51 



John Dennis ; and though Lord Byron has 

 asserted that " no angler can be a good man/' 

 it is likely to be long ere the dictum becomes 

 an axiom in morals. Tastes differ very 

 materially, and every one is apt to judge 

 favorably of the amusement which he is 

 partial to ; but, on general grounds, it may 

 be safely concluded that angling is at least 

 as innocent as dog-fighting; not quite so 

 cold as swimming until the exhibitor gets an 

 ague; and much less stupid than pistol 

 shooting. In answer to the assertion, that 

 " no angler can be a good man," it were 

 an easy matter to produce a list of anglers 

 from the age of Queen Elizabeth to the 

 present time, who have been distinguished 

 for the blameless integrity of their lives, and 

 who have displayed as much virtue as, per- 

 haps, our frail nature will allow. But it is 

 needless to attempt seriously to answer a 

 charge which is best refuted by its own 

 extravagance. 



Walton's quaintness is by many consi- 



