22 



tion, from the wifh which it avows to 

 confine information on Angling to the up- 

 per claffes, who only could then afford to 

 purchafe a large volume ; left, if it was dif- 

 tributed among "ydle perfons, " by which 

 the lower orders were probably meant, 

 there would be fo many fkilful anglers as 

 to leave but little fport for "gentlymen," 

 who alone, in the writer's eftimation, were 

 entitled to fuch an amufement. 



The remark relative to a "lytylle plaun- 

 flet" favours the idea that a much greater 

 number of articles of that defcription were 

 then printed, and confequently, that many 

 more perfons were 'able to read than is 

 commonly imagined. 



The only MS. of the Treatyfe which is 

 known to be extant, is a fragment now in 

 the poffeffion of Jofeph Haflewood, Efq., 

 and which formerly belonged to Mr. Wil- 



