THE NINTH EDITION. V 



Our venerable author has been more than usually 

 fortunate in the persons to whom the task of editing 

 his favourite book has fallen. Sir John Hawkins, 

 who stands by far the most eminent among them, 

 seems to have been urged to his labours by a feeling 

 of affectionate respect for the author, which was in- 

 spired by the work, and which gathered strength as 

 he pursued it. It is impossible to praise, too highly, 

 the intelligence and pains which he has bestowed, 

 and by dint of which he has succeeded in making 

 his notes nearly as amusing as the text. 



To render the work worthy of public patronage, the 

 whole of the old plates have been discarded, from 

 an idea that they tended very little to illustrate the 

 text; and, in their execution, could hardly be con- 

 sidered any embellishment, while their insertion was 

 a very material enhancement of the price of the work. 



The Publisher of the present edition has, there- 

 fore, substituted other plates, which he trusts will, 

 to the lovers of the Art of Angling, prove no small 

 recommendation to the work; while, to collectors 

 and admirers of the arts, their execution will yield 

 equal pleasure. The situations delineated are such 

 as "Angler's love;" and, it is hoped, the present 



