32 IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 



empty names, which, if all would do, many would 

 not so long labour under the veil of ignorance as 

 they do. In after editions, however, he annexes 

 his name, not, he says, out of the common itch, or 

 ostentation, to be seen in print, but to evidence 

 that he's not ashamed to own the work. I think 

 that at least until the year 1740, when John 

 Williamson published The British Angler; or, A 

 Pocket Companion for Gentlemen- Fishers ^ little 

 advancement had really been made in the know- 

 ledge of the angler's art. In the preface to that 

 work, the writer states that the improvements that 

 had been made by the generality of writers since 

 Walton's time "are indeed so few, and for the 

 most part so trivial, rather adding to and perplex- 

 ing his words," that he could not but wonder at 

 seeing so much done to so little purpose ; and he 

 further states that the improvements that had 

 been made in experimental philosophy justified 

 his writing his own book. He probably had The 

 Complete Angler in view when he said, he rejected 

 "idle superstitious observances, and weak fabulous 

 accounts of natural causes." He also says: "The 

 great advantage, as well as ornament of this book, 

 and which must eminently distinguish it from 

 all others, is the poetical part, which cannot but be 

 equally useful and entertaining. I dare speak so 

 highly of it because a great number of the lines 

 are by authors of the first rank. It was my 



