WALTON TO THE EEADEE. 33 



yet, in the following Discourse, I have set down the twelve flies that 

 are in reputation with many anglers, and they may serve to give him 

 some observations concerning them. And he may note, that there are 

 in Wales and other countries, peculiar flies, proper to the particular 

 place or country ; and doubtless, unless a man makes a fly to counter- 

 feit that very fly in that place, he is like to lose his labour, or much of 

 it ; but for the generality, three or four flies, neat and rightly made, 

 and not too big, serve for a trout in most rivers all the summer. And 

 for winter fly-fishing it is as useful as an almanac out of date ! And 

 of these, because as no man is born an artist, so no man is born an 

 angler, I thought fit to give thee this notice. 



When I have told the reader, that in this fifth impression there are 

 many enlargements, gathered both by my own observation and the 

 communication with friends, I shall stay him no longer than to wish 

 him a rainy evening to read this following Discourse ; and that, if he 

 be an honest angler, the east wind may never blow when he goes a 

 fishing. 



I. W. 



For Do r . C. Bewmount. 



pray S r , Accept this pore presant, by the as meane 

 hand that brings it from 



Y r . affec. servant, 



Izaak Walton.* 



* Some little inscription similar to the foregoing, generally accompanied 

 those copies of Walton's works which he gave to his friends ; and when 

 they have occurred at sales, they have produced several guineas above the 

 value of the work itself. He also wrote his name in most of his own 

 reading books, and Sir H. Nicolas has enumerated about twenty thus 

 enriched, now preserved in the Cathedral Library, Salisbury. 



