AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/anglersramblesOOjessrich AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES; EDWARD JESSE, Esq., F.L.S. AUTHOK or ' OLBANINOI IV NATURAL BISTOKT.' Fish, Nature, Streams, Discourse, the Line, the Hook, Shall form the motley subject of ray book. LONDON; JOHN VAN VOORST, 3, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCXXXVI. < Vidlstis Qt escam Deliciasque breres viti mercatus adeznpti Interiit Piscls, dnlci male credulus hamo : Non aliter fraadem blandis Inimica volaptas Occulit inlccebris, qaibus inconsulta joventas Si capitur, Jam non ma^s faaasta venena tenaci Egerit ex animo, captus qoam Piscis adancum SangTiineis potuit divellere faucibas hamnm. Sed longo moerore brevem dulcedinis usum iCteniisqae luet vlx cognita gaudla poenis.' Vanibrii PrjKdiom RuiTicim, Lib. xt. >:V • • • » • , • . ^ PRINTED BY W. NICOL, 51, PALL-MALL. TO WALTER CAMPBELL, OF ISLAY, M. P. Dear Sir, When you were unanimously requested to become the President of the Walton and Cotton Club, there was not a member who did not feel DEDICATION, that their choice had fallen on one from whose experience and practical knowledge in their favo- rite Art of Angling, they should derive both instruction and much pleasing information. Nor have they been disappointed. On every occasion on which we have had the pleasure of seeing you in our chair, some useful hint has been recorded, or some fact related respecting the inhabitants of your northern rivers and lakes, which were equally new and interesting. Some of them will be found in this little Volume, which I beg leave to dedicate to you, and to my brethren of the Walton and Cotton Club, as a trifling proof of my sincere regard for you all, and as an acknowledgment of the many pleasant and rational hours which I have enjoyed in your society. Believe me, Very faithfully yours, Edwabd Jesse. Hampton Court, July, 183 . PREFACE. The following pages were written at various times, and are chiefly recollections of scenes and circum- stances which took place in my younger days, with the exception of the paper on Thames Fishing, the greater part of which has appeared in Fraser's Magazine. Those who, like myself, are admirers of the secluded and tranquil scenes which are so fre- quently to be met with on the banks of many of our pretty streams and rivers, will find some of them faithfully described. The present Volume has no pretensions to be considered as a regular Angler's Guide. What I know and practice, I have mentioned, and I trust that my * brethren of the rod' will find a few use- ful hints. At all events my favourite art will be found to be divested of the cruelty which is so generally attached to it, and I have endeavoured to shew that it may be enjoyed without the inflic- tion of unnecessary pain. PREFACE. As I have always felt a great interest in many of the scenes and occurrences which are to be met with in country life, I have endeavoured to de- scribe and embody them with my hints for Anglers. What has interested me, will, I trust, interest some of my readers. Such as my work is, it is now submitted to the public, and as my former Volumes have been so favourably received, I trust that these pages will meet with as kind a reception. The following amplification of the motto of my title-page, parodied from Juvenal, will best describe the nature of my work. The peaceful Angler's joys by pool and stream, His sports, bis toils, form our discursive theme ; Nature he loves — her works we humbly scan And mystic laws — beneficent to man ; Then turn again to rod and line and hook, Or with a tale fill up our little book. THAMES FISHING. ' The patient angler takes his silent stand * Intent, his angle trembling in his hand; • With looks unmoved, he hopes the scaly breed, ' And eyes the dancing cork and bending reed.* Popt. It is somewhat amusing to notice the different characters and description of persons who visit some of the villages in the vicinity of the metro- polis by which the Thames flows, for the purpose of fishing. I frequently have them as companions on the outside of our stage coach, and I must in justice to them say, that I invariably find them pleasant and good-humoured, generally full of san- guine and eager anticipations of excellent sport, though now and then casting a look at the sky, and asking the opinion of the coachman as to the pro- bable state of the weather on the morrow. I obseiTe that our coachman always treats these wor- thy disciples of Izaac Walton with great respect B '• • 2 th'XMies 1?ishing, and civility, which I presume these open-hearted lovers of angling return by a small addition to the usual fee. I always think it a piece of good for- tune whenever I find myself placed on the roof of the coach near these light-hearted fishermen, with their rods between their knees, and their fishing l)askets properly secured. There is a sort of free- masonry amongst anglers which s|)eedily makes them become acquainted with each other, and then commences an agreeable relation of their exploits in the piscatory art. It is certainly with no small pride and self-satisfaction that these communica- tions are made. Every minute detail of the cap- ture of a trout is entered into; its length, its weight, its condition, the sort of tackle used, the species of bait, the mode of putting it on — even the very way in which the fish is dressed, and its extraordinary fine flavour, are all eagerly detailed in succession, and patiently listened to. Patience, certainly, is a necessary qualification in an angler. Indeed I remember a Thames fisherman, who, on my evincing some displeasure at not having the good sport he had promised me, very coolly told me that I should never make a good angler if I could not fish a whole day in a bucket of water without shewing impatience. But to return to my companions on the Shep- perton and Chertsey stage. Sometimes I meet with humble ^o««t in the river, where, perhaps, he has had good sport the year before, and the ground is properly baited by one of the resident fishermen of the place, ready for the arrival of his customer. 6 THAMES FISHING. According to the rule of Thames angling, or rather one of its bye-laws, the fixing a punt-pole in a par- ticular spot, is a sign that the ground is taken, and I never hear of this privilege being disputed. I have known sixty and even eighty barbel taken in one day by a single party in a boat, but this does not happen often in the season. Some of the bar- bel are of a large size. The barbel thus caught are generally given to the owner of the punt,* ex- cepting three or four of the largest, which are taken away as specimens of the sport which has been had. The largest which I believe has been taken, weighed fifteen pounds and a half It was caught by a gen- tleman of the name of Thompson. In winter, large shoals of barbel congregate under the lee of a sunken boat, lying one upon the other, and are often taken in considerable num- bers by letting a hook fall amongst them, and then pulling it up. At these times they are so torpid and inanimate as to suffer themselves to be pushed about with a punt-pole. I have caught barbel when trolling for trout with a bleak, and also chub. The barbel is so called from its barb or beard. ♦ Although barbel are rejected as a fish not fit to be eaten, they are by no means to be despised if dressed in the following manner. The fish should be well cleaned and the back-bone taken out, and the sides cut into slices and thrown into salt and water. After remaining in it for an hour or two,_these slices should be tpitched-cocked, the same way as eels. THE BARBEL. 7 It delights, in summer, in strong currents, and gets under bridges, in the weirs amongst piles, and some- times in deep holes. It is in these places that they are caught in tlie greatest numbers, and I know of no spot where an angler is more likely to have good sport than at the deep just below Hampton, and nearly opposite to Garrick's temple. Indeed, I like that spot for other reasons. I never fish within sight of it, without thinking of that celebrated actor, and admiring the beautiful sloping lawn which he so much delightetl in, and the classic temple in which he deposited bis noble statue of Shakspeare, and his mulberry-tree chair. One may fancy him emerging from his arched grotto, with Reynolds and Johnson, Burke and Beauclerk, in order to show them the beautiful Thames as it calmly glided at the foot of his lawn, or its grace- ful windings, till the distant bridge terminated the view. Here the gentle craftsman may depend upon good sport, should the weather and the season be favourable. His fishing ground should be pre- viously baited, and he should use a strong and rather short rod, with a reel and a strong line, and a bottom link of two or three lengths of gut twisted together, with a No. 5 hook. The line should be run through a bullet, which should have a stop at about twelve inches from the hook to prevent its shpping upon it. "When the line is thrown out, the bullet rests on the ground, and the stream 8 THAMES FISHING. causes the bait to move about. The best bait is graves (the remains of tallow-chandler's fat), which should be boiled till they are soft and nearly white, and also gentles, cheese and salmon-roe. The line cannot be cast into the water too quietly, neither js it necessary to throw out as great a length of it as the Thames anglers generally do, I have caught as many barbel close to the punt as at a greater distance from it. The barbel is a powerful fish, and it requires some skill to land a large one ; so that it should be played and managed with great care. Roach and dace fishers form another distinct class of Thames fishermen, and it is very seldom they try for any thing else, or indeed, understand any other sort of fishing. So keen, however, are they at this sport, that many pursue it very late in the year ; and a retired surgeon, of the name of Wood, is still talked of at Hampton, as having braved the coldest weather in winter in order to follow his favorite diversion. He would get up before it was light, have his breakfast, and fish till it was dark, at a time when the wet was freezing on his Hne. He had always, however, a hot dinner brought to the boat, which must have kept him from starving in both senses. The largest roach I can hear of, weighed three pounds. In the spawning season, which takes place in April, immense shoals go " to hill,"' as the ROACH PIKE. 9 fishermen call it ; that is to the shallows, for the purpose of depositing their spawn. The season for roach fishing in the Thames begins about the middle of August, and continues throughout the winter, at which time, notwith- standing the inclemency of the weather, many per- sons follow the diversion. Londoners will beat all others in fishing for roach, and they may be seen pur- suing their favorite sport at the arches of the several bridges over the Thames from Battersea upwards. The angler for roach should use fine yet strong tackle. The rod should not exceed eight feet in length, with a line somewhat shorter made of horse- hair. The bottom link should be of gut two feet in length, a large quill float, with two or three small shot about eight or ten inches from the float, and No. 1 or 11 hooks. The best baits are gen- tles and paste having a little cotton worked into it, to prevent its being too readily taken from the hook. Some persons use boiled wheat or malt, but gentles are generally preferred. Boiled wheat is however good as a ground bait. In fishing for roach, the bait should be from two to three inches from the bottom, and the angler should strike quick. Pike and {^erch fishing seems to be followed only occasionally, as it is very uncertain sport in the Thames. Some large perch are now and then caught, especially by the sides of the projecting B 2 10 THAMES FISHING. boarded piles, which are here and there placed on the sides of the river to throw the current of water into the main channel for the purpose of facilita- ting the navigation of barges. From the position of these piles, and the action of the water, deep holes are generally found near them, in which the perch harbour. The pike which are caught in trolhng, are generally small, but there is the pic- ture of one just hung up on the walls of the entrance to the Bell Inn, at Hampton, which weighed ten pounds and a-half, and was lately caught in an odd way by a gentleman of the name of Waring, whose feat is duly recorded, and authenticated, on the picture. He was fishing with fine tackle for some other sort offish, when the pike in question came at his bait ; he was taken unawares at seeing so large a fish, though he has the character of being a tolerably expert practitioner, and snatched away his line; in doing so he hooked the pike in the belly, and the boat being luckily adrift, he was enabled to secure it, after playing it for a consider- able length of time. Indeed, many extraordinary stories are related by Thames anglers, as well as by the fishermen, of the way in which fish have been caught, after having been hooked foul, I have been assured, indeed, that on one occasion a good sized trout was landed, that had been en- tangled in an accidental noose in the line, by a per- son who was trolling in the rapid at Hampton. THE TROUT. I 1 Having given this account of what I consider to be the inferior kind of fishing in the river Thames, I will now, '' loving reader,"" say somewhat respect- ing the trout fishers. These are generally first- rate performers, and proofs of their skill may fre- quently be found by markings or outlines of fish on the walls, or preserved by paintings, at some of the comfortable little inns near the banks of the Thames, between Ditton and Windsor, and proba- bly much higher up. Thus, * June 25th, ISIH, ' Mr. D*Almaine caught^ at Hampton Deep, two ' trout, one weighing eight pounds and a-half, and * the other seven pounds. — Langshaw, Fisherman,' And an outline of the fish is given. Perhaps how- ever, the greatest feat which has been thus comme- morated, is the following : ' October 3d, 1 8 1 i, at Shepperton Deeps, Mr ' G. Marshall, of Brewer Street, London, caught * a salmon with single-gut^ without a landing net, * weighing twenty-one and a quarter pounds.' The picture of this salmon has, I believe, been lately removed from Shepperton to Staines. The art of fishing for trout from the tops of the weirs of the river Thames, is, I may venture to say, confined to very few, and to those only who have been in the habit of practising it for a consi- derable length of time. It requires good tackle, great skill, and some nerve. A bungler would even find it difficult to put a bleak properly on a 12 THAMES FISHING. set of the hooks which are used in Thames trout fishing, so as to make it spin as it ought to do. The angler sits or stands on the top of the piles of the weir, the foaming water rushing through them with great force and noise. The torrent then forms eddies, and little whirlpools in the basin below, and from which as the water expands itself, it again resumes its calm and stately movement In the position I have described, the angler has to cast his line into the foaming basin, and this a skilful practitioner will do to a distance of from thirty to forty yards. The great art, however, is in gather- ing up the line properly in the hand for a second cast, so that it may not become entangled, or be checked in its progress. When the position of the angler is considered, this is no easy task, especially as the loss of his balance might precipitate him into the torrent below. I do not mean to say that all Thames trout are taken by anglers while in this position, as some persons troll from boats or tlie banks of an ait, but the best, and generally the most successful fishing, is from the tops of the weirs. Among the few celebrated Thames anglers, I must mention Mr. G. Marshall first, because I be- lieve him to be the best, taking him as a bait and fly-fisher. His forty years practice in angling has tended to make his mind and body active and vigorous, and few of his brethren of the rod THE TROUT. 