LIFE OF CHARLES COTTON. 229 



Walton, as also his son, had been frequent visitants to Mr 

 Cotton, at Beresford ; who, for the accommodation of the 

 former, no less than of himself, had erected a frshing-house 

 on the bank of the river, with a stone in the front thereof, 

 containing a cypher that incorported the initials of both 

 their names. 



These circumstances, together with a formal adoption, 

 by Walton, of Mr Cotton for his son, that will be explained 

 in its place, were doubtless the inducements with the latter 

 to the writing of a second part of the Complete Angler, and 

 therein to explain more fully the art of fishing either with 

 a natural or an artificial fly, as also the various methods o 

 making the latter. The book, as the author assures us, was 

 written in the short space of ten days ; and first came 

 abroad, with the fifth edition of the first part, in the above 

 year, 1676, and ever since the two parts have been con- 

 sidered as one book. 



The second part of the Complete Angler is, apparently, an 

 imitation of the first. It is a course of dialogues, between 

 the author, shadowed under the name of Piscator, and a 

 Traveller, the very person distinguished in the first part by 

 the name of Venator, and whom Walton of a hunter had 

 made an angler :* in which, besides the instructions there 

 given, and the beautiful scenery of a wild and romantic 

 country therein displayed, the urbanity, courtesy, and hospi- 

 tality of a well bred country gentleman, are represented to 

 great advantage. 



This book might be thought to contain a delineation of 

 the author's character ; and dispose the reader to think that 

 he was delighted with his situation, content with his for- 

 tunes, and, in short, one of the happiest of men : but his 

 next publication speaks a very different language ; for living 

 in a country that abounds, above all others in this kingdom, 

 in rocks, caverns, and subterraneous passages (objects that, 

 to some minds, afford more delight than stately woods and 

 fertile plains, rich enclosures, and other the milder beauties 

 of rural nature,) he seems to have been prompted by no 

 other than a sullen curiosity to explore the secrets of that 

 nether world ; and surveying it rather with wonder than 

 philosophical delight, to have given way to his disgust, in a 

 description of the dreary and terrific scenes around and 

 beneath him, in a poem (written, as it is said, in emulation 



* Vide part ii. chap. i. 



