i82 THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 



The following letter was written to Colonel 

 Venables, after reading the proof sheets of his 

 work, " The Experienced Angler ; or, Angling 

 Improv'd " — 



Letter from Walton to his 



Ingenious Friend the Author 



ON his 



"Angling Improv'd" 



" Honoured Sir, 



" Though I never (to my knowledge) had 

 the happiness to see your face, accidentally 

 coming to a view of this Discourse, before it 

 went to the Press, I held myself obliged in 

 point of gratitude for the great advantage I 

 received thereby, to tender you my particular 

 acknowledgment, especially having been for 

 thirty years past, not only a lover but a 

 practiser of that innocent Recreation, wherein 

 by your judicious Precepts I find myself fitted 

 for a Higher Form, which expression I take 

 the boldness to use, because I have read and 

 practised by many books of this kind, formerly 

 made publick ; from which (although I received 

 much advantage in the practick) yet (without 