13 have met with more success in his favorite amuse- ment. Mr. Cox, of Bermondsey, is another first-rate angler. He is however, I believe, only a bait- fisher, although a very good one. He will enter his boat at Maidenhead or Windsor, and moving gently along with the stream, will troll down to Hampton. On the 20th of May 183 I, Mr. Cox landed at Hampton, after such an expedition, with fourteen trout, some of them of a large size. The gentlemen I have mentioned, are of the old school of anglers. The best among the new, are Sir Hyde Parker, William Whitbread, and Edward Mills, Esquires, each of them capable of appreciating the difficulties and pleasure of Thames trout fishing. I should not forget to add Mr. Bachelor, of Wind- sor, and Mr. Goodman, of Hampton Court, to the list. There are few better or more persevering anglers to be met with. I must not at the same time omit to make honor- able mention of John Tagg. This worthy fisher- man lets out boats and punts at Hampton Court, provides rods, lines, and baits, and waits upon those anglers who employ him, with equal civihty and attention. He is moreover one of the king's watermen, and manages a punt better than most men on the river. His skill is confined, I believe, to boat fishing, as I never heard him mentioned as a troUer. He is a great favorite in the neighbour- 14 THAMES FISHING. hood, and deservedly so, as may be seen by the following inscription, which I found engraved on some brass-work at the l)ottom of a handsome rod which I accidentally found in his boat when I was fishing for barbel last autumn. Johan. Taggo Piscatorum facile principi, Puntorumque propellatori, Undisque profundissimis Thamesis Molisque Certe pernosccnti, Diana: fontibus et canalibus Bushi paradisum irrigantibus Egregie imbuto, Viro per orbem terrarum noto I Viro vix alii mortal ium secundo ! ! Viro incomparabili ! ! ! Hoc signum admirationis Sheridanii, Brinsleius, Franciscusque, Laudum ejus fautores Faciendum curavere. And underneath it is stated that the rod was — Presented to John Tagg, For his many virtues and transcendant talents in Fishing, by Sheridans, Brinsley and Frank. Should any novice in the art of trolling for trout, be anxious to become a proficient, I would recom- mend him to place himself under the tuition of Mr. Walters, of Hampton. He is not only a good fisherman, but is remarkably civil and obliging, and has a good stock of tackle ready at any time and for all seasons and descriptions of fish. I must THE TROUT. 15 confess, however, that he tries to keep up the spirits of his customers by telUng rather marvellous fishing stories ; but this is a necessary part of his profes- sion, and with such an instructor, any one may make very considerable progress in the piscatory art in a short time. I wish however to take this oppor- tunity of cautioning him and his brethren of the rod, not to angle for trout themselves. When not otherwise employed, they are constantly doing this, and the consequence is that their regular cus- tomers are disappointed of their sport, and many of them eventually go to more distant stations. Living as I do near the banks of the river, I have too many opportunities o^ witnessing these pro- ceedings of the Thames fishermen, by which they gain little and lose much in the end. The Thames trout are taken of a large size, some of them having been caught, and that lately, weighing as much as sixteen pounds. Trout from eight to twelve pounds are by no means un- common, and they afford excellent sport to the angler. When caught, and if in season, there is no fish in the world perhaps, which can equal them in flavour and goodness. The high price which is given for them is one proof of this, and I never yet met with a real epicure who would not give them the preference to any other fish. I will state an instance of this. Two old friends, whose names I do not feel 16 THAMES FISHING. myself justified in mentioning, but who will be recognised by many who have partaken of the hos- pitahties of their table, were in tlie habit of coming to our pretty village of Hampton, not only to fish (they were punters) but also to regale themselves with Thames trout. They were so alive to the merits of these fish, that on leaving Hampton they enjoined the worthy host of the Red Lion, at whose house they had taken up their quarters, to send to them in London the first fine trout he could procure. He was desired not to mind the expense, but to despatch the fish in a post-chaise, so that it might arrive in time for dinner. The host had soon afterwards an opportimity of pro- curing a remarkably large and beautiful trout, which was duly sent in a post-chaise to Mr. W 's house in Spring Gardens. It arrived at five o'clock, and was immediately taken to his sitting-room. After admiring it for a short time, he sent an in- vitation to his friend Mr. T to come and par- take of it at six o'clock, and described the appear- ance and beauty of the fish. He received an answer from his friend, acquainting him that he was dying from a sudden attack of gout, but that it would be a great satisfaction to him if he could see the fish, provided it would not be injured by being conveyed to his house for that purpose. The trout was accordingly sent — Mr. T feasted his eyes upon it, and soon afterwards closed them for ever. THE TROUT. 17 I have already stated that the largest trout are generally taken at the weirs, but in consequence of the force of the water, the nature of the situa- tion, and the constant endeavours of bunglers in the art to get a run, many fish, in the course of the season are pricked, and become shy and difficult to be taken even by the most skilful in the art of anghng. Indeed a moderate angler may fish a whole season at the weirs without taking a trout, and it requires such masters of the rod as those I have mentioned, to have a chance of success. It is an art peculiar in itself, and the best salmon fisher in Scotland or Ireland would be obliged to confess that he was quite ignorant of it. The Thames can alone boast of this class of anglers, and they are altogether unrivalled. It is a well known fact that the large Thames trout will not take the artificial fly, but by mere chance, and some will not run at a bleak during a whole season, however fine the tackle, and however skilful the angler maybe. A large trout may be seen almost daily at this time (June 1835) opposite the water-gallery of Hampton Court, which has defied every endeavour to capture it. A gentleman of my acquaintance, an expert spinner for trout, moored his boat close to a spot where he had fre- quently seen two large trout on the feed, and which, after many attempts, he had been unable to take. When the fish appeared to have become 18 THAMES FISHING. accustomed to the boat, and had been seen feeding close to its sides, he endeavoured, at various times, and in different ways, to induce them to take a bait, but never succeeded, and I verily believe, the fish are at this moment in the full enjoyment of their native element. Many curious anecdotes have been related to me respecting the capture of Thames trout, and I will relate one or two of them. Mr. Marshall, of whom honourable mention has already been made, and who is so well known to every lover of Thames angling, during one of his piscatorial excursions in the present season, (1835) hooked a trout in the Thames of twelve pounds weight. After playing it for some time, the fish struggled greatly, and at last made a leap out of the water nearly a yard high, and shook the hooks completely out of his mouth, which Mr. Marshall plainly saw. On losing the fish, he let the hooks run directly down the stream, and the trout being very tired, and of course less active, he suddenly pulled, and hooked it again under the fore-fin and caught it. The fish was so tired that it lay on its side for half an hour after it was in the well of the boat. Mr. Marshall also caught a trout which weighed sixteen pounds, and which had broken from him the preceding day. The set of hooks and a portion of the line which had been broken were found in his mouth. This fish, with the tackle in his THE TROUT. 19 mouth and that with which it was taken are pre- served in a glass-case at his house in London. I may here mention that when Mr. Marshall was once fishing with a friend of his at Uxbridge, they each hooked a trout at the same time. His friend'*s trout took a run and crossed Mr. jVIarshall's line, and they became quite entangled. The two fish weighed eight pounds, and were both landed at once in the same landing net, a circumstance which perhaps the oldest fisherman had never seen before. On another occasion when he was fishing with three flies, he hooked a trout on the leader, another took the first bob-fly, and in playing them, a third took the second bob-fly, and he landed all three at once. Perhaps, however, the most curious occurrence which this veteran in the art relates, is the follow- ing, and no one who is acquainted with him will doubt his accuracy. He v/as one morning angling for trout, when he suddenly heard a great splash in the water, and on looking round, saw it was a hare which had jumped from the bank to swim across the river. When she had got to the middle of the stream, Mr. Marshall threw his trout-fly over her, hooked her on the fur of her back, and in the language of the angle, landed her '* com- fortahhjr Indeed the accuracy with which this expert angler can throw a fly is quite extraordinary. He was one day fishing near Carshalton, and in a 20 THAMES FISHING. row of high trees, across the river, and which were fringed with fishing lines and flies, he saw a poor bird hang by the beak. It had taken one of the artificial flies, and it hung in a small cavity between tlie branches. There was no way of getting at it except walking tlirough the river, and procuring a high ladder. Being very anxious to set the bird free, he threw his fly across the river into the cavity, Iiooked the line, and freed the bird. It is now time to return to the subject of Thames angling, and in throwing out hints to those who may be inclined to partake of its amusements, I would recommend Hampton as a good and cen- trical place for an angler. Its weir, with those of Sunbury, and Teddington, are at no great distance, and if these do not produce sport, it may generally be had at Shepperton. Indeed I like Hampton, not only from its being a good fishing station, and a pretty and well situated village, but from the civility, and I may add kind disposition of its in- habitants. I should be wanting in gratitude if I omitted to make this avowal. I have already mentioned the Bell Inn. Those who are well acquainted with it, must well remem- ber its good-humoured, obliging, and portly land- lady, and also the fat and lazy black-and-tan spaniel of King Charles' breed, which might almost always be seen reclining at the door- way, with its paws hanging over the step, looking as contented THE TROUT. 21 and happy as a dog could look. Its position was always against the door-post, and I never saw it move at the entrance or departure of any one. I always considered it as a sort of philosophical ani- mal, which passed its life in the study and con- templation of the many human beings who saun- tered past that much frequented spot. No one ever thought of disturbing it, and even those of its own species passed by without taking the liberty of either snuffing or growling at this privileged p^t. Its long dignified ears, its solemn look, and appearance of deep thought, may account for the deference paid it. I cannot dismiss this notice of the Bell Inn, without observing the comfort and cleanliness which is to be found there, or the prettiness of the only daughter and heiress of this place of good enter- tainment. The hostess has brought up her daughter with the greatest propriety and decorum, and it is easy to see that she has never been subjected to the ill-timed jests of a passing customer. The anglers who frequent the house are staid and de- corous in their manners, as all honest anglers are ; and their ambition seems to be that of perpetuating their exploits on the walls of the inn. I must also mention the snug inn at Shepperton, near the Church, as a good fishing station. Here may also be found some curious accounts of trout taken with a single gut. IMany other places are 22 THAMES FISHING. annually visited by fisberinen on this beautiful river. Amongst the rest, I must not omit to men- tion Henley on Thames, where good trout are fre- quently caught. The mutton-chops of my old friend Mrs. Dixon are altogether unrivalled, and she has tlie art of making all her guests happy and contented. I always enjoy myself greatly at her house— not only with reference to the beautiful scenery which I see around, but from the real comfort and cleanliness of every thing about ine. Her sheets repose in lavender 'till they are wanted, and her beds are neatness itself. Added to tliis, a large and respectable looking bible is placed on the dressing table of each bed -room ; a practice which I wish was more generally followed, and which in my opinion adds greatly to the cha- racter of the inn and its hostess. Pangboum is another station I much admire; and here some excellent fishing may be had when the weatlier is favourable. It is a quiet and retired village, having some beautiful views from the high grounds above it, and where some delightful walks are to be met with. It is a place I can safely re- commend to a brother of the angle, who may, like myself, be fond of adding the enjoyment of scenery to his sport. I say " sport,*" though I have been found fault with for the term by some well-mean- ing persons, as if some degree of cruelty was attached to it. It is a fisherman's own fault if it THE TROUT. 23 be SO. I never fish with a live bait, or with worms ; and I am furnished with a large knife having a small hammer at the end of it, with which I kill my fish the moment they are out of the water. It may be said that pain is inflicted on a fish the instant the hook strikes its mouth. I do not think that this is the case. It is either resistance, or the sight of an object that alarms them, which occa- sions a fish to shew fear, and not from any actual pain they feel from the hook. This is well known to fishermen — as well as the fact of fisli taking a bait while they have had a set of hooks in their mouth. I have already given an instance of this in the large trout taken by Mr. Marshall, and ano- ther proof of it, amongst numerous others, occurred this summer in the Thames near Kingston bridge. On two consecutive days this summer (1835) a large barbel broke the tackle of a gentleman, and on the third day he caught it with two hooks, and the line attaclied to them, which had been pre- viously lost, fixed to its mouth. Sir Humphrey Davy has some curious observations on this subject in his Salmonia. He says, that ' the nervous sys- ' tem of fish, and cold blooded animals in general, * is less sensitive than that of warm-blooded ani- * mals. The hook is usually fixed in the cartila- * ginous part of the mouth, where there are no * nerves; and a proof that the sufferings of a * hooked fish cannot be great is found in the cir- * cumstance, that though a trout has been hooked 24 THAMES FISHING. * and played for some minutes, he will often, after * his esca})e with the artificial fly in his mouth, * take the natural fly, and feed as if nothing had hap- ' pened ; having apparently learnt only from ex- * periment that the artificial fly is not proper food. * And 1 have caught pikes with four or five hooks ' in their mouths, and tackle which they had * broken only a few minutes before ; and the hooks * seemed to have had no other effect than that of ' serving as a sort of sauce piquante, urging them * to seize another morsel of the vsame kind." To the accuracy of this statement I can l>ear testimony ; and it may tend to do away with the charge of cruelty which has been brought against anglers. Indeed, I much question whether any animal which is deprived of life for the purpose of affording food for man, does not suffer more than the fish, when the latter at last is properly caught and speedily killed. At all events, I am per- suaded that fish taken in nets have to undergo jDOre a ctual sufferi ng jlhan t hose caught by the rod. I have dwelt upon this subject, IronT an anxiety I felt to rescue myself and others from the charge of enjoying a cruel sport. I do not consider it to be so. If it was, I do not think that so many ex- cellent, humane, and good men would have been found amongst its advocates. ^'"^ ^^ It is now time, after this digression, to pursue my account of angling. I regret to say that the good old times for THE TROUT. 