TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



All in the fragrant prime of day, 



E'er Phoebus spreads around his beams, 

 The early Angler takes his way 



To verdant banks of crystal streams, 

 f health, content, and thoughtful musing charm, 

 What sport like angling can our cares disarm ? 



ANON : IN BROOKS' ART OP ANGLING. 



THERE is a sort of pleasing melancholy in com- 

 paring the habits of former times with those of the 

 present day. The contrast is not much, I must 

 confess, in favour of the latter. The good old 

 aristocratic forms of the last century, are fast hasten- 

 ing to decay. What was then considered as neces- 

 sary to keep up a proper decorum in society, would 

 now be treated with ridicule ; and the state which 

 rank and wealth prescribed, would in these days be 

 considered as proceeding from arrogance and pride. 

 I am not sure that the world is benefited by the 

 change. The poorer class were formerly in the 

 habit of looking up to the old halls of our ancestors 

 as places where their wants would be relieved, 

 their misfortunes attended to, and their injuries 

 redressed. There was then a tie existing between 



