There are so many other, and so highly respectable writers in favour of this pleasing recreation-this friend to contemplation,that the bare recapitulation of their names will be its sufficient eulogium. The learned Dr. Perkins, Dr. Whitaker,* Dr. Nowell,† Sir Henry Wotton, R. Nobbes,‡ Col. Venables,

Mr. Isaac Walton and Charles Cotton, Esq. published by Moses Browne, author of Piscatory Eclogues, &c. First Edition, London, 1750. Mr. Walton wrote his part of the Compleat Angler, so long back as 1653. He published five Editions during his life-time: all the editions are now very scarce.

* Queen's Professor in Cambridge in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

+ Dean of St. Paul's, London, whose portrait has been preserved in Brazen-nose College, (to which he was a liberal benefactor,) in which he is drawn leaning on a desk with his Bible before him, and under one hand are lines, hooks, and other fishing tackle, and above him angling rods of several sorts, to denote his attachment to the art.

‡ Mr. Nobbes published a treatise entitled, “The Com"pleat Troller," in 1682, now very scarce.

Mr. Leonard Mascal,* &c. &c. all evinced their love for the art in theory as well as practice and Sir Henry Wotton describes it as an "employment for his idle time, which was "not then idly spent ;-for angling was, after " tedious study, a rest to his mind, a cheerer "of his spirits, a diverter of sadness, a calmer "of unquiet thoughts, a moderator of passions, "a procurer of contentedness, and that it

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begat habits of peace and patience in those "who professed, and practised it." So numerous, too, have been the recent writers in its favour, that it would be absurd to offer any thing in its defence—unnecessary to say a syllable more in its praise.

All that remains, therefore, to an amateur and practitioner of the present day, is to invite

Mr. Mascal wrote a Treatise on Fishing in the reign of Henry the Eighth, Anno 1524.

attention to the art, by setting it out in its most alluring colours to both sexes, as being no less conducive to contemplative innocence, and the study of the perfection of nature, than to exercise, and its concomitants,-health, cheerfulness, and peace of mind.

The performance of such a work can deserve no higher appellation than that of a compilation arrayed in a new, that is to say, a poetical form; under cover of which all the requisites of the art may be collected in an elegant and portable shape, without any mystery or technical jargon; so as to form at once A Pocket Companion, and Guide to the Angler, who follows the sport in solitude; and to those more social parties, where the sexes may prefer to take the diversion together.

It is to this point, particularly, (the

union of the sexes in this delightful art) that I would draw attention;-a point which has been too much neglected by preceding authors. Females, of the highest rank, now eagerly join in the boisterous, rude, and dangerous sports of the hunter, defying hedge, ditch, gate, river, and every other obstacle, and braving all risk of broken limbs, and indelicate exposure: let not then the more gentle and more congenial pursuits of the ANGLER be deprived of the countenance and company of the loveliest half of the creation, whose presence gives a zest (as Col. Thornton happily expresses it) to all our parties of pleasure.

"Le Donne son venute in excellença,
"Di ciascune arte ove hanno posto cura."

Females excel in ev'ry art,

ARIOSTO.

In which their judgment takes a part.

To effect so desirable a purpose, all that

could be collected from the preceding and

best works, as well as the result of many years practical experience, have been thrown into the form of a Poem; and those technical terms and phrases, as well as instructions and directions in the art, which could not well be brought into the smoothness of rhyme, have been added in the form of Notes, Appendix, &c.

To offer a poem of this kind to the Public, has been the sole aim of the Author, Editor, or Compiler (or whatever other appellation critical judgment shall be pleased to bestow on him ;) and if his work shall be allowed the further merit of being deemed worthy of a humble place in the library, he will have attained all, and even more, than he ever dared to hope for, as a pretender to poetry.

THE AUTHOR.

Trout Hall,

2d December, 1818.