LECKFORD FISHING CLUB. 151 



Sometimes on the grass ourselves we will lay, 

 And see how the watery citizens play : 

 Sometimes with a fly stand under a tree, 

 And chuse out what fish our captives shall be. 



THERE are several fishing clubs on the Test, of 

 which perhaps the Houghton is now the best, and 

 the Leckford was. In the first mentioned club 

 many eminent men are, and have been amongst its 

 members ; Dr. Wollaston, Sir Francis Chantrey, 

 and several others might be named, as well as the 

 agreeable author of ' Maxims and Hints for Anglers.' 

 The Leckford Club was formerly in great repute, 

 and the late Mr. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, was, 

 I believe, one of its members. At all events he 

 appears to have joined a fishing party at that place, 

 which met in commemoration of Izaak Walton; 

 and the following lines, descriptive of some of the 

 persons who composed the party, were written on 

 this occasion by one of the members of Mr. Sheri- 

 dan's family. 



Say, how shall mortal man in earthly strains, 

 Sing, Leckford, all thy pleasures and thy pains. 

 Supremely blest, e'en Craven's gallant lord, 

 With all that wealth and beauty can afford, 

 For Leckford quits, and quits alone for this, 

 The fair example of domestic bliss : 



