cxxiv LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. 



was reprinted by the Rev. Moses Browne in 1772,' the last pre- 

 ceding edition being that of 1676. Dr Johnson, moreover, once 

 thought of editing Walton's Lives of Donne, Wotton, Hooker, 

 Herbert, and Sanderson, which was one of his favourite books.* 

 The work was originally contemplated by Dr Home, President 

 of Magdalene College, and afterwards Bishop of Norwich, who 

 requested Johnson to contribute to it ; but he declined, under the 

 idea that Lord Hailes intended to reprint it.^ In April 1777, 

 however, he desired Boswell to get him all the editions of Walton's 

 lives, as he says, " I have a notion that the republication of them 

 with notes will fall upon me, between Dr Home and Lord 

 Hailes."^ He preferred the Memoir of Donne to any of the 

 others ; ' and it is characteristic of him, that he complained of 

 the omission of Donne's vision in a recent edition, which he said 

 should be restored ; adding that " there ought to be a critical 

 catalogue given of the works of the different persons whose lives 

 were written by Walton, and therefore their works must be care- 

 fully read by the editor." ^ 



Sir Walter Scott's admiration of Walton is known to all the 

 world, because his works contain several allusions to him, and 

 always in terms of praise. 



Wordsworth's exquisite sonnet on Walton's biographical labours 

 cannot be too often reprinted : — 



" There are no colours in the fairest sky 

 So fair as these ; the feather whence the pen 

 Was shaped that traced the lives of these good Men, 

 Propped from an Angel's wing. With moistened eye. 

 We read of faith and purest charity, 

 In Statesman, Priest, and humble Citizen. 

 Oh could we copy their mild virtues, then 

 What joy to live, what blessedness to die ! 

 Methinks their very Names shine still and bright. 

 Apart — like glow-worms in the woods of spring. 

 Or lonely tapers shooting far a light 

 That guides and cheers — or seen like stars on high, 

 Satellites burning in a lucid ring. 

 Around meek Walton's heavenly memory." ^ 



A critic in the Quarterly Review ^ has thus spoken of the same 

 work : — 



" Izaak Walton, in the enjoyment of a green and cheerful old 

 age, the reward of a tranquil life, produced without art or study, 

 his inimitable pieces of biography, not unconscious how rich a 



5 Preface to Moses Browne's edition of the Complete Angler, pp. 14-16. 



6 Boswell's Life of Johnson, ed. 1811, vol. iii. 74, 



7 Ibid. ii. 401, 405 ; iii. 162, 163. 8 Ibid. iii. 303. 

 H Ibid. iii. 7^. 1 Ibid. iii. 163. 



2 Ecclesiastical Sketches, London, 1822. 3 Vol. xxix. p. 212. 



