INTRODUCTION. 15 



very refined and particularly sensitive people, is a truth 

 which daily experience and sundry acts of parliament 

 oblige us to acknowledge. The ordinary sphere of hu- 

 manity has long been too confined for our deep and 

 numerous sympathies; and we have been driven to seek 

 objects of compassion from almost every department of 

 animated nature, in order to give full expression to our 

 kindly and benevolent feelings. 



But who are they who sympathise so deeply with, and 

 deprecate so piteously, the cruelties which the angler 

 inflicts? Why, truly they are, for the most part, sanc- 

 tified old maids, having long annuities, money in the 

 funds, and sums deposited in savings' banks; a certain class 

 of gentlemen clad in snug surtouts, with white neckcloths 

 flourishing genteel black sticks, as they lounge about the 

 doors of coffee-houses, confectioners', and fruit-shops in a 

 forenoon; comfortable, pursy tradesmen, retired from 

 business, their capacious legs immersed in lamb's- wool 

 stockings, who now amuse themselves with dabbling in 

 railway shares, and joint-stock companies of all sorts 

 above the moon or under it; timid old ladies out of 

 petticoats, in the shape of antique bachelors who cultivate 

 melons, subscribe to horticultural societies and flower- 

 shows, bid at auctions for tulips and Dutch roots, and give 

 an enormous price for tortoise-shell tom-cats, and real 

 poodle puppies ; persons particularly moral and religious, 

 according to their own notions, who are great patronisers 

 of lying-in hospitals, eye and ear infirmaries, and those os- 

 tentatious inventions of modern charity soup-kitchens, 

 where, decked in white aprons, they take their station 

 on Saturdays, like good Samaritans as they are, to ladle 

 out the greasy abomination. Add to these, pluralist par- 

 sons with three livings, who preach four times a-year, 



