52 



dered the characteristic of the age in which 

 he wrote, and by some esteemed as an ex- 

 cellence which enhances the value of his 

 work, by affording us at the same time an 

 idea of the manners of the period and of the 

 writer's character. It is like the old stamped 

 binding of a good old book, giving additional 

 interest to that which is in itself valuable. 

 His old age, at once cheerful and vigorous, no 

 " honest angler" will consider as a reproach, 

 but on the contrary will revere as an honor, 

 and regard as a blessing " entailed on tem- 

 perance and a mind at ease." When his 

 Lordship speaks of an angler, " thinking only 

 of his dish of fish/' he shows how little he 

 was acquainted with an angler's feelings. 

 The observation, that " a single bite is worth 

 more to him than the scenery around/' is 

 rather in the style of a prospect hunter, who 

 is ever on the look out for picturesque beau- 

 ties, and who admires them as they appear 

 capable of affording materials for the compo- 

 sition of a striking picture. The angler's 