25 Thames fishing are on the decline. This may be attributed to steam-vessels, which disturb the water so much, that a considerable quantity of spawn is loosened and washed away from the places where it had been deposited ; and also to gas and other nuisances, which are suffered to poison the water, and the numerous locks, which prevent the free passage of fish. Much mischief may also be attri- buted to the illegal nets which are used, and to the negligence of those whose duty it is to detect them, and who are frequently open to bribery. During floods also, fish go to grass, as tlie Thames fisherman call it, and poachers are in the habit of constantly and unlawfully draining the meadows, and entirely strip the country of fish, by preventing their return to their natural home, the river. For these reasons the fish in the river Thames ai'e de- creasing in number every year, and some sorts have quite disappeared — the salmon, for instance, and the skegger-trout, which used to be abundant. Even gudgeons are much fewer in number. Perch also are difficult, to be procured, and the lovers of water souch^e make great complaints in consequence. Much might still be done to improve the Thames fishing, if the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London would expend the twentieth part of what a civic feast costs, in having the river staked in many more places than it is at present, by having the nets properly looked after, and by employing 26 THAMES FISHING. some additional water bailiffs. So many persons enjoy the amusement of angling in the river Thames, who can get it no where else, and so much benefit is received from their presence at the several villages on its banks, that I trust something will be done for the protection of the fish during the earlier stages of their existence. Persons of every class seem to participate in the amusement of Thames angling, from the Duke of Sussex to the little fat cobbler of Hampton. His Royal Highness was at one time a determined angler, and kept a punt at Shepperton for the purpose. Here he was attended by the famous Peter Purdy, (poor Peter! a better fisherman never poached the Thames), and who invariably answered " Yes,*" or " No, your Royal Rodney^'' to any questions which the Duke asked. Peter, on being reminded of the great mistake he thus committed, said that for the life of him he could not help it. He had heard so much of Lord Rodney from his father, who was one of his crew, that he protested he could think of no other name whenever he spoke to a great man. As for myself, I confess that the quiet amuse- ment of angUng has great charms for me. It com- bines also another pleasure with it, — that of study- ing nature. The song of a sedge bird, the cry of a water-hen, the peculiar flight of a king-fisher — even the very insects which flit around me, all add THE TROUT. 2^ to the interest I take in fishing on a fine summer's evening. Let me here give two stanzas of an old song for the benefit of my associates of the Walton and Cotton Fishing Club. Come, lay by all cares, and hang up all sorrow, Let's angle to day, and ne'er think of to-morrow ; And by the brook-side as we angle along, We'll cheer up ourselves with our sport and a song, TTiere, void of all care, we're more happy than they That sit upon thrones, and kingdoms do sway ; For sceptres and crowns disquiet still bring ; But the man that's coutent is more blest than a king. I cannot mention the Walton and Cotton Club, without referring to the agreeable, rational, and convivial dinners I have enjoyed in the society of its members. Here some gentlemen who, like myself, are fond of angling, and the quiet enjoy- ment it brings with it, meet to talk over, and com- municate to each other, their pleasant observations on the piscatory art; and I never quit the club without regretting that our old father Izaac Walton is not there to witness the enthusiasm with which his name is always mentioned by his ' honest scholars.' If those who sneer at anglers could witness the good-humour and kindness of heart which characterise the members of the Walton and Cotton Club, and see the good fellowship which subsists amongst them, they would probably desire to belong to so agreeable a society. One of the 28 THAMES FI9HING. members, (I need not mention his name) whose antiquarian knowledge and deep research have made him as much known to the world as he is beloved by his own circle, is the very picture of Izaac Walton himself. His placid and benevolent countenance, and his venerable white hair, joined to his gentle and unaffected manners, mark him as the very prototype of his favourite master ; and his and father Walton's name might with great pro- priety, be * twisted in cypher' together. He is only a ground angler, but very fond of the amuse- ment. I can fancy him following his favourite sport, by tlie side of some sequestered brook, — with patient skill ' Attending to his trembling quill.' Amongst the other members of the Club, I must not omit to mention our treasurer and secre- tary, to whose exertions we are all so much in- debted. He is the very personification of good humour, and an enthu^astic admirer of father Walton. I might refer to other members of the Club, but I feel that 1 have already said enough, though I trust not too much, to shew how highly I appreciate the pleasure of belonging to such a society. Even our worthy landlord seems to par- take of this feeling of kindness towards the Club ; and I never see him enter the room with a magnum of our excellent old port in his hand, without fancy- NED BARTLAM. 29 ing that he looks upon us all with peculiar com- placency. Amongst the many ' honest anglers' whom I have occasionally met with, and who are, like my- self ' dear lovers and constant practisers of the art,' there is no one whose society affords me greater pleasure than Ned Bartlam's. I met him during a little fishing excursion I made along the banks of the Thames, somewhere between Reading and Oxford. He was then dressed in a green jacket, which came well over his knees, and which had seen good service ; and he had on a pair of unusually thick shoes and strong gaiters, with a straw hat. His fishing-basket was hanging behind him. There was, however, something in, his air and appearance which made me immediately see that he was a gentleman. He was accompanied by a little terrier dog, who employed himself in snuffing at the various rat-holes by the side of the river. I should add that his rod was handled in a masterly manner. Having accidentally occasion for his assistance in helping me to land a fish, our ac- quaintance began, and was resumed that same evening at a small comfortable inn where we had both taken up our temporary abode. I found my new friend perfectly well skilled in the art of fly fishing ; and his collection of flies, which were all of his own making, was really beautiful. As I am 30 THAMES FISHING. only a troller myself, I fancied that I was looked upon with some degree of contempt. At all events I was sensible of my own inferiority, and, therefore, listened with all proper respect and attention to the various descriptions Ned gave me of his ex- pilots, without intruding any of my own. It was not till we became better acquainted that I ven- tured to try and persuade him that trolling might have its charms; and that if trout would not take a bait, I had still a chance of sport with pike, perch, and even chub and barbel. 1 believe, how- ever, that to this day he looks upon me as a mere poacher — so bigoted is he to his own favourite mode of fishing. Next, morning we separated, after having, accord- ing to the example set us by ' old Master Izaac," paid our reckoning, and commended our hostess for * having been diligent and having used us kindly.* We did not, however, take leave of each other without an agreement to meet again ; and our ac- quaintance, thus commenced, has been turned into a friendly intercourse, which I trust is mutually agreeable. Ned, indeed, is not the kind of person one meets with every day. He has a mildness and gentleness in his nature, a kindness of manner, and a wish to oblige, which must make him a favourite with every one. Added to this he is, as I said before, an expert fly-fisher; and there are NED BARTLAM. 31 few better shots in the country. He is also well skilled as a breaker-in of dogs; and before he became a little crippled with rheumatism, was a first rate cricketer. Indeed, he is still called upon to make up matches in this manly sport, which he duly attends, being referred to on all knotty points, when his decision is held to be law. Ned formerly practised medicine in a small country town, where he became acquainted with two or three wealthy families residing in the neigh- bourhood. Owing, however, as it was stated, to the fickleness of a young widow, and some pecu- niary losses, he retired from business with only a few hundred pounds, which were bequeathed to him by the only relation he ever knew. In this situation one of his rich acquaintances, who had a great regard for Ned, oflfered to let him live in one of the lodges of his park which was but seldom used, and here Ned has been residing for many years. I took an early opportunity of calling upon him, and found his little menage very complete. One part of the lodge contained his sitting-room, with a sort of kitchen adjoining; the other was composed of two bed-rooms, both very small, one being occupied by himself, while the other was appropriated to the use of his housekeeper — a respectable cheerful old woman, who was not only the picture of neatness herself, but kept every thing about her in the same order. On entering my 32 THAMES FISHING. friend's parlour, or whatever it may be called, I found liim busily employed in dressing up a fly. He was seated in an old-fashioned easy arm-chair, with his little terrier at his feet, and a small table by his side covered with the hackles of cocks, wings of ducks, and other materials for the construction of artificial flies. Over his fire-place hung two guns and various sticks seasoning for fishing-rods. Several of these latter implements were neatly arranged at the other end of the room, while beneath them were placed two well used fishing -baskets, a landing-net, and an old game-bag, which had evi- dently been often replenished. Under a table peeped out part of a fishing-net, and upon it was a backgammon-board reposing on a piece of green baize, on which was placed a small tea-urn, evi- dently more for show than use. On the mantel- piece were several small stuffed birds, one of which Ned seemed to set great store by, and assured me It was the only one ever seen in that part of the country. I also observed on the same place the tail of a rattlesnake, a flask of gunpowder, part of an old Roman vase, a 8nuff*-box or two, the jaws of a pike, and some other curiosities. There was also a small bookcase containing two or three odd volumes of Sir Charles Grandison, the Angler's Guide, a book of surgery, and another of farriery, a Shakspeare in one volume, and a small pocket Horace, which seemed to have been NED BARTLAM. 33 Ned's constant companion. One volume was care- fully covered, and this I found to be Major's beau- tiful edition of Izaac Walton. Having surveyed the apartment and commended its comforts, I was invited to partake of some cake which the old housekeeper just then brought in. She was going to leave the room, but Ned motioned her to stay, and she seated herself by the side of a small round oak- table, on which I had previously observed a half finished worsted stocking with its attendant knitting, pins ; these the old dame plied with great rapidity. Ned afterwards told me that he found being alone extremely unpleasant to one of his social feelings, and that he, therefore, always made this faithful servant sit with him. He reads the newspaper or some entertaining book to her in the evening, which, he said, kept him from going to sleep after he had smoked his pipe. Indeed, a hint was given to me that Ned was strongly suspected of endeavouring to teach the old lady to play at backgammon by way of beguiling the long even- ings in winter. This, however, wants confir- mation. I have already alluded to an attachment which Ned was supposed to have conceived in his younger days; the name of its object, or the circumstances which attended it, I have never heard mentioned. They must, however, have been of an unusually delicate and interesting nature to have thus inclined him to solitude, and indeed occar- c3 34 THAMES FISHING. sional y exhibited him as the object of a melancholy which I should have thought had been foreign to his character. I remember that I was one day trolling on the banks of the Thames, and nearly opposite to an old oak-tree which partially threw its branches over the water, and which was in sultry weather his favourite resort. I had not been long engaged in my occupation, when I per- ceived him slowly sauntering along, and now and then throwing his line into the river, where the openings between the osiers gave him an opportu- nity of doing so. His thoughts, however, were evidently otherwise engaged, and he did not dis- cover that I was so near him. At length he reached his favourite tree, and, fixing his rod in the bank, threw himself at full length under its shade, at the same time leaning his head upon his hand, appeared to be solely engaged in watching his line as it was occa.sionally moved by the eddies or rippling of the stream. He had not remained in this position many minutes when I fancied that I could perceive him wiping a tear from his eye, and that his countenance assumed an expression of deep melancholy; and though there was nothing particular in the whole incident, I need not say that he lost none of his interest in my eyes. His kindness of heart, his love of poetry, and indeed all tales of fiction, added to his admiration for the minutest works of nature, will help to fill up the XED BARTLAM, 35 character of a man whom for unsophisticated good- ness I have never yet seen equalled. Having now given a sketch of Ned in the melt- ing mood, I will endeavour to give an idea of him in his lighter moments, by relating an anecdote, which at the time amused me exceedingly. He was watching his float one day in a neighbouring stream, when a well-dressed man came up to him and enquired the way to some place or other, I for- get where. Now Ned is well read in Shakspeare, and at the moment he happened to be pondering over some favourite passages in the Merchant of Venice, Instead, therefore, of making a direct reply to the question that was asked him, he an- swered in the words of Lancelot Gobbo, ' Turn * up on your right hand, at the next turning ; but, * at the next turning of all, on your left ; marry, at ' the very next turning, turn of no hand,* &c. It so happened, that the stranger was equally well read in Shakspeare ; and therefore, instead of l)eing affronted at Ned's wit, he only answered, * By-'s * sonties, 'twill be a hard way to hit." Ned was so much pleased with the rejoinder, that he * tried * conclusions with him' some