the c Compleat Angler.' 



29 



" fundry fuch facts, difcoveries, notices, authorities and obfer- 

 vations, as he flattered himfelf would greatly tend to improve 

 it." He then goes on to explain that he had enlarged the 

 Life of Walton, and fubftituted a <f new account of Mr. 

 Cotton, extracted, chiefly from his own writings, lefs diffufe 

 and defultory than that which accompanied the former edition." 



The rejected memoir, as we have already intimated, was 

 the work of Oldys, whofe initials are appended to it, and who 

 died the year after its publication. The new biography was 

 by Hawkins himfelf. 



Modern commentators have been flow to acknowledge the 

 value of Hawkins' editorial fervices. They pooh-pooh his 

 Pifcatorfhip, carp and cavil at his fcience, and put on double 

 fpectacles to difcover his enthufiafm — and fail. That he 

 had weak points, and that thefe were of them, we do not 

 deny ; but as a pioneer, in his department, he has, we repeat, 

 a claim on our regard and recognition, which it would be un- 

 gracious to repudiate. 



Five years, however, after the date of this fourth edition, the 

 c Compleat Angler' was orphaned of both its editors. Mofes 

 Browne departed hence in 1787, at the ripe age of eighty-four; 

 and in 1789 Hawkins alfo, though a much younger man, 

 refted from his labours. 



That there was no caufe for defpondency on this ground, 

 we know ; and looking from that epoch, down the long vifta 

 of the coming years, we fee editors, many and able — editors, and 

 ftill editors, in ever increasing numbers, flocking to the refcue. 

 What, if in a perverfe mood, we were to ftart a herefy and 



