124 LONDON ANGLER'S BOOK, 

 9. 



You know that often these mishaps 



Do disappoint us fishers, 



But we can better bear them perhaps 



Than our evil wishers. 



Vexations come in many forms, 



True Anglers never heed them, 



Through life's rough swim of many storms 



Philosophy will lead them. 



Then through, &c. 



Sir Hugh Middleton little thought of what conse- 

 quence this stream would be to the London Angler, 

 when he contrived to supply the Metropolis with this 

 necessary article to human existence and health, this 

 river even now is the admiration of men of science, 

 from its flowing gently from near Ware in Hertford- 

 shire to Islington, its numerous and extraordinary 

 windings for the purpose of regulating the speed of 

 the current, renders it very picturesque and beautiful, 

 it is brought to the very highest part of the Metro- 

 polis, and must have been a great blessing to the 

 inhabitants when supplied plentifully through its 

 refreshing channel. 



This river from its head to its rise is nearly the 

 same width, and is accessible almost in every part to 

 the fisher. 



Near Sadler's Wells in the Summer months it is 

 positively besieged, every bridge and wall being 