time; and was so well satisfied with his companion's knowledge of Shakspeare, and ready repartees, that they em- braced, became instantly sworn friends, and having adjourned to Ned's lodge, the stranger was regaled with the best that it afforded. Ned afterwards dis- .SG THAMES FISHING. covered that his new friend was a strolling player. It was, however, a little incident in his life which he always spoke of with pleasure. Ned, I find, has been in the habit of presenting his old housekeeper with a couplet or two on her birth-day. The following is a specimen of them, which I procured from the old lady with consider- able difficulty after we had become better ac- quainted : • This morning old Betty can count sixty-seven ' On the mile-stones that reach to the regions of heaven ; • And I trust with due care, and the kindness of fate, ' In another twelvemonths she will reach sixty-eight, ' This [>oint no philosopher e'er could unravel, — ' The older we grow much the faster we travel ; ' I'm two score and ten, by the kindness of fate, ' And another quick year has made Bet sixty-eight.' My readers have now some idea of Ned's cha- racter; I must next request tJiem to accompany him in a walk over the domains, at the outskirts of which he resides. The house itself is one of those fine old baronial residences which, I grieve to say, one seldom sees now but in a state of decay. It is built of red brick, and profusely ornamented with various grotesque sculptures ; and is interesting from having been one of the residences of Cardinal Wolsey, and is indeed supposed to have been built by him. Its turrets, chimneys, and windows, have much of the character of those at Hampton Court. At the back of this respectable old seat were some NED BARTL.AM. 37 of the very finest Scotch fir-trees to be found in England. One of them had a girth of twelve feet ; and from the ground to the first branch there was a space of thirty feet at least. What, however, gave me the greatest pleasure, was the sight of a magnificent heronry, which might have excited the envy of any crowned head in Europe. At the time I saw it, the parent birds were busily employed in bringing food to their young ; and I could never feel tired in watching their slow and methodical flight to the high trees in which their nests were placed, and the silent, and I may call it beautiful manner, with which the birds alighted on them. On seeing us, some of them would soar in circles round the trees for a while, as if suspicious of us, and would then settle on their nests. The food was received in silence ; and the delivering of it to the young seemed to occupy a considerable length of time. Probably the old birds were fatigued with their lengthened flight, and required rest, or their young ones warmth ; or what is more likely, they only feed them morning and evening, so great is the distance to the place where they procure their food. I know few things more royal than a fine heronry on trees of which the proprietor may justly feel proud. These trees, certainly are of a most magnificent description; and what I think adds to their grandeur, is the circumstance of their being placed on a good turf, without any envious 38 THAMES FISHING. shrubs being allowed to encroach upon them, with the exception perhaps of a few hollies here and there. These hollies, however, enable one to form a better idea of the stupendous height of the firs by contrasting one with the other. On quitting the heronry we strolled about the park, which is orna- mented with some excellent trees, whereon a colony of rooks had taken up their quarters. These birds kept themselves quite distinct from the herons, though I believe instances have been known of their occupying the same trees, after having had a few skirmishes together. I was desired to take special notice of a par- ticular flock of sheep, some brood mares, and Scotch oxen ; all of which appeared flourishing, and were purchased by and under my "friend's peculiar care. Having visited the dog-kennel, and admired the pointers and some small rabbit-beagles, I took my leave, much pleased with my visit. As my own residence is only a few miles from Ned's lodge, and as we have some mutual acquaintance, we now and then meet at dinner. On these occasions, I am much pleased at seeing the hearty reception he meets with ; and his own kind disposition is shown in tlie way he returns the cordial greetings of his friends. Ned's c/re^^-clothes have been husbanded with great care, and are of a fashion somewhat antiquated ; he is, however so neat and nice in his appearance, and there is such a freshness and good- NED BARTL.AM. SO nature m his look, that one forgets m a moment that his coat was not made by Stultz. If I was pleased with seeing the reception Ned met with from his friends, I was more so when I once accompanied him in a walk through the vil- lage in which he resides. It was impossible to mistake the expression of affection with which every one regarded him. The children got about him, and he had something kind to say to every one. Only one person we met seemed to avoid him, and that was a young female. Her dress was in dis- order, her hair had escaped from a small black hat she had upon her head, and her whole appearance betokened a mind ill at ease. There was some- thing in her appearance which created an interest for her ; and I accordingly asked Ned to tell me something of her. Her little history was no un- common one. She had been deserted by a worth- less scoundrel on whom she had placed her affec- tions, and she had become listless and unhappy Ned said, that he had taken pains to convince her how little cause she had to regret the loss of her lover; but she had become impatient of what he had said to her, and now avoided him. On our return from our walk, we again met her; Ned accosted her, but no longer spoke to her of her lover. He mentioned her parents, — the grief they were in at her altered appearance, — the happiness she still had it in her power to give them. He 40 THAMES FISHING. told her of her duty as a Christian, and urged her to apply to the only source from which peace of mind could be obtained. While my friend was thus talking to her, I could observe the poor girl much affected. I have sinc6 heard that Ned*s kind efforts to bring her to a proper way of thinking have suc- ceeded, and that she is now become both indus- trious and happy. I have little more to say of my friend. We often fish together, and enjoy many quiet conversations, in the course of which I have had frequent oppor- tunities of observing his good sense and good feel- ing. It is indeed impossible not to love him, as there is a harmlessness and quietness in his manner, added to a kindness and a wish to oblige, which I have never seen equalled. I trust that he will for- give me for having introduced this little sketch of him. Retired in his habits and pursuits, he still furnishes an example which may be of use to others, by proving how much positive happiness may be attained in the calmness and stillness of a country life ; for though enjoying to the full the innocent amusements which are held out to him, he never loses sight of the chief object of human existence — that of preparing himself for another and a more exalted state of happiness in the world to come. In concluding this account of Thames fishing, DEEPS. 41 I have added, for the information of Thames ang- lers, an account of the deeps which have been staked between Chertsey and Battersea, at various times. In most of these places, the patient angler may generally depend upon having good sport, espe- cially, as by the kindness of the present Lord Mayor (Copeland), some additional Water Bailiffs have been appointed, and more attention is paid to the preservation of the fish. LIST OF THE DEEPS. Chertsey, 200 yards, being from the weir east- ward. Wei/bridge, 800 yards, being from the weir down to Holliday"'s Bay. Shepperton^ 200 yards, being called the lower deep, and eastward of the drain. Sunbury^ 100 yards, being from the weir east- ward. Thames Ditton^ 250 yards, being from Keen's wharf northward. Staines, 1 40 yards, being from sixty yards west- wards to eighty yards eastward of the bridge. Penton Hook, 200 yards, being opposite the cam shut on the west side of the hook. Chertsey, 140 yards, being from sixty yards westward to eighty yards eastward of the bridge. Shepperton, 200 yards, being called the upper deep, and situate to the eastward. 42 THAMES FISHING. Shepperton^ 240 yards, being called the old deep, and eastward of the creek rails. Waltony 100 yards, being westward of the horse bridge, and called the Walton Sale. Walton, 150 yards, being at the Earl of Tan- kerville's. Sunburt/, 100 yards, being opposite the church. Hampton, 350 yards, being from the west angle of the church steeple to the west side of H. Hase's, Esq. Hampton Court, '200 yards, being from the summer-house of the palace to the eastward. Thames Ditton, 512 yards, being at Lord Henry Fitzgerald's. Kingston, 40 yards, being eastward of the river which runs from Ewell. Kingston, 60 yards, being from thirty yards westward to thirty yards eastward of the bridge. Twickenham, 1 50 yards, being at the house of Sir W. Waller, Bart. Richmond, 700 yards, being westward of the bridge to the Duke of Buccleuch's. Ful/tam, 50 yards, being from thirty yards west- ward to twenty yards eastward of the bridge. Batter sea, 20 yards, being from ten yards west- ward to ten yards eastward of the bridge. 4» TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. All in the fragrant prime of day, E'er Phoebus spreads around his beams, The early Angler takes his way To verdant banks of crystal streams, f health, content, and thoughtful musing charm, What sport like angling can our cares disarm ? Anon : in Brooks' Art of Angling. There is a sort of pleasing melancholy in com- paring the habits of former times with those of the present day. The contrast is not much, I must confess, in favour of the latter. The good old aristocratic forms of the last century, are fast hasten- ing to decay. What was then considered as neces- sary to keep up a proper decorum in society, would now be treated with ridicule ; and the state which rank and wealth prescribed, would in these days be considered as proceeding from arrogance and pride. I am not sure that the world is benefited by the change. The poorer class were formerly in the habit of looking up to the old halls of our ancestors as places where their wants would be relieved, their misfortunes attended to, and their injuries redressed. There was then a tie existing between 44 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. rich and poor which poverty and distress only made the closer. If sickness visited a family, ready relief was to be obtained from the venerable man- Mon near the village. If a cottager from misfor- tune got behind hand with his rent, his kind landlord was always considerate, and in cases of death, he was the first to console the widow and the orphan. If he came to the village church with his family, with some degree of state, having his foot- men behind the carriage with their formal liveries and their bags and nosegays, an example of devo- tion and decorum was set, which could not fail to produce an influence on the neighbouring peasan- try. Little or nothing of this is now to be seen. The old halls of our English gentry are fast falling to decay, or are occupied by farmers, and those whose ancestors were formerly venerated for their virtues and hospitality, are either living in crowded cities, or imbibing foreign manners, drawing their resources from lands which they never visit, and from tenants whom they have never seen. Griev- ous as the picture is, I can look back to my yoimger days when a very different one presented itself in the pretty village of Cleveland. In the hall to which this village gave its name, two ancient ladies resided. One of them. Lady Blount, was the widow of a baronet, and the other, Miss Barbara Newton, was her maiden sister. When I first visited them, they might each be CLEVELAND. 45 rather more than seventy years of age. Tall and somewhat stiff in their persons, with formal and rather ceremonious manners, observing the strictest etiquette, not only with their visitors, but with each other, they were nevertheless unbounded in their hospitahty, and dispensed their bounties with an unsparing hand. Their dress was the very picture of neatness and propriety. I can see them now in their large full caps beautifully plaited and as white as snow, with ruffs round their necks, and wliite kerchiefs pinned round their shoulders, and cover- ing part of their stiff chocolate coloured silk gowns. These were made with long waists and short sleeves, having large ruffles attached to them above the elbows. A huge gold watch was ap- pended to the girdle, and they wore rather high- heeled shoes, with httle formal buckles attached to them. Their hair was perfectly white, and was disposed in what may be called sausage curls beneath the cap. They wore on their arms a sort of mitten, or gloves with half of the fingers cut off, which enabled them to ply their needles the more readily. Such was the dress of these worthy ladies, who (seated in large arm-chairs on each side of the fire place, with a small table near them on which their work-baskets were placed), were ready to receive any visitors who might call upon them. The arrival of any one, was the signal for the ser- vants to bring in a well-furnished tray of refresh- 46 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. ments, of which the guests were expected to partake, as their omitting to do so would have been thought to detract from the hospitality of the mansion. Kind old ladies ! Sometimes their home- made wine was recommended, or if the weather was cold, a glass of old madeira. Chicken, pies and brawn also made their appearance, with a huge cake, and fruit of various kinds, all arranged with the utmost propriety. The first time I visited the hall, was in company with my friend and schoolfellow Harry Newton. He was nephew to the ladies I have been describing, and as Lady Blount had no children, it was gene- rally supposed that he would inherit whatever they had to leave. We had quitted London on a fish- ing excursion, and after having passed a few days in the neighbourhood of Oxford, dining there with some old friends in the evening, and plying our rods in the morning, we proceeded to Cleveland Hall, the residence of his aunts, where he promised me some excellent pike fishing in ponds, or rather small lakes, belonging to them. It was on a fine evening towards the end of August, that we drove through the village on our way to the hall, the entrance to which was at one extremity of it. A neat row of alms-houses, the asylum of the aged, having each a small garden in front of them, was the first object which attracted my attention. Just beyond was the village green, surrounded by farm-houses and labou- CLEVELAND. 