This is precisely the treatment of our author which agrees with our own views; it requires not so much the love of angling, as a relish for the general charms of nature, to render any person of true taste delighted with his pages. We have consequently spared no effort to illustrate the literary and rural beauties of the work: our numerous topographical views,* with those other subjects which have been suggested to the various artists as the result of a long intimacy with these fascinating pages, it is hoped, can leave but little to be desired on this point, whilst the great pains which have been taken to ensure correct delineations of the FISH, (the whole having been painted from nature expressly for this edition), may add to the character of the work as connected with a popular branch of natural history :-truly may it be said (after allowing the painter, in each instance, due praise,) that the "gravers," also,

"had a strife

With nature to outdo the life !"

* Greatly varied in the present edition.

+ The list of engravings will shew that some entirely new specimens of Fishes by artists of the highest rank are introduced in this fourth edition. But the new designs by Mr. Absolon form the crown of my present efforts -nothing could exceed his zeal whilst they were on his easel - skilful anglers stood for the men, and fair and handsome ladies volunteered for the females; the result, I warmly anticipate will come with a pleasing surprise upon the minds of the most affectionate admirers of our author.

The important and classical addition of the specific and generic characters, will speak for itself to proceed from a most competent quarter.

The Notes, consistently with our view of the work, "in its more important character of a BRITISH CLASSIC," are devoted chiefly to the illustration of its literary merits, and though we should deem it a sort of profanation to place them on the same page * with the text, we have most zealously endeavoured to render them worthy of a distinct perusal.

The frequent occurrence of eminent names throughout the work, naturally leads us to reflect that the chief argument used by Walton in recommending his art, the "love and practice" of it by persons of science and learning, -is of the most permanent kind. The most ardent anglers of the present day, will be found in the higher walks of genius and knowledge; a host in himself, as it re

These notes having been much praised for their very comprehensive usefulness, considering the limited space, it is only due to the kind and friendly contributor, (declining to be named) to acknowledge the careful revision of them, with valuable additions on the present occasion; and also to thank him for a re-collation of the text itself, by which it has been improved throughout. The bantling is, in truth my own, but its sponsors are innumerable; one kind patron, a gentleman of fortune, used to say to his friends, "you must have this edition for I have a share in it!" and a total stranger once assured me that he had bestowed no less than six guineas on the binding of the work, as a specimen of the skill of Charles Lewis.

gards our purpose, it were superfluous to covet authorities in addition to that of the, now, in these enlightened days, illustrious President of the Royal Society! *

Again, for the honour of our author let us not forget that the brilliant wit, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, is known to have declared that he never desired a better companion for a post-chaise, than this same angler, or Contemplative Man's Recreation.

Far indeed from singular is any man who imagines himself alone to have carried his enthusiasm for our author to exactly the proper pitch! it seems as if there must yet exist a "friendly contention" about the mode of expressing it as to who shall be loudest in his praise! — who honour him most in every possible way thus he is daily more and more appreciated as an honour to the English Character!—whilst his increasing popularity is doubtless an honour to the English people, who love him all the more, because (though far from devoid of art) he drew like his

.

* SIR HUMPHREY DAVY (— Alas! for CHANTREY also) since deceased. The annexed engraving is from a seal ring, which this ardent angler, a short time before his death, caused to be engraved "with a trout upon it" and left to his friend W. HASELDINE PEPYS, Esq. F. R. S., as a mourning ring" but to be worn "in memory of the happy days they had passed together by the river side!" — this

"not

was quite in the true "love-my-memory spirit of our own Izaak himself!

own nightingale-all his graces "from beyond its reach;" in good truth, whoever drinks deep of the true spirit of our glorious Izaak, will be at a loss whether most to admire the extreme clearness of his head or the extreme goodness of his heart.

To a theme so pleasing, it requires much resolution to fix the necessary bounds; if space were allowed, we could greatly swell our collection of laudatory extracts, even from popular authors: but the reader must now be relieved by the perusal of our author's Will; a composition illustrating equally his own benevolent character and the peculiar nature of his connexions.

August the ninth, one thousand six hundred eighty-three. In the Name of God, Amen. I IZAAK WALTON the elder, of Winchester, being this present day, in the ninetyeth year of my age, and in perfect memory, for which praised be God, but considering how suddainly I may be deprived of both, do therefore make this my last Will and Testament as followeth And first, I do declare my belief to be, that there is only one God, who hath made the whole world, and me and all mankind, to whom I shall give an account of all my actions, which are not to be justified, but I hope pardoned, for the merits of my Saviour Jesus; and because the profession of Christianity does, at this time, seem to be subdivided into Papist and Protestante, I take it, at least, to be convenient to declare my belief to be, in all points of faith, as the Church of England now professeth and this I do the rather, because of a very long and very true friendship with some of the Roman church. And for my worldly Estate (which I have neither got by falsehood, or flattery, or the extreme cruelty of the law of this nation) I do hereby give and bequeath it as followeth : First,

I give my son in law, Doctor Hawkins, and to his wife, to them I give all my title and right of or in a part of, a house and shop in Pater-noster-row, in London, which I hold by lease from the Lord Bishop of London for about fifty years to come. And I do also give to them all my right and title of or to a house in Chancery lane, London, wherein Mrs. Greinwood now dwelleth, in which is now about sixteen years to come: I give these two leases to them, they saving my executor from all damage concerning the same. And I give to my son, Izaak, all my right and title to a lease of Norington Farme, which I hold from the Lord Bishop of Winton; and I do also give him all my right and title to a farm or land near to Stafford, which I bought of Mr. Walter Noell; I say, I give it to him and his heirs for ever; but upon the condition following, namely: if my son shall not marry before he shall be of the age of forty and one years, or, being married, shall dye before the said age, and leave no son to inherit the said farme or land; or if his son or sons shall not live to attain the age of twenty and one years, to dispose otherways of it; then I give the said farme or land to the towne or corporation of Stafford, in which I was borne, for the good and benefit of some of the said towne, as I shall direct, and as followeth (but first note, that it is at this present time rented for twenty-one pound ten shillings a year, and is like to hold the said rent, if care be taken to keep the barn and housing in repair;) and I would have, and do give ten pound of the said rent, to bind out yearly, two boys, the sons of honest and poor parents, to be apprentices to some tradesmen or handicraft-men, to the intent the said boys may the better afterward get their own living. And I do also give five pound yearly, out of the said rent, to be given to some maid-servant, that hath attained the age of twenty and one year, not less, and dwelt long in one service, or to some honest poor man's daughter, that hath attained to that age, to be paid her at or on the day of her marriage: and this being done, my will is, that what rent shall remain of the said farme or land, shall be disposed of as fol