18 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON ANGLING. 



solid pleasures of this life, until, by the fatigues and perplexi 

 ties of business, they are better fitted for the grave, than for 

 any proper and healthy recreation. 



An eminent divine and sound philosopher of this city, in 

 a discourse a short time since, remarking on the habits of the 

 people of this country, said: "that they always seemed to be 

 in a state of perpetual excitement one continual hurry and 

 bustle ; and that it would not be surprising to him to see half 

 of the population of New-York fall down in its streets in epi- 

 leptic fits ; and that chronic diseases, in most cases caused by 

 excessive mental excitement, close application, and want of 

 air and proper exercise, were fearfully on the increase." 



WALTON says, " And for you, that have heard many grave 

 and serious men pity anglers, let me tell you sir, there be 

 many men that are by others taken to be serious and grave 

 men, which we contemn and pity. Men that are taken to be 

 grave because nature hath made them of a sour complexion 

 money-getting men men that spend ah 1 their time first in 

 getting, and next in anxious care to keep it men that are 

 condemned to be rich, and then always busy or discontented ; 

 for these poor rich men, we anglers pity them perfectly, and 

 stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think ourselves 

 so happy." No, troth, we should be very sorry to borrow 

 anything from persons of this stamp, much less their thoughts, 

 the pooresMhings probably by far in their possession. Good 

 Isaac, verily thou didst know human nature ! 



It is true, as WALTON has remarked, that many have ridi- 

 culed this noble science and pitied its followers ; but let those 

 whose extreme and somewhat morbid sensibilities have ren- 

 dered them blind to the beauties of nature, remember that he 

 " who went about doing good," chose a number of his apostles 

 from among fishermen, and considered them worthy objects 

 of his confidence and love. 



It seems, in fine, a work of supererogation to attempt to 