47 rers' cottages, all betokening comfort and prosperity. Teams loaded with corn, were seen in various directions, while the sports of boys, the clamorous noise of ducks and geese, flapping and diving in the muddy pond, the droves of cows returning from their pastures, and the * tripping milkmaid' with her pail, furnished to my mind a pretty picture of rural happiness. It was impossible to witness it without feeling assured that here ' Peace and plenty cheer'd the labouring svrain.' As we rolled along, the snug parsonage was pointed out to me, and close to it was the little village church, with its taper spire, almost sur- rounded by magnificent elm trees, over which a vast flock of rooks were performing their aerial gambols. After passing two or three houses which seemed as if they belonged to the village surgeon or lawyer, and at the windows of which some females were enjoying the evening breeze, we arrived at the lodges of the park. The gates were opened by a dehberate grey-headed old man, and we soon afterwards began to ascend rather a steep hill, at the top of which we first had a view of the house. It was a noble fabric, and as Dugdale would say, ' for beauty and state much exceedetli any in those parts.' Its centre was very spacious, and with its projecting wings, enclosed three sides of a court. A magnificent avenue of Spanish chestnut trees, planted probably in the time of 48 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. Evelyn, was seen from the house, sloping down to a wide but shallow trout stream. Each portion of the building had a lofty square tower, terminated by a curved spiral roof and a vane. The gables exhibited the usual scroll work of the houses built at that period, probably tliat of James the First, and the eastern extremities of the wings were adorned m ith high bay windows, and surmounted by a rich j)er- forated parapet. Two columns, at the entrance, supported an ornamented entablature, surmounted by the arms of Blount As we approached the door, either the screams of numerous peacocks, or the noise of our carriage, alarmed the vigilance of four or five blood-hounds of the largest size. Their deep toned bark was finely contrasted with the yelpings of numerous spaniels and terriers which followed them. They were, however, soon silenced, and we entered the fine old hall of the mansion. It was adorned with full length portraits of the Blount family, paintings of dogs and horses, and its deep windows were ornamented with beautiful portraits in stained glass of the antient family of Blount from the year 10/0 to 1181. The fire- place was very capacious, and the mantle-piece was extremely ornamented, and composed partly of marble and free- stone, reaching half way up to the ceiling. My companion was received with great affection by his aunts, and I was also welcomed by them CLEVELAND HALL. 49 with much cordiality. We found them sitting at an open window, or rather glass door opening upon a wide and extensive terrace, drinking their tea. Though it was only six o'clock, that was the hour in those good times, at which the refreshment I mentioned was usually ordered. After we had partaken of it, finding my companion busily engaged in talking over family matters with his aunts, I strolled out upon the terrace. The view from it, as the yellow beams of the setting sun rested upon the woods in the park, was beautiful. They were chiefly of beech, and from the top of one of 'the trees, a lonely thrush began to pour forth its even- ing song. ' The massy piles of old magnificence. ' Which, clust'ring high, the tufted groves o'erlook' — were so different from any thing I had been accus- tomed to see, that my mind imperceptibly fell into a contemplative mood, and I began to meditate on events long since passed away. I observed a small mound of earth, just below the terrace, covered with little clusters of the wild strawberry, on the leaves of which some drops of rain which had recently fallen, (and had added to the freshness of the evening,) sparkled like so many diamonds. I fancied that this mound might, in a former age, have been piled up over the bones of some mighty warriors, and that the trees near it were still bend- ing their heads in deference to their valour. No 50 TROLLING IX STAFFORDSHIRE. idle shrubs intruded themselves on this sacred spot, but it seemed to be guarded by the majestic beech trees around it. I was roused from this reverie by the deep sound of a bell, and a servant came to announce that prayers were about to begin in the chapel. I followed him through three or four rooms, the last of which was a library, from which a communication was made with the gal- lery of the chapel. I found numerous servants assembled in the body of it, and the worthy ladies seated in the gallery ready to begin the evening service. I found that they assisted each other in doing so, reading the psalms and lessons alternately. Their articulation though clear, was a litde tremulous, and they had now and then some difficulty in turning to the proper places. Upon the whole, however, they acquitted themselves with great propriety, and the service was listened to with the utmost attention and decorum. I hke these assemblages of private families, espe- cially during the silence of the evening, while they are engaged in offering up the incense of prayer and praise. The folly and hurry of life ; vanity, vexation and care, are banished for a season, and the happy calm of devotion proves that the ways of celestial wisdom are ' ways of pleasantness, and * that all her paths are peace.' We adjourned from the chapel to a supper room, where we had an opportunity of making ample CLEVELAND HALL. 51 amends for an early dinner, and then retired to rest. The room into which I was shown savoured strongly of ghosts. Indeed my companion had previously told me that the old mansion was sup- posed to be haunted, and that one or two of the more timid damsels had actually been confronted by some deceased member of the Blount family. Lady Blount had however declared that she would dismiss from her service any servant who should be so unfortunate as to see a ghost, and since that time not one had made its appearance. In spite of black-looking old tapestry, gloomy curtains, and a curiously wrought counterpane of former times, I slept soundly till I was awoke by the ringing of a Ml. As I had been duly informed the evening before of the custom of the family, I took care to be ready to go into the chapel at eight oVlock, where the service was performed in the same man- ner as it had been done on the preceding evening. After breakfast I was shewn such parts of the house as were most curious, especially the bed in which Charles the First had slept after one of the unsuccessful battles he had fought with the Par- liamentary forces. A portrait of himself was over the fire-place, which he had sent as a present to Sir Jasper Blount,* in gratitude for the hospitality • The Blount, or rather the Le Blount family was descended from Sir Robert and Sir William Le Blount, who came in with William the Conqueror. The former was baron of Irksworth, and 52 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. he had shewn him. Sir Jasper's house was indeed sorrily used on the octrasion, and Oliver Cromwell left visible proofs of the loyalty of the old baronet. On ascending the fine oak staircase of the man- sion, we perceived that large splinters of wood had been torn from its massive ballustrades by the cannon balls of the republican army, and indentations were apparent in the walls. The shots were carefully preserved as proofs of the loyalty of the family, and have been safely deposited in the parish chest. Sir Jasper, indeed, suffered still more grievously, for besides having his house bat- tered, certain heavy fines were imposed upon him, and his mansion was plundered during the war. I was informed by the old ladies that he was ' a ' gentleman well read in most parts of learning, and * highly esteemed, being truly just and charitable, * and exemplary in his life and conversation.' A full length portrait of him in armour was shown me, and I could not help endeavouring to trace in his features the character which had been given of him. He died at the age of eighty-tliree, and was the founder of the alms-houses I had seen on entering the village. At the top of tlie st^rcase, we entered a spacious had thirteen lordships ; and the latter several in Lincolnshire. They were the sons of the Lord of Guisnes in Picardy, who was descended from the kings of Denmark. See Ward's MS. addi- tions to Professors of Gresham Coll. in Brit. Mus. vol. 2, p. 302. CLEVELAND HALL. 53 dining room of handsome proportions, and which I was informed was only used on great occasions. There were several good portraits in it, and over an immense slab of blue marble, was a large picture of Charles the First, seated with his chil- dren around him. The ornamented chimney-piece, however, appeared to me the most interesting thing in the room. It was composed entirely of white free-stone, and reached nearly to the top of the room. Several grotesque heads were carved upon it, and one of them was so like a late statesman, equally celebrated for his genius, his great talents, and his unbounded fondness for conviviality, that my companion determined to make the resemblance complete, having taken the opportunity when he dined in the room, of throwing a glass of wine over the face. Beyond the dining room we entered a tapestried sitting room ; the tapestry, with the chairs, were all worked by one of the members of the family, who duly recorded thereon that she was ' Sarah Blount, * spinster, aged sixty.' Worthy and industrious old lad)' ! The sight of her red parrots, crowing cocks, and bouquets of flowers must have afforded her infinite delight. From this room we entered a noble gallery 160 feet in length, ornamented with numerous portraits of warriors, statesmen and others of the olden times, some looking terrible in their armour, and 54 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. Others smirking in their courtly dresses. Here the ladies of the mansion took their exercise on wet dayS) and visitors might amuse themselves with battledore and shuttlecock. The windows of the gallery were to the west, and looked down upon the noble terrace, and commanded a view of the park and the country beyond it Such was Cleveland Hall, and from its great extent, and the vast accommodation it afforded, some idea might be formed of the wealth and hos- pitality of former times. Every thing was in pro- portion. The court-yard, the stables, the brew- house, the laundry and cellars, all gave proofs of splendour and good cheer. In the cellar particu- larly, mighty barrels of ale might be seen, reaching nearly from the floor to the ceiling, and it required a days brewing to fill one of them. The contents of these butts were well-known and their merits fully appreciated in the neighbourhood, as no one came to the hall without some of it being set before him, and I am obliged to add that few went away sober after having partaken of it. This potent liquor had been brewed time immemorial by John Porter, a sort of game-keeper, and factotum in the family. He was much respected by his mistress, and was looked upon accordingly as a person of some consequence. I have seldom seen so fine a specimen of an English yeoman. He was nearly eighty years of age, but firm and erect in his per- CLEVELAND HALL. 55 son, and although his face shewed some symptoms of good living, it was clear that the ale he brewed had not done him any injury. — After strolling about the park for some time, accompanied by the blood-hounds, spaniels and bea- gles, who made the woods re-echo with their con- trasted notes, as they hit upon the scent of a hare or rabbit, we met with John Porter at one of the fish ponds in the park, where we enjoyed an excel- lent hour's trolling. Pike appears to be a fish almost indigenous in Staffordshire ; and Plot, in his history of that county, mentions them as hav- ing been caught of a great size. I shall soon have an opportunity of confirming his statement in this respect, and of laying before my readers what I consider the best method of taking them. In the meantime we hurried away to prepare for an early dinner. Our party was encreased by the company of Sir Haggerstone Leigh, and the vicar of the parish. It is difficult to describe the former, and ihis is one of the most provoking disadvantages an author labours under. He can bring an extraordinary figure before his own fancy, but cannot always suc- ceed in making others see it in the same point of view, I will, however, do my best to describe Sir Haggerstone. The reader must imagine a very tall, thin, upright figure, with clothes hanging loosely about him, his hair abundantly powdered, and a cue sticking out generally behind his ear, 5G TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. and approaching not iinfrequently towards his mouth, which was unusually wide and studded with a few irregular teeth of great length, at some dis- tance from each other. When I first saw him, he was reposing in one of those old fashioned high- hacked upright chairs, which have a small uncom- fortable looking seat. His legs were extended, his black silk small clothes hardly reached his knees, and he wore a pair of silk stockings which had been washed to a sort of whitish-brown, and were un- commonly wrinkled. What however struck me more than anything else in his appearance, was a most extraordinary obliquity of vision. He seemed to be occasionally looking at his ears, his nose, and his forehead, and now and then nothing but the whites of his eyes were visible. After I had been formally introduced to him, some common remark was made, which was fol- lowed by a laugh or rather shout from Sir Hagger- stone, which made me start. On turning towards him I found that not one muscle of his face had moved. He was apparently looking at his stock- ings. His laugh had suddenly ceased, and he appeared to be wrapt in thought. Another burst came soon afterwards, and as suddenly stopped. Nothing particular had been said, and it was then clear that the baronet was enjoying his own thoughts, and had contracted this extraordinary habit of ex- ])ressing his satisfaction. Indeed this was proved to CLEVELAND HALL. 57 b e the case in the course of the evening, for when any thing was said which excited a laugh from others. Sir Haggerstone joined in it much in the usual way. The pecuUarity I have mentioned, did not arise from any deficiency of intellect. The baronet had lived in the best society, had travelled much, and had read a great deal. He had, how- ever a peculiar absence of mind, and his laugh made one wonder how so discordant a noise could proceed from so feeble a body. The vicar contrasted well with Sir Haggerstone. He was a short round man, neat and precise in his dress, with his hair well powdered and turned up behind, like the prints we see of John Wesley, He sidled up to the baronet, and eyed him with unfeigned astonishment. Once or twice he was affected by his laugh, and responded to it with great accuracy, to the surprize of the baronet, who was quite unconscious that he himself had been the occasion of it. Poor Sir Haggerstone ! he carried his peculiarity to the grave with him, and it is even said that he quitted the world making one of his convulsive laughs. In these degenerate times, persons have but lit- tle idea of the state in which the two wortliy old ladies thought it becoming in them to journey to the village church. The next day was Sunday, and although the weather was fine, and the dis- tance but short, four fat lazy looking horses were 58 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. harnessed to the family coach, which drew up to the side of the hall door. The portly coachman seemed bursting with ale and good cheer, and his flaxen wig set off the ruddiness of his jolly coun- tenance. He wore a prodigious nosegay in his but- ton-hole, and a three-cornered hat was knowingly placed on his head. Altogether he appeared a personage of considerable importance in the family. The venerable mistress and her sister were attended to the carriage with no small degree of ceremony, and when they were seated, three footmen with bags, nosegays, and cocked hats got up behind, and the procession moved with great deliberation to the church door. As we approached it, the country people were standing about in expectation of its arrival, and as the carriage passed, they took off tlieir hats, and made their bows with much seeming respect The footmen attended to open the pew- door, but I observed that the prayer books were stowed under the arm of one of them, a little wizened old man, whom I had previously remarked, and who always waited behind the chair of Lady Blount, and seemed privileged to attend to no one else. He had a wonderful acidity of countenance, which was puckered up, and gave the idea that a smile had never passed over it. As I am fond of odd charac- ters, I enquired of my friend respecting him, and found that he had lived from his earliest youth in the family, and was supposed to know more of the CLEVELAND HALL. 59 secret history of it than any one else. Whether for this, or for some other reason, he was allowed to have his own way, and no one was permitted to interfere with him. He ate his meals apart from the rest of the servants, and never spoke to any one except on the utmost emergency. It was sup- posed that he had saved up a great deal of money, which it was thought he hid in secret places in one of the old turrets, which was set apart for his par- ticular accommodation. The key of this turret he carefully kept, and allowed no one to enter it. On one or two occasions I ventured to address him, but he growled out something which I did not under- stand, giving me at the same time a look which plainly implied that he had no desire to hold com- munion with mc. Such was old Andrew, and I still fancy that I can see him with his large nose, tipped with red, his meagre face, his short starved looking figure, and drum-stick legs, with his vinegar countenance, depositing the prayer books on the well stuffed cushions of the family pew. On entering the church, and before the service began, the old ladies looked round it with a scruti- nizing eye, to see whether their several dependants and tenants were in their usual places. As soon however as the clergyman entered the reading desk, their attention was fixed on the service of the day, and although their devotion might appear formal, it was evidently sincere. 