TO 



MY MOST HONOURED FRIEND, 



CHARLES COTTON, ESQ. 



SIR, 



You now see I have returned you your very pleasant 

 and useful Discourse of The Art of Fly-fishing, printed 

 just as it was sent me ; for I have been so obedient to 

 your desires, as to endure all the praises you have ven- 

 tured to fix upon me in it. And when I have thank'd you 

 for them, as the effects of an undissembled love, then, 

 let me tell you, Sir, that I will really endeavour to live 

 up to the character you have given of me, if there were 

 no other reason, yet for this alone,- that you, that love 

 me so well, and always think what you speak, may not, for 

 my sake, suffer by a mistake in your judgment. 



And, Sir, I have ventured to fill a part of your margin, 

 by way of paraphrase, for the reader's clearer understand- 

 ing the situation both of your fishing-house, and the plea- 

 santness of that you dwell in. And I have ventured also 

 to give him a Copy of Verses that you were pleased to 

 send me, now, some years past, in which he may see a 



