INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 33 



The commendatory verses prefixed to the earlier editions of 

 the Complete Angler, by eminent persons, friends of the 

 author, were omitted for the first time by the Rev. M. Browne, 

 as not even then (1759) agreeing with "the poetical taste of 

 the times." The following lines, however, signed Rob. Floud, 

 seem, equally for their brevity and terseness, to deserve their 

 share of lasting popularity. 



' To my dear Brother, MR. IZAAK WALTON, on his COMPLETE ANGLER. 

 '* This book is so like you, and you like it, 

 For harmless mirth, expression, art, and wit, 

 That I protest, ingenuously, 't is true, 

 I love this mirth, art, wit, the book, and you." 



Thus have we furnished a brief history of the effects pro- 

 duced by this matchless work upon the intelligent part of 

 mankind, from its first appearance to the present time ; and 

 when it is recollected that Walton himself was the first to set 

 the example of graphic embellishment, boasting from the first 

 of the "excellent picture of the Trout" ; also that " Young 

 Master Izaak " was so pleased with a certain portion of " Peak 

 Scenery" " as to draw it" (as Cotton tells us, Part II. Chap. 

 VI.) "in landscape in black and white, in a blank book I 

 have at home, as he has done several prospects of my house 

 also, w r hich I keep for a memorial of his favor, and will show 

 you when we come up to dinner," thus early indicating the 

 propriety of topographical illustration : recollecting all this, 

 (and oh ! what would we not give even for a sight of ' ' Young 

 Master Izaak' s " genuine " Sketch Book " .?) surely no apology 

 need be offered for attempting, (as expressed in our original 

 prospectus,) " by the novelty and extent of the embellishments 

 introduced in this edition, to heighten to the utmost the pleasure 

 of perusal ; to the Sportsman, the Naturalist, the lover of the 

 Fine Arts, and the general Reader, to Artists and lovers of 

 Art, Poets and lovers of Poetry ." 



In conclusion, we are proud to acknowledge the assistance 



