LIFE OF WALTON. 29 



not only as it teaches at large that branch of the art of 

 angling which Walton had but slightly treated on, but 

 as it takes up Venator 9 Walton's piscatory disciple, 

 just where his master had left him; and this connexion 

 between the two parts will be clearly seen, when it 

 is remarked, that the traveller whom Cotton invites 

 to his house, and so hospitably entertains, and also 

 instructs in the art of fly-fishing I say this traveller 

 and Venator , the pupil of Walton, come out to be one 

 and the same person. 



Not further to anticipate what will be found in the 

 Second Part, it shall here suffice to say, that there is 

 great spirit in the dialogue; and that the same con- 

 versable, communicative temper appears in it, that so 

 eminently distinguishes the piece it accompanies. 



The Descriptions of- Flies, with ihe Materials for, 

 and different Methods of making them though they 

 may admit of some improvement, and accordingly 

 the reader will meet with several valuable ones in the 

 notes on the chapter of artificial flies are indisputably 

 the most exact and copious of all that have ever yet 

 been published. 



At the end of the Second Part, though in this edi- 

 tion it has been thought proper to transpose them, arc 

 [were] some verses of Cotton's writing, which he calls 

 The Retirement, or Stanzes Jrreguliers , of them, 

 and also of the book, take this character from Lang- 

 baine : a This book is not unworthy the perusal of 

 c the gravest men that are lovers of this innocent rc- 

 " creation ; and those who are not anglers, but have 

 * a taste for poetry, may find Mr. Cotton's character 

 u better described by himself, in a copy of verses 

 " printed at the end of that book, called The Retire- 

 '* men', than any I might present the reader from 

 ' Col. Lovelace, Sir Aston Cockaine, Robert Herrick, 

 u Esq., or Mr. Alexander Brome; all which have 



' writ Verses in our author's praise ; but in my poor 

 " judgment, far short of these Stances Irreguliers*." 

 In short, these books contain a great number of ex 



* Lfat of tit English Dratnattt Petit, Art. Cba. Cotton, Esq. 