60 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. The return of the good ladies to their carriage was hy no means without its interest to me. They passed between a double row of the villagers, re- turning their salutations with kindness, and occa- sionally making enquiries after their welfare. A message was sent to the clergyman to invite him to eat his roast beef at the hall, a ceremony which I found was but rarely omitted, and if the weather was bad, a carriage was sent for his conveyance. There seemed, in short, to be a reciprocal kindness and good will existing on all sides, a proof that the influence and fortune of the proprietors of Cleveland Hall had been exercised in promoting the welfare of those around it. As I returned with my companion from church on foot, we overtook my acquaintance, John Porter, having under his charge a very pretty girl, who I discovered was his grand-daughter, and was con- sidered the beauty of the village. It might be doubted which of the two the old man regarded with most affection, this girl, or his mighty barrels of ale. It is certain that he not only looked at, but partook of the latter with peculiar complacency, and you could not gratify him more than by listen- ing to his account of the age and history of his potent brewings. The grand-daughter offered a good contrast to the tall, athletic form of her grand-sire. She had a slight, delicate figure, with large black eyes, a pale but clear complexion, and MARY GREY. 61 teeth perfectly white and even. She seemed to cling to the old man, and raised her eyes to his face every now and then, with a countenance in which melancholy and dejection were strongly por- trayed. The old man looked at her in return with great affection, and yet with a degree of anxiety on his countenance, which showed that his grand-child, for some cause or other, was the object of his peculiar care. His firm and erect, although aged figure, appeared still more portly by the side of the slender and beautiful creature who seemed to hang upon him for support. It was the honey- suckle clinging to the oak. We joined them as we entered the park, and my companion shook hands with Mary Grey, in a manner which showed much sympathy and feeling. On enquiring after her health, she turned towards him with an expression of misery and mental anguish, but made no reply. She reminded me of Gray'*s description of ' The silent maid * With leaden eye that loves the ground.' The old man answered for her. He said that Mary was better; and that he hoped soon to see her as well as ever. Mary shook her head and I shall not soon forget the look of woe slie gave him. Her grandfather saw it, and perhaps willing to hide her emotion, he turned from us, and we pursued our walk. My companion then G2 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. informed me that poor Mary had once been a great favourite with his aunts, who had brought her up with great care and tenderness, and would probably have amply provided for her, had she not displeased them by placing her affections on the son of the school-master of the village. His father had given him a good education, but he had little besides his handsome /ace, his good temper, and excelling all otliers in country sports, to recommend him, as he was a sort of pickle in the neighbourhood, and was for ever getting into some scrape or other, sometimes shooting or fishing in forbidden places, quizzing old Andrew, which the latter duly reported to his mistress, or playing tricks on tlie peaceable inhabitants of the village. He was even detected in getting over the park-wall, and prowling round the old house on a moonlight night, to get a sight of Mary. These and other misdemeanours, so prejudiced the worthy ladies against him, that it was intimated to him that if he persisted in his attentions to Mary, his father would be turned out of his school. George had too much good feeling to bring this ruin upon his father ; he enlisted into a regiment of dragoons, which soon afterwards was sent to the East Indies, and nothing had since that time been heard of him. Mary took his departure so much to heart, that she absented herself from the hall, and nothing could induce her to renew her attendance on her former mistress. MARY GREY. f>3 She lived entirely with her grandfather, in a cottage which he occupied by the side of one of the fish- ponds ; and here Mary employed herself in thinking of her lost lover, until her mind was in a state of melancholy, nearly allied to derangement. She sometimes might be seen, sitting on the little sloping green turf which led from the cottage to the water, surrounded by the poultry which she fed and tended ; at others she walked in the adjoining wood, singing little melancholy songs descriptive of her blighted hopes, some of which she had com- posed herself. She was in that forlorn condition — ' When fate ' First leaves the young heart lone and desolate.' Her lover was also a poet, and after he had quitted her, he sent her some trifling token of his affection, and the following melancholy lines, both of which Mary treasured up as if they were the only riches which fortune had left her. I subsequently ob- tained a sight of these lines, which were nearly to the following effect. Oh know'st thou why ; — to distance driven When lovers weep the parting hour. The simplest gift tkat moment given, Long, long retains a magic power. Still, when it meets my Mary's view. Can half the theft of time retrieve. Can scenes of former bliss renew. And bid each dear remembrance live. 64 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. It boots not if the pencill'd rose — Or sever'd ringlet meets the eye — Or India's sparkling gems enclose The Talisman of sympathy. Keep it — ^yea keep it for my sake — On fancy's ear still breathes the sound — Ne'er time the potent chain shall break, Or loose the spell affection bound. WEATHER. 65 In flow'ry meads, oh let me live ! Were crystal streams sweet solace give ; To whose harmonious bubbling sound. My dancing float and heart rebound. As soon as breakfast was over the next morning, Newton and I made our way to the large pond in the park with eager anticipations of good sport. Indeed we had every reason to entertain them. The day was fine and balmy, and the wind pro- duced that gentle undulation on the water, which a troller delights to see, and which ' spread ©""er * all the fluid element.' Indeed I have observed that success in pike-fishing, especially in clear and shallow water, generally depends on the surface being ruffled. A fine, bright day, is often an unsuccessful one in pike-fishing, whereas I have frequently had excellent sport in cold autumnal weather, when there has been a breeze on the water. When that breeze however is accompanied by a cloudy sky and a warm southerly wind, a troller may depend on catching fish if there are any to be caught. The only thing I pique myself upon is being a good troller ; and I have besides one great 66 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. advantage in trolling, and that is having arms and legs of rather an unusual lengtii, which enable me to cast a line further than most people. As some novice in the art may read this work, and as some of my brethren of the Walton and Cotton Club have made enquiries respecting my method of trolling, I will proceed to give them such instructions, as will, if properly attended to, speedily make them proficients in the art, and enable them ' to trowle for pike, dispeoplers of the lake.' I must begin by recommending a light, but strong cane rod, some ten or eleven feet in length, rather stiff, but yet with some little pliability at the upper end. The rings should be of twisted brass, and each of them sufficiently large to allow at least the little finger to pass through them with ease. The use of these will be seen presently. The line should be of about forty yards in length, so that an expert troller, in a good situation, and with the wind in his favour, should be able to cast nearly that distance at every throw. The difficulty is how to procure a good line. Those which are generally sold in the fishing tackle shops in London to novices, are not only apt to clink when they are wet, but also to break if a heavy fish is at the end of them. The best I have had, were pro* TACKLE. 67 cured for me by an old brother angler from Mac- clesfield, who is now, alas ! no more, and I have been obliged to seek for them elsewhere. I can now recommend those sold by Mr. Barth of Cock- spur-street, who is a good, as well as a civil and obliging tradesman, and who also makes up the sets of trolling hooks, which I am now about to describe, or rather to give a sketch of, as it is some- what difficult to convey a proper idea of them without it. The hooks are fastened on gimp, having a loop at the end for the purpose of fastening it to the swivel of one end of a trace, thus, — The upper hook is put through the lips of the bait ; the second and third hooks should be fixed on the side of the back — the fourth hook is placed a con- trary way, for the purpose of giving a bend to the tail of the bait which makes it spin — and one of the last hooks is to be fixed near the fork of the tail of the bait, which will then appear as seen in the accompanying sketch. 68 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. It requires some skill to put on a bait properly so as to make it spin when played in the water, but a little practice will soon effect this. The length from the loop to the last hook should be about eleven inches, and the trace about twenty- two inches, having a swivel at each end and one in the middle. The trace is also made of gimp, and should have three or four rather large shots attached to it. These will enable a young beginner to throw his bait the more readily. With the above mentioned rod and tackle, half a dozen good dead baits, either gudgeons, or dace, but as nearly as possible the length of the sets of hooks to be used, a knife with a small hammer at the end to kill and crimp the pike when taken, and a pair of scissors to extract the hooks from his mouth, the troller may set to work. If he fishes from a bank, mill-dam, meadow, or in short from any place where his line is not liable to get en- TACKLE. 69 tangled, no reel is necessary. It is in fact an en- cumbrance. Longer, quicker and better casts can be made without one. The troller has only to gather up his line around him and alter his cast, which is chiefly made with the right hand, and he has his left at liberty to draw in the line which he disposes on the ground near him, stepping forward a pace or two, so as to vary the place where his bait is throv/n. In this way he may make his casts with great rapidity, letting his bait sink or keeping it near the surface according to the depth of the water, or the heighth of the weeds. When weeds are found within six or eight inches of the surface, the b^t should be skimmed nearly along the top of the water. This may be done by having a small one, fewer shot, keeping the top of the rod well elevated, and by throwing out a lesser length of line. On the contrary, when the water is deep, the point of the rod should be held near the water, and additional shot should be added to the trace to make the bait sink the quicker. In this way of trolling, the large rings recom- mended to be fixed on the rod are of essential use. In case of any knot in the line, or any bit of grass or small stick adhering to it, an obstruction seldom takes place, as the rings are sufficiently large to let them through when the line is cast. This hint is well worth the attention of trollers. The only objection to it is that the joints of the rod cannot 70 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. be put one within the other as is usually done. This may be obviated by having a case made of leather with three small straps. This is very portable, and there is not the difficulty in extracting the joints which often occurs with the old-fashioned rods. Mr. Barth makes these cases from a pattern which I gave him. The best hooks for trolling are those made at Limerick. They are well tempered, have an ad- mirable cur>'e, and the objection which has been made to them of their being heavy and clumsy, is an advantage in trolling for pike, although, it may not be in fly-fishing. 0*Shaughnessy'*s are the best, and I never knew one of his hooks break in the mouth of a pike, which the London hooks are apt to do. This indeed should be guarded against in trolling, for if one hook of a set breaks, the set is useless until it has been repaired. In trolling from a boat or punt, or amongst sedges, brambles, &c. a reel is necessary, and I would recommend a wooden one about four and a half inches across, having the rim grooved for the reception of the line. These reels turn round with great rapidity when the cast is made, letting out a sufficient length of line, and are wound up again by turning them with the fore-finger. They are not generally known, but deserve to be so. I have left a pattern of them with Mr. Barth who will get them made for any of my brother anglers STRIKING SEASON. Ji who may feel inclined to try them. They are much to be preferred to the common brass reel, especially in fishing from a boat, they avoid the noise, and much of the trouble of winding up, and the line never clinks. These are all great advantages in trolling. When a pike has come at a bait, a moment's pause should take place, and he should be then gently struck to the right or left as his supposed position may be. If the troller strikes when the mouth of the fish is directly towards him, he is apt to pull the bait out of bis mouth. When a pike is hooked, he should be kept as much as possible near the surface of the water to prevent his getting into weeds, which add so much to the stress on the line. If he is a weighty fish, it will be necessary to allow time for three or four violent struggles which he will make, but in general it is as well to land him as soon as possible. What is said about playing him till he is tired is a waste of time. I am always for securing a fish as quickly as may be. The best trolling I have had has generally been from the 1st of November to the 1st of March. The weeds are then down and rotten, and pike see the bait readily. The weather however for fishing at this season of the year should be mo- derately fine, with a mild wind, and the water ift tune, as an old angler calls it. I have never had 72 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. a good day's trolling when the water has been discoloured. TroUer Nobbes, whose memory is duly honoured among the toasts of the AValton and Cotton Fishing Club at the social and pleasant dinners of that worthy society, mentions the months of March and April as seasonable and auspicious to the troUer. I am sorry to differ with our father in the art of trolling, but I cannot think that a real angler, for the mere sake of catching a pike, would wish to troll in those months, for the fish are then sick and out of condition, having cast their spawn so recently. To be sure the montli of April is not without its delights, and as the excellent troller Nobbes observes, * it is a month so inviting to * sport, that it is both pleasant and profitable. The ' chiq)ing birds do then begin to seek their mates, ' and the very silent cuckoo that forsook her colder * climate, does again salute her sprouting branches, ' and tell us the news of an approaching summer. * You may then please yourself to see the tender * swallow so joyful at her first flight, when she * seems to make obeisance to your bait, and displays * her wings upon the surface of the waters.' This is a pretty description of the approach of spring, when all nature is animated, and the earth teems with renovated existence, but it is no apology for a practice which every true sportsman must de- precate. That pike are hungry in March and TIME. BAITS. 