24 



Oliver. Thank you, Mr. Bell a good sub- 

 ject, and a good song. Your toast, if you 

 please. 



Bell. All honest anglers. 



All. All honest anglers ! 



Burr ell. That will comprehend pretty 

 nearly all the brethren of the rod and line, 

 " the present company excepted," as civil 

 people say. What Pinkerton, with his usual 

 modesty, has said of collecting old coins : 

 " it is a most innocent pursuit, and such as 

 never engaged the attention of a bad man/' 

 belongs more justly to angling. There is 

 not a single angler to be found in the New- 

 gate Calendar. 



Rev. J. T. I am much inclined to agree 

 with you, Mr. Burrell, though I hardly 

 know whether you are speaking in jest or in 

 earnest. We have had some most amiable 

 men, and of great talent, in our own time 

 passionately fond of angling Dr. Paley, 

 Henry Mackenzie, and Sir Humphrey Davy, 

 for instance. The former, though a dig- 



