Preface. 



XI 



will venture to make a few clofing obfervations on 

 angling books in general. 



The popular acceptation of what would feem to be 

 a fpecial and profeflional clafs of literature, is, of courfe, 

 accountable for only by the character of the works 

 compofing it, and the flerling merits of many of their 

 writers. The fport, let its maligners fay what they 

 will, is eminently conducive to contemplation. While 

 the huntfman gallops acrofs country, heedlefs of every- 

 thing fave his horfe's pace, and his hounds' fcent, the 

 angler follows the meanders of fome woodland brook, 



" Counting the dewy pebbles, loft in thought." 



His foul opens to all the influences of Nature, and he 

 becomes aware (if he is not the worft of Cockneys), that 

 under her high trees, and by her finging ftreams, me is 

 evermore bufy " inditing of many a lovely poem — her 

 ' Flower and Leaf,' on this lide — her ' Cuckoo and 

 the Nightingale,' on that — her * Paradife of Dainty 

 Devices,' in and out among the vallies — her ' Poly- 

 olbion,' away acrofs the hills — her ' Britannia's Paf- 

 torals,' on the home meadows — her fonnets of tufted 

 primrofes — her lyrical outgufhings of May blorToming 

 — her epical and didactical folemnities of light and 

 fhadow." 



All thefe, while his creel is filling, or when he retreats 



