Sir fcumpfon;? Bav> 317 



he was wholly incapable of following more serious 

 pursuits," that Sir Humphry Davy occupied himself 

 in writing "Salmonia; or, Days of Fly-fishing," the 

 work on which his fame as a fisherman rests. It was 

 unfortunate that the author should have adopted the 

 dialogue form and shaped his book on lines similar to 

 those of " The Compleat Angler," for the resemblance 

 provokes comparison and suggests imitation. Yet 

 beyond the form there is no attempt at imitation ; and 

 as a treatise on angling " Salmonia" is so immeasurably 

 superior to old Izaak's immortal classic that to compare 

 the two is ridiculous they are not in this respect to be 

 named in the same breath. But as a piece of literature, 

 eloquent and poetical as " Salmonia " often is, it cannot 

 bear comparison with " The Compleat Angler." The 

 subtle charm, the sweet simplicity, the living, breathing 

 freshness, the racy redolence of Nature which have made 

 the London linen-draper's homely volume a joy for ever 

 to all who love true literature all these are lacking in 

 Sir Humphry Davy's pages. He moves in a higher 

 and more ambitious sphere. Instead of the quiet 

 meadows, with the slow stream winding leisurely through 

 them and the cattle resting placidly under the willows, 

 the rustic ale-house, with honey-suckle and sweet-briar 

 climbing in at the windows, the comely hostess, the 

 cleanly rooms, the lavender-scented sheets, we have 

 purple and fine linen, elegant villas, lordly castles 

 romantic scenery, and grand society. Instead of the 

 humble chub " dressed so admirably as to equal trout," 

 and washed down with a modest cup of home-brewed 

 ale, we have viands that would have made the mouths, 



