104 WATERSIDE SKETCHES. 



in it, the Trent, no doubt, could yield specimens of every 

 fish known in English rivers. The Ouse I have chosen to 

 describe as sober-minded and substantial. The Trent, so 

 far as I have seen it, is a sparkling genius that makes its 

 presence known by infinite brightness, dash, and impulse. 

 The Ouse is a solid line of infantry, the Trent a glittering 

 squadron of light cavalry. The scenery of the Trent is 

 amongst the best to be found in the Midlands, while there 

 are spots nowhere to be excelled this side of Severn or 

 Tweed. Serving the busy Potteries in the outset of its 

 course, it soon becomes aristocratic, and runs through 

 Trentham, whose trees it lovingly laves, flowing with mode- 

 rated pace through the beautiful park, and lending new 

 charms to its far-famed gardens, terraces, temples, fountains, 

 and hanging plantations. In the valley which the Trent 

 gladdens are other great family seats — Meaford, Sandon, 

 Ingestre, Tixall, Hagley, and Donington, where cliffs enter 

 romantically into the composition of the landscape. 



My most intimate angling acquaintance with the Trent is 

 confined to a few miles below Nottingham, and unkind is 

 the fate which prevents me at least once every summer from 

 standing knee-deep for a day or two in the broad gravel 

 bedded and rippling stream. It is Kirke White who applies 

 to the river the term "rippling,'' and the term is photo- 

 graphic. The hapless lad loved to escape from the 

 drudgery of the hosier's shop to the river's brink; and, 

 if possible, afterwards, when more congenially engaged at 

 Mr. Coldham's law office, where in busy times he attended 

 from eight in the morning till eight in the evening, finding 

 an hour still later for Latin study, thither tended his foot- 

 steps. In his seventeenth year — "scarcely the work of 



