PREFACE. 



THE extreme popularity of the Complete Angler has been 

 so fully proved by its numerous editions, that it can 

 scarcely be necessary to solicit the favour of the public towards 

 one more carefully edited, and more highly embelHshed, than 

 any that has hitherto appeared. 



Although much had been done to illustrate that beautiful 

 Pastoral, it was still susceptible of pictorial embellishments of 

 a superior character ; and although great trouble had already 

 been taken to discover information respecting Walton and 

 Cotton, the subject was not exhausted. 



The following observations will show the particular claims 

 of these volumes to the patronage of the public. 



Of the embellishments little need be said, because the merits 

 or demerits of works of art speak for themselves. The scenery 

 was painted on the spot by the late Thomas Stothard, Esq. , 

 R.A., by whose ingenious pencil all the other Illustrations, 



