106 



and friends, who will expect to share with you in an un- 

 derhand way. 



In a short time, however, you will feel yourself inde- 

 pendent, and have no further occasion for any aid : you 

 will be acquainted with the waters, and \vith their con- 

 tents j and, being able to manage the punt yourself, 

 may, if you please, graciously permit that youth on 

 board, whose services you were at first happy to accept 

 as a favour. 



You will find it well worth your while to subscribe to 

 some of the liberties in the angling way, that are to be 

 found in various parts, especially within two stages from 

 London. For a guinea yearly, you may obtain permis- 

 sion to throw your line into some tolerably good streams, 

 or ponds : you may be sure of a bed, and will receive 

 civility, &:c. in proportion to what you may call for. 



With respect to the unprotected open waters, such as 

 the Thames within a certain distance from the metropolis, 

 you may occasionally find good sport ; but do not suffer 

 yourself to be bamboozled by the alluring portraits oftrouts, 

 &c. stuck up in frames at the various Red Lions, Bells, 

 Griffins, Castles, &c. where you may take a little re- 

 freshment ; nor should you lend too willing an ear to the 

 descriptions given, in regard to the quantity of such fine 

 fishes. Keep in mind where you are, to whom you are 

 talking, and that thousands go to the same place, on the 

 same errand j then you will not feel the sm.illest uneasi- 

 ness regarding the serious difficulty which might other* 

 wise agitate your mind, as to how you should get such 

 " monstrous fine lishes, * not ^nly out or' the \vater, but 

 to your home ! 



We are apt to smile, and that too with some mixture 



of 



