IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 129 



childish to mention, since the occasion was 

 merely a discussion between them as to Gesner, 

 Dubravius and Aldrovandus being better 

 authorities as to "pickerel weed" than him- 

 self. 



The fact is Franck was very dogmatic, and 

 probably Walton was piqued if not exasperated by 

 him. I give one instance of the former being 

 himself a formal opinionist. After giving certain 

 directions for the composition of a salmon fly he 

 said : " Should any man, under the pretence of an 

 artist, remain destitute of these printed qualifica- 

 tions, proclaim him a blockhead ; let him angle 

 for oisters." It is right to mention that Franck 

 was a skilful salmon angler. 



AValton is often said to have made a mistake in 

 writing, as he did when near the end of his life, of 

 Ben Jonson, with reference to his infirmities ; but 

 considering his letter was written to his friend 

 John Aubrey, the antiquary, in reply to a re- 

 quest for information about Jonson, there was 

 no impropriety in Walton telling all he knew. 

 Subject as aforesaid, as lawyers write, and 

 if it be conceded that Walton was guilty of 

 several little literary deceptions, and frankly 

 allowing he was to some extent a plagiarist, and 

 " expanded unconsciously," I confess I cannot 

 find any flaw in his character. 



I have never seen it observed what a pity it is 



