B I B L I G R A P Jl 1 (^ A L PREFACE, 



BY 



THE AMERICAN EDITOR, 



WITH 



SOME NOTICES OF FISHING, AND BOOKS ON FISHING, 



BEFORE WALTON. 



Every lover of books knows that he finds his best refresh- 

 ment from closer study, in books themselves ; and how like- 

 ly he is to get a love for some one author, so as to read him 

 again and again, liking him the better for his very faults, 

 and thinking everything worth remark that throws light 

 on his history, manner of life, means of knowledge, and 

 standing among those who knew him in his own time. 

 Such a love have I for dear old Iz. Wa., which fondness 

 is not a little heightened by an inborn fondness for, per- 

 haps some skill in his gentle, contemplative art. The 

 stream side is ever dear to me, and I love to think of the 

 times when I have trudged merrily along it, finding again in 

 the fresh air and moderate exercise and devout looks upon 

 nature, the strength of nerve, the buoyancy of heart and 

 health of mind, which I had lost in my pent library and 

 town duties ; now I need but to open the pages of The 

 Complete Angler, and the stream flows by my side, the 

 birds sing for me, the " daisies, culverkeys, and lady- 

 smocks " bloom, the bright trout leap, the finny spoils are 



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