n 6 Fly-FiJhing. 



fome of our fapient legiflators are fo fond of pro- 

 viding us with, at leaft in their fpeeches, are, I fuf- 

 pe6t, a needy race. And though this does not 

 grieve me, as far as I am concerned, it does moft 

 deeply fometimes, when I am compelled to witnefs 

 pinching poverty, without being able to relieve 

 it. My poor parifliioners feem to know by inftincl: 

 when I go out with my rod ; for I am quite fure 

 the next morning to have plenty of candidates for 

 any favours in the fifti way. Of all the pleafures 

 you have faid and fung, I believe, of fly-fifhing, 

 not one in my opinion comes up to that of being 

 able " to feed the hungry." 



Clericus. And yet how many there are who 

 condemn a Clergyman, ay, even for occafionally 

 plying the gentle art. 



Pifcator. Yes, and how many there are who 

 think it fmful to laugb^ in fpite of your fage doc- 

 trine about its bracing up the nerves, &c. 



Glericus. I have never yet in my experience 

 met with a Puritan of this ftamp,who was not as 

 proud as Lucifer. Weak and wayward as we all 

 are, more or lefs, for a man to inveft himfelf in a 

 certain fyftem (as it were) of his own devifmg, 

 like a chryfalis in a cocoon, and extend to no one 

 beyond its confines aught more of courtefy and 



