an ampler description of his character than that which accompanied the former editions"): 1792 (with Sir John's name on the title, but edited by his son John Sidney Hawkins, who added some notes left by his father on the margin of the last edition, with others made up from Sir John's Memoranda, and communications of intelligent friends since his decease. In this the plates are omitted): in 1779 another, but unaltered edition, by Sidney Hawkins.

Bagster, in 1808, published a revised edition of Hawkins, in a most liberal manner. The engravings of the scenes by Audinet, from Wale, and the fish, from freshtaken specimens, are very excellent; and in my copy, which has double plates, they are beautifully colored, and to my taste not surpassed as to accuracy of delineation by any since. It is from them the cuts in this edition are copied.

In 1815 Bagster published an edition with new and valuable notes, &c., by Sir Henry Ellis, whose name, in such a work, is itself a recommendation.

In 1822, 1824, 1835, and 1844, were published successive editions by John Major, with condensed notes and other interesting matter as Appendices, and an Introductory Essay by the Editor. It is profusely illustrated: the portrait of Walton, after the original by Housman, and that of Cotton, after the original by Lely, engraved by H. Robinson; the scenes, after designs by Absolon, engraved by Wilmore, and the woodcuts, of which there is great number, chiefly by Jackson. It is impossible to praise too highly the designs, or execution of the engravings, or the delicacy of the wood-cuts. Art could scarcely go further, and no more elegant volume can find place in a library than a large paper copy of the last edition by Major. The same praise cannot be awarded to Mr. Major's matter, which is neither so well nor so accurately written as might

D*

be wished; yet because of his beautiful embalmment of our favorite book, we yield to his deprecatory wish, that "the ROD of the critic may be exchanged for that of the fisher, and endless be the captives of Walton's imperishable LINE." The edition was printed by Nicol for Bogue: London.

In 1836, Professor Rennie edited the Angler after Sir John Hawkins, with notes, principally on the Natural History, but not so well as a professed angler and zoologist should have done.

Various other editions have from time to time been published, in various forms, by various booksellers, but the most magnificent of all is that by Sir Harris Nicholas, for Pickering, in 1836. It contains cexii. pages, devoted to Lives, &c., of Walton and Cotton, the most elaborate, correct, and satisfactory that have ever appeared, and 436 of the two parts of the Angler, with notes, &c., besides an Index to the whole, very complete and accurate, in 36 pages. The page is tall imperial octavo, the type (excepting the Index) very large, the paper thick and fine. Liberal literary illustrations are given, with great taste and care. The engravings, by the best artists, after designs by the best pencils, are most of them exceedingly beautiful, and the fish live on the page. Sir Harris unfortunately is not an angler himself, but the notes relative to the art were selected by Mr. Pickering, who delights in the title of "an old angler and bibliopolist;" and we can readily believe "that it was to his old friend, Mr. Pickering, literally a labor of love. Neither time nor expense was spared to produce an edition of the Complete Angler worthy of the state of the Arts in the present day, and of the importance which was, in his opinion, due to the subject and during seven years, in which the work has been in progress, his ardor never for a moment abated." Subsequently, upwards of thirty additional plates

(

were prepared to illustrate the work further; and a tall copy with proof impressions, appropriately bound, cannot be imported for less than one hundred dollars.

Thus have we traced The Complete Angler from the original square duodecimo through all sizes, the 48mo. (Pickering, 1825), to the imperial quarto, and from the original 18d. to twenty guineas but, in whatever form, it is a golden book," and the richest art of the publisher furnishes but a dim setting to such a priceless jewel.

66

It may please the reader to know some instances of the enthusiasm to which some of Walton's admirers, besides Mr. Pickering, have been transported. The Rev. Mr. Cotton had in his possession a fac simile copy of the first edition, in manuscript imitation of the original, “true, faithful, and accurate, ad verbum verbo etiam usque ad maculam, with the old plates admirably inlaid." Mr. Symond Higgs's quarto copy of the 1808 edition was illustrated with above two hundred and seventy prints and drawings, consisting of drawings from rare portraits, proof impressions of plates of fish, topographical prints, monuments, &c., which can in any way illustrate the text. "It was bound for him by Gosden (at five guineas price), the bands of the book made of wood from the door of Cotton's fishing-house, taken off by Mr. Higgs near the lock, where he was sure old Izaak must have touched it.” (MS. note of Mr. Gosden to my copy of Higgs's Sale Catalogue.) It sold for £63. Gosden's own illustrated copy (if I make out correctly a pencilled note appended to the above), unbound, single leaves, in a port-folio, sold for £110!!!

I have now brought my notices of Walton, and of Fishing and Fishing Books before his time, to a close: and lest the reader should be tired of me (as he may already), I shortly end, with Walton's own words, and "stay him no further than to wish him a rainy morning to

read the foregoing discourse; and that, if he be an honest angler, the east wind may never blow when he goes a-fishing."

February, 1847.

THE AMERICAN EDITOR.

Fac-simile of a Seal-Ring presented to

W. H. Pepys, Esq., by Sir H. Davy.

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL

JOHN OFFLEY, ESQ.,*

OF

MADELEY MANOR,

IN THE COUNTY OF STAFFORD,

MY MOST HONORED FRIEND.

SIR:

I HAVE made so ill use of your former favors, as by them to be encouraged to entreat that they may be enlarged to the patronage and protection of this book; and I have put on a modest confidence, that I shall not be denied; because it is a discourse of fish and fishing, which you know so well, and both love and practise so much.

You are assured, though there be ignorant men of another belief, that angling is an art, and you know that art better than others'; and that this is truth, is demonstrated by the fruits of that pleasant labor which you enjoy, when you purpose to give rest to your mind, and divest yourself of your more serious business, and, which is often, dedicate a day or two to this recreation.

Variations. Wherever an interesting variation has been made in the text by the author's own pen, it will be noted; unimportant alterations will be passed by. The text has been carefully compared, so far as my means would permit.-Am. Ed.

1 Than any that I know. First and second editions.

* Great grandson of Sir Thomas Offley, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1557. A John Offley proved the will of Agnes Walton in 1673, showing an acquaintance between the families.-Sir Harris Nicholas, abridged.