73 April, and will take a bait readily, there can be no doubt, that they have not arrived at that state of fatness and firmness v. hich they get in summer, but are * flamp and thin,"* as troller Nobbes confesses them to be at that season of the year. The best time of the day for trolling for pike is from four to six o'clock in the evening in summer, and from two to three o'clock in winter. They may however be readily taken at all times of the day when the weather is propitious. I prefer gudgeons to all other baits, as they are tougher, and therefore are not readily jerked off the hooks. If properly put on, they spin admirably, and are tlien very attrac- tive. A bleak is the next good bait, but I generally find that I take smaller pike with them than I do with a gudgeon. A small perch, with the fins cut ofi^ is not a bad bait, but the most killing one I know of is a smelt, they however are not always to be had. It is impossible to describe the best situations for taking pike. In a well stocked pond or river, they may be met with in every direction. A pike has its own peculiar haunts, and he seldom quits them, fearing to be preyed upon by some ot his own species. I have now little to add to my account of trolling as I practice it. My readers will see how iew things are necessary to enable them to pursue the sport. Omnia mea mecum porto. Half a dozen B 74 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. baits in the pocket, and a rod and line, are all that are necessary, besides a small case of hooks, a knife, and a pair of scissors. I am not about to make any comparison between the pleasure of trolling, and that of fly-fishing. They may both be enjoyed in their several ways, and trolling may be had when fly-fishing cannot. I always consider the mere act of fishing as a se- condary' consideration. I connect with it the en- joyment of the country, the song of birds, the beauty of the day, the refreshment of mind, and the calmness of thought, which these bring with them. ' If,' as an old writer remarks, * an ' angler is weary, his sport refreshes him ; if me- * lancholy, it cheers him ; if in pain, it eases * him. This is the prosperity of the fisher. Patience * and hope are the two chiefest pillars that support ' him.' Cowper appears to have had this feeling, when he remarked — O, friendly to the best pursuits of man, Friendly to thought, to virtue and to peace Domestic life in rural pleasure past. Few know the ralue, and few taste the peace. Perhaps there is no pleasure to be enjoyed at a more easy rate than that of angling, one more conducive to health, or which composes the mind to that quiet and serenity which can only be appre- ciated by those who have experienced the happi- ness they bring with them. An old angler has LIVE BAIT FISHING REPROBATED. 75 justly remarked that he who lives", Sibi et Deo, leads the most happy life; and when we reflect that most of our earthly hopes are attended with anxiety — that ambition, and riches, and power generally have some cares or evils to counterbalance them, the contented angler may pursue his course, enjoying his beloved recreation, with a mind un- ruffled like the stream he wandere along. Here I can let my fancy feed its fill. And daily by fresh rivers walk at will, While other toyl in pleasure, and perplext, Are with unquiet recreations vext — Still let me walk in woods and forests long, In whose cool bowers the birds sing many a song ; And in the verdant meadows fresh and green, Joyous rU sit, and court the Summer's Queen. Trollbr Nobbes. In the above short directions for trolling, my readers will perceive that I have said nothing about snap or live bait-fishing, or of setting trimmers for pike. I detest them all, especially the two last, as they are attended with no small degree of cruelty. An angler may enjoy his amusement, and yet inflict very Uttle pain upon the fish, he takes, or the bait he uses. As long as he does this, his sport is an innocent one, but when a live gudgeon has a wire passed under its skin, and is then set afloat to be gorged by a pike, which probably re- mains for hours with hooks in its stomach, swim- ming about in very fear and pain until it is hauled 76 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. into a boat J the sport degenerates into an act of wanton cruelty. By fishing with a dead bait, and by instantly killing a fish as soon as it is landed, but little pain is inflicted, and perhaps not more than every animal suff*er8 in being deprived of life for the purpose of becoming fixxl for the use of man. I am the more desirous of mentioning this, because there are many persons who think that angling and cruelty are synonimous terms. I have however entered elsewhere more fully into this subject. I cannot conclude this account of the plan I have recommended for trolling, without assuring my readers that I have practised it for many years past, and with continued success. I have two or three worthy disciples in my neighbourhood, who, following the example I have set them, frequently enjoy excellent sport. I can also appeal to many of my brother anglers who now and then pay me a \'isit, and also to the Thames fishennen who reside near me and have been in the habit of attending me in my piscatory excursions, as witnesses of the success I generally meet with while trolling in the manner I have described. This method, is, I think, infinitely to be preferred to the gorge, snap or beed-hooks so generally used, and which have been recommended by both antient and modern writers on angling. Experience alone can prove this. LARGE POND AT CLEVELAND HALL. . 7/ It is now time to give my readers an account of the sport we met with in the large pond of Cleveland Hall. I have already said that it was just such a day as a troller would wish for, the wind being soft and balmy, and producing that curl on the water which he delights to see. The walk along the bank at the head of the pond was about a quarter of mile in length, and was of turf kept in the neatest order. Over this walk, branches of beech, oak, and various evergreens, made a delightful shade. Nothing could be more graceful and beautiful than the variety of foliage at this season of the year. In addition to this, we observed a succession of sun-beams irradiate the horizon, and every now and then the sun burst forth in all its splendour, and was soon again enveloped in his purple robes. About the middle of the walk, the water from the pond made its way over a cascade of rough stones (across which a small bridge had been placed) into the valley below us, which was covered by an underwood of hollies, laurels, and box-wood, shrubs which I should wish to see more frequently introduced into our modern plantations. The walk I have described was con- tinued round the right side of the pond, and no bush or rush appeared to interrupt the sport, of the troller between it and the water, which rippled gently along the sparkling gravel of its banks. Immediately before us, the rising ground of the 78 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. park was seen, broken into little hills and vallies, and covered with noble forest trees, over the tops of which the turrets of the old hall occasionally met the eye and added to the beauty of the scene. Numerous deer and cattle were quietly grazing here and there, while some of the latter might be seen cooling themselves in the shallow water at the end of the pond. Swallows sported about, and a sohtary heron might be discovered on the decayetl branch of a gigantic oak, waiting for our departure to seek his food in the watery element. To the left of us, the peaceful cottage of John Porter offered a pretty picture. A rude verandah encircled it, which Mary, in her happier days, had ornamented with climbing plants of various sorts. Some of these covered a part of the thatched roof, and had interspersed themselves with house-leek, tufts of grass, and patches of green moss. The cottage was sheltered by a noble wood of beech and hollies, and standing on the sloping green near it, an enormous old pollard might be seen, its dead and decaying branches producing an effect which every lover of those venerable ruins would delight in. Against it birds of prey and various kinds of vermin had been nailed, either in terrorem, or to shew his mistress, when she passed by, that her gamekeeper had not been neglectful of his duty. Against this tree, John Porter had, for many a year been in tlie habit of exercising himself with LARGE POND AT CLEVELAND HALL. 7^ his rifle, until the numerous wounds it had received produced a more rapid decay than Nature had in- tended. It presented— * A grief- worn aspect of its former years.* The worthy ale-brewer and keeper saw this, and probably comparing the aged tree with himself, he had for some time forborne to injure it. On the edge of the grass-plot between the cottage and the water, sat poor Mary, her hair hanging loosely about her face, and surrounded as usual by her poultry. They seemed to sympathize in her misfortune, for every now and then they gently came up to her, looked in her face, and then hovered at a little distance from her. John Porter had asked me to try for a pike near his cottage, which he said had devoured some of Mary's ducklings when they came into the water. I approached the spot for that purpose, and as I came near, I observed her conceal something which she had been earnestly looking at. She then began to sing the following plaintive Unes, and as she repeated them more than once in the course of the morning, I have been able to retain nearly the substance of them. Forget thee, no ! — in pain and woe, Tliro' every change of time and tide, For thee my notes of sadness flow. To thee my thoughts of fondness glide. Then— wherefore speak that idle word, I would not be the thing thou fearest, Tho' here thy name is never heard, 'Tis all to me, my best and dearest. 80 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. Forget thee, no! the scenes we rov'd — The evening walk, the sheltered bower, And more than all that song you lov'd And wept to, in the moonlit hour. These still are mine, — and oh that lay If e'er from other lips thou hearest. Thou 'It think of her who 's far away. And weep as then thou did'st, my dearest. Forget thee, no ! — tho* pitying friends In kindness bid me not repine. There's none whose care so gently tends, "Whose accents sound so soft as thine. 1 should be grateful, but I turn To where thy dreary course thou steerest, — Where India's skies above thee burn, — Yet would that I were with thee, dearest. Forget thee, love! in vain, in vain. This cheek is pale, these eyes are wet. And tho' this heart is wrung with pain I would not if I could — forget. Then wherefore breathe that idle word, I could not be the thing thou fearest, Tho* here thy name be never heard, To me 'tis more than life, my dearest. After two or diree attempts, (for the fish was war)',) I at last succeeded in taking a pike at the spot John Porter had pointed out. It was not however that monster of the deep he had de- scribed it to be, as it did not weigh more than seven pounds. It was however a well fed and good conditioned fish, probably owing to the young ducks it had been in the habit of devouring. I found that the capture of this pike occasioned the honest old man to look with less contempt at my LARGE POND AT CLEVELAND HALL. 8 set of Limerick roach hooks, as I found that he had been in the habit of fishing with some large enough to take a shark, and thought that anything of a smaller size would be sure to break. After a few more casts, I had a run which con- vinced me that I had hooked a fish of a very un- usual weight. It soon ran out nearly the whole length of my line, and I began to feel that sort of anxiety which an angler experiences when he thinks a fish may be too strong for his tackle, when luckily it turned towards the left and I then had it moi-e at command. Those who have taken large pike in trolling, know that afler the line has been shortenetl, the angler is pretty certain of his capture. This was now my case. I felt that I had a command over the fish afler his two or three first struggles and I could turn it which way I pleased. My expected prize, however, was still in deep water, and I had not yet been able to make him show himself. Some weeds had got over the line when the pike ran to the left, and this added considerably to the strain upon it as well as upon the rod. I knew however the goodness of my tackle, and kept the fish on the move, and looked out for a place where I could best land it. At last I drew it towards me, but it felt more like a log than a fish, till I got it near the side, when John Porter gaffed it to my great content. It was the largest pike I had ever taken, weighing very nearly twenty- E 3 >J TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. eight |X)unds. It was a short, but thick fish, and was in fine condition. John Porter informed me that the pond was generally fished every seven years, and that he returned into it every pike that wa? under seven pounds in weight. As that period had nearly expired, the pike I had caught could not have grown in weight less than twenty pounds in seven years, I was informed however that some had been taken out of the pond, which must have increased thirty pounds in that time, or about four and a quarter pounds a year. I was now satisBed with my morning's amusement, and therefore went and joined my companion on the other side of the pond, to inform him of the success I had had. As he also had enjoyed tolerably good sport, we put up our tackle, and had our fish conveyed to the hall for the inspection of our hostess and her sister. I may here observe that I have generally found the }>ike caught in the Staffordshire ponds in which I have fished, to be not only well flavoured fish, but to have their colours more marked and beautiful than any I have met with elsewhere. I am not aware to what cause this is owing, but the fact is so, and the growth of the fish is exceedingly rapid. I saw two pike of thirty-six pounds each, one of thirty-five pounds, and several which weighed from twenty lo thirty pounds taken out of a pond in Staffordshire in the autumn, which had grown HABITS OF THE PIKE. S3 to tliat size from stores which had been put into it seven years previously. The voracity of the pike is enormous. I had a dead pike