6oo LITERATURE OF SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



This is a hard hit ; and it would appear that the author, 

 who was also a practical angler and salmon-fisherman, had 

 on one occasion a personal argument on matters piscatorial 

 (and perhaps religious and poetical) with Walton. Sir 

 Walter Scott, however, who, in 1821, published an edition 

 of Franck with preface and notes, comes to Walton's 

 rescue, though he credits Franck with practical angling 

 knowledge. He says : 



" Probably no readers while they read the disparaging passages 

 in which the venerable Izaak Walton is introduced, can forbear 

 wishing that the good old man, who had so true an eye for Nature, 

 so simple a taste for her most innocent pleasures, and withal, so 

 sound a judgment, both concerning men and things, had made 

 this northern tour instead of Franck; and had detailed in the 

 beautiful simplicity of his Arcadian language, his observations on 

 the scenery and manners of Scotland. Yet we must do our author 

 the justice to state, that he is as much superior to the excellent 

 patriarch Izaak Walton, in the mystery of fly-fishing, as inferior to 

 him in taste, feeling, and common sense. Franck's contests with 

 salmon are painted to the life, and his directions to the angler 

 are generally given with great judgment." 



Byron, who had seldom a good word for any one, had 

 his fling at old Izaak, when he says 



" And angling, too, that solitary vice, 

 Whatever Izaak Walton sings or says ; 

 The quaint, old, cruel coxcomb, in his gullet 

 Should have a hook, and a small trout to pull it." 



Some persons say they can see an expression of cruelty 

 in Walton's portraits ! 



And even a modern author on angling, who must at 

 least be given credit for the courage of his opinions, says 

 of Walton and his book 



"I am free to confess I have derived neither pleasure nor 

 profit. There is no doubt that in his day the worthy citizen was 

 an excellent angler j he was also a simple-minded, kindly, prosy, 



