172 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



of modern game codes, an incalculable injury is inflicted 

 on the morals of the lower orders ; and we cannot but 

 think, our local magistracy so full of official strut and 

 bustle one while toadying a lord lieutenant, and another, 

 courting the " most sweet voices," of some ignorant and 

 shabby town-council would do well to imitate the more 

 active French authorities in matters of this nature. Our 

 continental neighbours, in many matters of internal 

 national consideration, are far wiser than ourselves, 

 although John Bull, Esquire, with characteristic pertina- 

 city, and dog-headedness may feel disposed to deny the 

 fact. John occasionally betrays the secret that he is now 

 and then a very great fool ; but in no respect is his folly 

 more conspicuous, than in the astounding announcement 

 which, as a sort of after-dinner bulletin, he periodically 

 issues that he does every thing on all occasions, and 

 under all circumstances, a vast deal better than every 

 body else. France, it is true, has paid sufficiently dear for 

 her present legal code; but then, it contains many wise 

 and admirable clauses, fraught with vast national advan- 

 tages, and leaning greatly in favour of the liberty of the 

 subject: John Bull has also paid a pretty considerable 

 price for his system; but his volatile neighbour has got a 

 better article in many important respects, and assuredly 

 so, in his laws respecting fish and game, and their current 

 administration. 



BELGIUM, as most people know, is a very flat country, 

 and consequently contains few rivers of any note, at least 

 in the angler's estimation. The Meuse runs through the 

 upper part on its route to Holland. The Lys, the Scheldt, 

 the Dender, and the Dyle, are the other principal streams. 

 The country abounds with canals and collections of still 



