246 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



VIAT. You go far, sir, in the praise of your country rivers, 

 and I perceive have read Mr. Walton's " Complete Angler," 

 by your naming of Hantshire ; and I pray what is your 

 opinion of that book 1 



Pise. My opinion of Mr. Walton's book is the same with 

 every man's that understands anything of the art of angling, 

 that it is an excellent good one. and that the fore-mentioned 

 gentleman understands as much of fish, and fishing, as any 

 man living : but I must tell you further, that I have the 

 happiness to know his person, and to be intimately acquainted 

 with him, and in him to know the worthiest man, and to enjoy 

 the best, and the truest friend any man ever had ; nay, I shall 

 yet acquaint you further, that he gives me ]eave to call him 

 Father, and I hope is not yet ashamed to own me for his 

 adopted Son. 



YIAT. In earnest, sir, I am ravished to meet with a friend 

 of Mr. Izaak Walton's, and one that does him so much right 

 in so good and true a character ; for I must boast to you, 

 that I have the good fortune to know him too, and came 

 acquainted with him much after the same manner I do with 

 you ; that he was my Master, who first taught ine to love 

 angling, and then to become an angler ; and to be plain with 

 you, I am the very man deciphered in his book under the 

 name of Venator ; for I was wholly addicted to the chace, 

 till he taught me as good, a more quiet, innocent, and less 

 dangerous diversion. 



Pise. Sir, I think myself happy in your acquaintance, and 

 before we part shall entreat leave to embrace you ; you have 

 said enough to recommend you to my best opinion : for my 

 father Walton will be seen twice in no man's company he does 

 not like, and likes none but such as he believes to be very 

 honest men ; which is one of the best arguments, or at least 

 of the best testimonies I have, that I either am, or that he 

 thinks me, one of those, seeing I have not yet found him 

 weary of me. 



trout of this brook are the most highly-coloured in the country, but not the best 

 flavoured. The Wye, near Haddon Hall, and Longford-brook, running by and 

 through the Earl of Leicester's seat and demesne of Longford, about six miles 

 from Ashbourn, are favourite streams of mine. The Scotch and Irish trout 

 streams are far better than those of Derbyshire, and so are some in Northum- 

 berland, Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Devonshire, 

 Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, and one or two in Surrey and Middlesex. 

 The Driffield, in Yorkshire, and the Test, in Hampshire, are better angling 

 rivers than the Dove. ED. 



