246 Salmon Fishing. 



quality in the speaker himself, who is so fond 

 of a quiet day's fishing, as he is said to be. 



For a hard-worked, say, well-nigh used up 

 celebrity, like the above, to handle a salmon-rod 

 the whole of a fine autumn-day, and not have 

 his crooked thoughts somewhat straightened, 

 and rugged views smoothed down a bit, is, I 

 think, as little possible, as probable. 



O those tranquil, peaceful hours, when the 

 late combatant with his fellows in the clash and 

 clamour of political strife, finds himself at 

 leisure on the banks of such a river as the 

 Awe ! Hard and cold indeed, must the heart be, 

 whence every drop of bitterness does not 

 disappear under the soothing influence of scenes 

 that catch the spectator's eye at every step ! 



Though much has been said of the poverty and 

 wretchedness of the peasantry, more especially 

 in the South and West of Ireland, the same 

 class in this part of Argyleshire, contiguous to 

 the hotel and river, struck me as being not a 

 whit superior in this respect. The cabins are 



