FIRST DAT.] A UTHORITIES FOR ANGLING. 



And though the charming and intellectual author of 

 this poem is not an angler herself, yet I can quote the 

 example of her lovely daughters to vindicate fly-fishing 

 from the charge of cruelty, and to prove that the most 

 delicate and refined minds can take pleasure in this 

 innocent amusement. One of these young ladies, I 

 am told, is a most accomplished and skilful salmon 

 fisher. And if you require a poetical authority against 

 that of Lord Byron, I mention the philosophical and 

 powerful poet of the lakes, and the author of 



tf An Orphic tale indeed, 

 A tale divine, of high and passionate thoughts, 

 To their own music chanted ; " * 



who is a lover both of fly-fishing and fly-fishermen. 

 Gay's poem you know, and his passionate fondness for 

 the amusement, which was his principal occupation in 

 the summer at Amesbury ; and the late excellent John 

 Tobin, author of the Honey Moon, was an ardent 

 angler. 



PHYS. I am satisfied with your poetical authorities. 



HAL. Nay, I can find authorities of all kinds, 

 statesmen, heroes, and philosophers. I can go back 

 to Trajan, who was fond of angling. Nelson was t a 



* The Friend, page 303, hy S. T. Coleridge. 



f I have known a person who fished with him at Merton, in the 

 Wandle. I hope this circumstance will he mentioned in the next 

 edition of that most exquisite and touching Life of our Hero, by the 

 Laureate, an immortal monument raised by Genius to Valour. 



