i $6 Walton's Reply. 



me to attend you in publick, who in private 

 have ever been, am, and ever resolve to be, 



" Sir, 

 " Your most affectionate 



" Son and Servant, 



"CHARLES COTTON. 

 "BERISFORD, loth of March, i67|." 



To this letter Walton replied as follows : 



" To my most Honoured Friend 

 "CHARLES COTTON, ESQ. 



" SIR, You now see, I have return'd you, 

 your very pleasant, and useful discourse 

 of the Art of Flie-Fishing Printed, just as 

 'twas sent me : for I have been so obedient 

 to your desires, as to endure all the 

 praises you have ventur'd to fix upon me 

 in it. And when I have thankt you for 

 them, as the effects of an undissembled 

 love : then, let me tell you, Sir, that I will 

 endeavour to live up to the character you 

 have given of me, if there were no other 

 reason ; yet for this alone, that you, that 

 love me so well, may not, for my sake, 

 suffer by a mistake in your Judgment. 



And, Sir, I have ventur'd to fill a part 

 of your Margin, by way of Paraphrase, for 

 the Readers clearer understanding the 

 situation both of your Fishing-House, and 

 the pleasantness that you dwell in. And 



