John Major. 215 



of the fishing scenes. By notes and 

 appendices the information of Walton was 

 supposed to be brought down to date ; and 

 I fail to see why, in introducing modern 

 fishing scenes, or what were modern in 

 1822, Gosden should be charged with 

 inserting " anachronisms " scarcely in 

 unison with the quaint character of the 

 book. Indeed, from a picture of " King 

 Charles II. in disguise in the Oak," 

 published during Walton's lifetime, I am 

 inclined to think that the ordinary every- 

 day costume of the angler in his time was 

 nearer to that of 1822 than as depicted 

 by Burgh, for instance, in Moses Browne's 

 edition. 



Again, as regards the plates being used 

 for more than one book, I fear most of 

 the illustrations which have been made 

 for most of the editions of Walton have 

 been " hashed up " over and over again. 

 Take the next " new issue " of the Angler 

 Major's, in 1823. Major's illustrations 

 have been constantly reprinted or copied, 

 either wholly or in part, into new editions ; 

 which is certainly a compliment to Major, 

 but somewhat disappointing to the col- 

 lector. 



While doing full justice to the beauty 

 of Major's editions, especially that of 1844, 

 Mr. Westwood lashes him for his vanity 



