EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 117 



merits of a poet and a moralist. He was the forerunner 

 of Izaak Walton, and the real founder of that species of 

 piscatory style and turn of thought for which " honest 

 Izaak "has so long been justly celebrated amongst us. 

 Devor dashed off the art of rod-fishing, in all its phases, 

 with a bold and masterly hand ; and most certainly raised 

 the reputation of the " Craft " in public opinion many 

 degrees beyond the point it had attained in the hands of 

 preceding writers. His thoughts are natural and elevated; 

 his versification smooth and pointed ; and the spirit which 

 breathes throughout his entire work is that of an amiable 

 and well-regulated understanding. 



Devor, in his poem, descants with great earnestness 

 upon the necessity of an angler cultivating knowledge in 

 general, and particularly on the advantages to be derived 

 from his assiduous cultivation of religious and moral sen- 

 timents. These give him a keener relish for the sub- 

 limities and beauties of nature. The following stanzas 

 exhibit a pretty correct notion of the manner in which he 

 treats his subject : 



" When fair Aurora, rising early shows 

 Her blushing face beyond the eastern hills, 

 And dyes the heavenly vault with purple rowes, 

 That far around the world with brightness fills ; 

 The meadows green are hoare with silver dewes, 

 That on the earth the sable earth distils, 



And chaunting birds, with merry notes, bewray 

 The near approaching of the cheerful day. 



