242 ANGLING LITERATURE 



Chang' d into fish an equal fate they bore, 

 And though transform'd in shape, yet, as before, 

 The pike of slaughter fond and fierce appears, 

 And still the trout retains her female fears ! 

 Beauty and virgin modesty remains, 

 Diversify' d with crimson- tin ted stains ; 

 And, once the fairest nymph that trod the plain, 

 Swims fairest fish of all the finny train." 



In the first quarter of the present century, angling be- 

 came a court amusement in England,which made it fashion- 

 able among the higher classes of society. George the 

 Fourth was passionately fond of it for many years before 

 his death. This circumstance exercised no little influence 

 over the literature of the art. We see from about 1810 

 to 1830, a vast increase of sketches, essays, and works 

 on the subject, all characterised by a higher and more 

 refined literary tone than heretofore ; and more suitably 

 adapted for bringing the nature of the sport under the 

 immediate notice of all classes of the people. Asa proof 

 of the interest attached to his Majesty's piscatory pre- 

 dilections at the time, we shall transcribe the account 

 given of the Royal fishing apparatus, taken from the Times 

 newspaper, May 1st, 1828. This is not only a curious 

 document considered in relation to Eoyalty itself, but it 

 likewise forms an epoch in the history of rod-fishing in 

 this country, as well as in foreign ones, so far as me- 

 chanical skill and appliances have subsequently been 

 brought to bear upon it. 



" It is generally known that his Majesty has of late 



