ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 93 



It is unnecessary to deal at any length with, or to 

 quote extracts from a work so generally known as 

 Walton's Compleat Angler. This book may be 

 regarded from two points of view, its literary, and 

 its practical side. It is from its literary merit, 

 however, that it has gained its great and lasting 

 popularity. So much is this the case, that among 

 the most enthusiastic admirers of Walton there are 

 many who take no interest in the art of angling. 

 As the writer of Walton's life, in the Dictionary 

 of National Biography, says : " Walton is not read 

 as an instructor ; he is an Idyllist and as such is 

 unmatched in English prose." 



Moses Browne, who in 1750 edited the first edition 

 of Walton published after the author's death, fully 

 appreciated the literary value of the work as distinct 

 from its practical utility. In his preface (1759 

 Edition) he says : 



And it is so happy to have this, which is very 

 singular and uncommon to recommend it, that it has 

 found the way to render itself exceedingly agreeable 

 to Readers of all tastes, who have ever perused it. 

 Not only the Lovers of this Art, but all others, who 

 have no Inclination in the least to the Diversions of 

 Angling that it treats of, have joined in giving 

 it their mutual Suffrage and Commendation ; an 

 Instance of which I have the Pleasure to remember, 

 and not improperly in this place to its Honour, that 

 on a Time when I took the Freedom to present it to 

 the amiable and deservedly admired Countess of 

 Hertford late Duchess of Somerset (a name that 

 wrings a Throb of Anguish from my Heart) with 



