THAMES FISHING. 



' The patient angler takes his silent stand 



' Intent, his angle trembling in his hand; 



* With looks unmoved, he hopes the scaly breed, 



' And eyes the dancing cork and bending reed.* 



POPI. 



IT is somewhat amusing to notice the different 

 characters and description of persons who visit 

 some of the villages in the vicinity of the metro- 

 polis by which the Thames flows, for the purpose 

 of fishing. I frequently have them as companions 

 on the outside of our stage coach, and I must in 

 justice to them say, that I invariably find them 

 pleasant and good-humoured, generally full of san- 

 guine and eager anticipations of excellent sport, 

 though now and then casting a look at the sky, and 

 asking the opinion of the coachman as to the pro- 

 bable state of the weather on the morrow. I 

 observe that our coachman always treats these wor- 

 thy disciples of Izaac Walton with great respect 

 B 



