136 'BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



such another tree ! It would be easier to sup- 

 pose two Shakespeares." Wilson probably found 

 at Elleray what he sought. He tramped among 

 the mountains; he, fished; he -boated with his 

 favourite " Billy Balmer" on the lake ; he tended 

 his game birds and fought mains ; and he certainly 

 indulged in many boisterous pleasures. The 

 presence of " the Lakers," as Byron irreverently 

 dubbed them, might be some inducement to 

 Wilson, as they certainly had influence as his 

 neighbours. Wordsworth was at Rydal, Southey 

 and Coleridge at Keswick, De Quincey with 

 Wordsworth, and besides these there were other 

 lesser lights. Strange as it may appear, there 

 was a good deal in common between these 

 men, and they were frequently at each other's 

 houses. Allanbank, the house which Words- 

 worth occupied after his return from Colerton, 

 was a common resort ; and whilst here as the 

 guest of Wordsworth Wilson made the ac- 

 quaintance of both Coleridge and De Quincey. 

 At this time all of them were young, and 

 would seem to have had an intense enjoyment 

 of life. Excursions among the mountains were 

 their chief pursuits, and one of these became 

 memorable. This was an invasion of soli- 

 tary Eskdale by a little army of anglers, with 

 tents and baggage for a week's sojourn. It 



