preface 



In all these biographical sketches I have gone on the 

 principle that when a man has told the story of his 

 own adventures it is best, as far as possible, to give his 

 ipsissima verba. One may criticise the feats of heroes 

 in one's own language, but it is only fair to the actors 

 to let them tell the tale of their own exploits in 

 their own way and in their own words. The reader 

 can thus form his own judgment of the veracity and 

 the literary style of the narrator. If such excerpts 

 have increased the bulk, I think they have also 

 added to the interest of the book. 



Moreover, I have not confined myself to the sporting 

 side of the lives here depicted, but have included every 

 phase of character which helped towards the making of 

 a vivid and faithful delineation. 



With regard to the illustrations, I have to express my 

 grateful acknowledgments in many quarters for per- 

 mission to reproduce pictures. 



To Messrs. Vinton & Co. I am indebted for the 

 admirable steel engravings of Captain Ross, Lord 

 Elcho, and Lord Stamford from Baity s Magazine. 



I have to thank Mr. R. B. Marston, Editor of The 

 Fishing Gazette^ for permission to use the portrait of 

 Charles Cotton and the sketch of the Fishing-house 

 Doorway, reproduced from Mr. Marston's superb quarto 

 edition of " The Compleat Angler." 



To Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co. I tender my 

 acknowledgments for their kindness in acceding to 



