present volume required 

 it to be, although it would in most instances have been 

 truly interesting- to have given the very words of the 

 ancient and erudite authorities themselves; but these ex- 

 tracts extend occasionally to many pages, and are to be 

 found in the impressions referred to. The reader has 

 however the less to regret, since be will find on a re- 

 ference to the originals, that Walton has so happily ab- 

 breviated them, as in the words of Addison, to have 

 " practised in the chemical method, and given the virtue 

 " of a bulky draught in a few drops." Such as are 

 familiar with the literature of the time will find the 

 ensuing Notes almost all which can be required, since 

 they will serve as an index to many of the passages re- 

 ferred to in the numerous authors quoted; while for the 

 general reader, it is presumed there will be sufficient to 

 amuse and guide him, without the introduction of quaint 

 extracts, which he would neither value or enjoy. 



