THE THAMES. 41 



been fulfilled, and we can still say, with that rare old contri- 

 butor to Prater's Magazine, that "Persons of every class 

 seem to participate in the amusement of Thames angling, 

 from the Duke of Sussex to the little fat cobbler of 

 Hampton." Jesse lived at Hampton, and naturally gave a 

 preference to that portion of the river, and many modern 

 anglers agree with him in that preference. 



It was the Thames that inspired Jesse to recommend to 

 his brethren of the Walton and Cotton Fishing Club the 

 old song : 



" Come, lay by all cares, and hang up all sorrow, 

 Let's angle to-day and ne'er think of to-morrow : 

 And by the brook-side as we angle along, 

 We'll cheer up ourselves with our sport and a song. 



" There, void of all care, we're more happy than they 

 That sit upon thrones, and kingdoms do sway : 

 For sceptres and crowns disquiet still bring : 

 But the man that's content is more blest than a king." 



Not so much as a trout river, however, as the cosmo- 

 politan resort of miscellaneous anglers, let us bestow a few 

 thoughts upon the Thames. I will openly confess myself a 

 very indifferent Thames fisherman. Imprisonment in a punt 

 has no delights for me. To me one of the chief charms of 

 the angler's pursuit is the infinite variety of scenery into which 

 it leads him. Give me a supple fly-rod, equip me in all 

 respects in light marching order, introduce me to a few 

 miles of stream that meanders through flowery mead and 

 leafy dell ; that now rolls dark and deep, and anon splashes 

 and foams over stones and shallows ; that at every bend 

 opens up a new prospect ; that brings me here to a rustic 

 weather-browned footbridge, and there to a ford through 