sent me weighing about seven pounds, which was killed by endeavouring to swallow another of about five pounds. They were both found on the bank of a pond, the head of the smaller pike being in the throat of the other. A pike very recently took a bait and was killed, and the tail of a rat was found projecting from its mouth. In cold weather, pike conceal their heads and tails under weeds, while their backs are uncovered. They show some reluctance to leave this position, even when touched with a stick, and in the river Thames the fisherman frequently take them up in the hand when they find them in this situation. Pike are not gregarious fish, but it is certain that they migrate at a particular period of the year, probably before or after the spawning season. A friend of mine who had a right of fishing in the river Ouse in Norfolk, informed me that he caught them occasionally in nets in such prodigious num- bers that they were hawked about for sale all round the country. He sent me a large hamper full of them by way of specimen, but they were not much to be commended. I will now close my account of pike, and pike fishing, merely adding that we pursued our diver- 8 ( TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. sion for some days with great success. It was on one of these occasions, while we were trolling in the large pond which has been already described, that the servant of my friend Harry Newton came to us with letters. One of them was for our attendant John Porter, who never left us during our angling excursions, in which he appeared to take a great interest, having already become a convert to my small sets of Limerick hooks. A letter for the worthy keeper was so unusual a thing, that he surveyed both sides of it for some time, and then asked me to do him the favour of reading it for him, as he was without his spectacles. I ac- cordingly opened it, and found that it was from Mary's lover. He said that he had been in a gene- ral action in the East Indies, in which he had been wounded in doing some service to his commanding officer. He had been promoted in consequence, and sent to England for the recovery of his health. His letter was dated from the sea-port where he had landed, and it mentioned his intention of re- turning home as soon as he was well enough to travel. He added a message to Mary, assuring her of his unaltered affection. When I had finished the perusal of the letter, the old man was much affected, he took off his hat, and with his eyes filled with tears, he looked with much solemnity and devotion towards heaven, and said, * God be thanked for this.' Never shall I MARY. 85 forget his appearance at this moment. His tall, erect, and athletic figure — his silvery hair which covered his ears and neck, and curled over his manly brow, and his open ruddy countenance, left a pic- ture on the mind which will not soon be obliterated. His first impulse was to see Mary. We warned him of the consequence of an abrupt disclosure to her of the contents of the letter, and he promised to be guarded. We advanced towards his cottage, where we found Mary busied in decorating a little vase with flowers, her face pale and melancholy as usual. She was evidently thinking of her absent lover, and that she should see him no more. We heard her singing the following lines in a tone which found its way to all our hearts. Sleep, sleep, poor youth I Sleep, sleep in peace. Relieved from love, and mortal care ; Whilst we, that pine in life's disease. Uncertain blest less happy are. Our entrance interrupted her song. * Mary,' said the old man, ' Mary, my dear child, here's some- * thing to comfort thee.' Mary turned towards him. There was in her countenance that look of anxiety and hopelessness which evince the heigh th of wretchedness. Shakespeare says, — ' The miserable have no other niedicine, * But only hope.* Poor Mary had not even this to comfort her, she 86 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRK. was possessed with the idea that her lover was lost to her for ever. She looked at her grandfather, and then at the letter he held in his hand. Her face became paler than ever. The old man trembled with agitation. ' My dear, dear Mary,"* said he, taking her hand, and looking affectionately in her face, * George is come back, and will soon be here/ Mary heai*d no more ; the shock was too great for her, and she fell senseless to the ground. It was sometime before she came to herself, or recovered any consciousness of what had been told her. New- ton, with that kindness of heart for which he is remarkable, beckoned to tlie old man not to speak, and kneeling by the side of Mary, he by degrees made her understand the good tidings which her grandfather had too abruptly disclosed. Her look of woe and despair was succeeded by a flood of tears, and the relief which these afforded her, gave the first assurance that the faculties of her mind were re- stored. With this conviction, we soon afterwards quitted the cottage, but not without receiving the grateful thanks of the good old keeper, and Newton promising to use his influence with his aunts in favour of Mary and her lover. As we walked back to the hall, my friend, whose heart was full of the subject, arranged the plan of operation with his aunts. The attack was to take place soon after dinner, and Newton, was very sanguine in his hopes of overcoming all difficulties. MARY. 87 I was not only curious to see how he would begin, but anxious for the result. The dinner, therefore, which always occupied some considerable space of time, appeared more than usually long. It was at length concluded, the desert was placed on the table, with the port, sherry and madeira, besides a range of orange, ginger, g(X)seberry, and other wines, with their proper labels, and red morocco stands. I am not going to detail the conversation, or to state how matters were brought about. There was some flattery used, and Newton related the Httle story of George and Mary with much feeling. The old ladies, who had still some romance left in their disposition, were moved by the account, and also pleased with the enthusiasm their nephew shewed on the occasion. They not only loved, but were proud of him, and perhaps saw in him a second Sir Jasper Blount. However this might be, the decree was passed ; Mary was to be restored to favour, George's former indiscretions were to be forgotten, and they were to be placed in a small farm, and sufficient means afforded them to stock it. I was obliged to quit the old hall the next morn- ing, and therefore did not witness the meeting of the lovers. I soon afterwards however received a letter from Newton, informing me of George's arrival, and that his health was rapidly improving. He had been graciously received by the old ladies, and the 88 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. marriage was to take place as soon as a house was ready for tliem. I have now finished the account of my trolling excursion into Staffordshire, which I will wind up witli a quotation from that extraordinary angler and hunter, Dame Juliana Berners, in her Treatise of Fysshynge wyth an Angle, called the Boke of St. Albans. ' The Angler atte the leest hath his holsom * walke, and merry at his ease. A sweete ayre of * the sweete savoure of the raeede floures, that ' makyth hym hungry. He hereth the melody ous * harmony of fowles. He seeth the yonge swannes ' herons, duckes, cootes, and many other fowles * wyth theyr broodes, whyche me semyth better * than alle tlie noyse of houndys. And yf the * Angler take fysshe, surely thenne is there noo * man merier than he is in his spyryte.* 89 PERCH FISHING CLUB. ' Ye happy fields, unknown to noise and strife, ' The kind rewarders of my youthful life ; * Ye shady woods, where once 1 used to rove, ' Alike indulgent to the muse and love ; • Ye murm'ring streams that in meanders roll, ' The sweet composers of the pensive soul ; ' Farewell ! the city calls me from your bow'rs ; ' Farewell, amusing thoughts, and peaceful hours.' Gay. Every one perhaps looks back with a certain degree of pleasure and satisfaction to some period of his youth, when he enjoyed the passing hour with peculiar gratification. How well do I feel this to be the case with myself. However much of wholesome afflictions may since have fallen to my lot, joined to innumerable blessings, I often think with peculiar complacency on certain passages of my younger days. How well do I call to mind the time when in high health, good spirits, and well mounted, I followed the hounds in my native county, surrounded by the friends of my youth. The rivalship of being forward in the chase, the goodness of my old horse Active, the beauty of the morning in a fine open country, and the exhilira- J)() PERCH FISHING CLUB. ting cry of the hounds, all left an impression on the mind, which even old age itself will never be able to obliterate. Wh le T write this ' with spec- * tacles on nose,"* and half a century over my head, I feel all the zest of the moment I have described. I neitlier mean to justify the sport, or the way in which my time was then spent, but where there was an absence of |X)sitive vice, the happy moments of one''s youth may now and then be recurred to. How readily do I bring to my recollection some of the impressions of those pleasant hours. In a neighbouring village lived the old friend of my younger days. Dr. Aston. His vicarage was alike remarkable for its neatness and hospitality. Situate in the centre of a pretty village, with the church, its beautiful spire, and a bubbling trout stream close to It, it seemed the very beau ideal of a coun- try parsonage. Here the worthy doctor exercised his kindness both to rich and p(X)r ; he was loved by every one ; indeed it was impossible it should be otherwise. He had a simplicity of manner, a heartiness, and such a joUy gocnl temper which nothing could disturb, that he was greeted with smiles and good wishes wherever he went. He certainly preached, sooth to say, a prosy sermon on a Sunday, but then he relieved the distressed, and endeavoured to reclaim the vicious. I was in the constant habit of calling upon him when the hounds threw off near his house. He then came DR. ASTON. 91 forth equipped for the occasion, with his dark brown topped boots, and a pair of silver chain spurs on his heels, a pepper and salt coat, some- what short in the skirts, but coming well over his knees, a huge whip in his hand, and a hat rather low in the crown, but with a capacious brim, under which appeared his wide, red, good-humoured face. The doctor himself was a large portly man, riding somewhat under twenty stone, but his favou- rite horse was quite equal to his weight. He was a dark chestnut, nearly seventeen hands high, and would have carried a giant ; when he was led from the stable, the worthy vicar mounted from a horse-block, the only chance he had of getting into his saddle. I must here digress a little to inform my youthful readers that in former times a horse-block was attached to almost every house in the country. In those prosperous days, the good old custom of riding double was universally prac- tised, and in order to facilitate the ascent of a female behind some village Nestor^ so called from his being a pillion sage, (excuse the pun) the ap- yif U. pendage I hiave mentioned was in general use. Off the Doctor set, attended by his servant, a sort of factotum, who occasionally acted as groom, clerk, and footman. It was pleasant to see the hearty welcome which the worthy divine received from his brother sportsmen, when he came to the place where the hounds met to throw off. He 92 PEHCH FISHING CLUB. was consulted on every circumstance attending the sport, and was indeed considered as a sort of mas- ter of the subscription pack. Poor Dr. Aston! He has now run to earth himself; and a better or a kinder hearted man, or so good a sportsman of the old school, I shall never meet \nth again. Mr. Sutton, was another associate residing in the same village. He was a surgeon and apothe- cary, but having married a rich wife and inherited a good sum of money from his father, he cared little about practice ; which was indeed chiefly confined to some wealthy famUies in the neighbourhood. His manners were particularly pleasing ; and his appear- ance smacked so little of Hippocrates that any one who did not know bis profession would have taken him for a good old English country squire. He had always five or six first-rate hunters in his stable, all kept in the best order, and a team of high bred greyhounds, for he sometimes amused himself with coursing. All these were under the especial care of his old groom Joe, who was the oracle of the neighbourhood with respect to horse-flesh. Joe had known me from my boy-hood, and considered me as a sort of pupil of his. If I took rather a desperate leap, I looked round to see if Joe had obser\'ed it ; if I bought a new horse, it was always first shewn to Joe for his approbation. His master had the greatest regard for him, and no two per- sons were better suited for each other. Joe's pride PARMER TIBBALT. 93 was in his stable, and Mr. Sutton''s in his horses and groom. The worthy surgeon kept an admira- ble table, and every thing was the best which could be procured. Many a jovial dinner have I had at his house after a hard day's hunting, and never did I enter it without a hearty welcome. Farmer Tibbalt, as we used to call him, was another sporting associate, and he certainly was one of the most out of the way men I ever met with. Rough in his exterior, he had a polished mind, which however had rusted a little in his lat- ter years by his affecting to dislike the company of gentlemen. He was a man of good fortune, and farmed a considerable estate of his own, and few persons could do it better. His great delight was in coursing, and if any one beat one of his favou- rite greyhounds, he was sure to be pressed to din- ner. It was my luck to do so on one occasion, and I received an invitation accordingly. It was the first time I had entered his house, and I shall never forget the scene which presented itself. After depositing my horse in the stable, I had to pick my way through a dirty farm-yard to a small wicket gate, tumbhng off its hinges. This led me by the gable end of the house to a small untidy garden. The house itself was a large straggling building, with little casement windows, and covered with honey-suckles and pyracanthus. The entrance door led immediately into the dining-room, where 94 PERCH FISHING CLUB. there was a sideboard covered with a profusion of fine old plate. Two unusually tall footmen, in rich liveries, waited with napkins over their thumbs, a custom not much then in vogue, and the dinner was well dressed and rather recherche. The party consisted of two respectable farmers in the neigh- bourhood, a lawyer of the name of Dawson, and the wife of our host, a melancholy subdued looking woman, who never spoke, and who left the room as soon as dinner was over. Farmer Tibbalt then was in all his glory. His best port wine was pro- duced, and with it certain old fashioned glasses, having long stalks which were curiously figured, and on the top of them appeared small circular globes intended to hold the wine, and which were decorated with vine leaves and bunches of grapes, with the motto, * dum vivimus bibamus,* round each rim. They did not, to be sure, hold much, but then our host insisted that they should be filled to the very brim on every circulation of the bottle, which performed its duty with no little celerity. Those of the party who had been in the habit of dining with our worthy landlord, seemed fully aware of the custom of the house, and offered no objections to the frequency of the required libations. The conversation was about pigs, greyhounds, sheep and oxen, except that now and then, when something called it forth, our host showed that he was well acquainted with elegant literature, and FARMER TIBBALT. 95 that like Maecenas, of old, he was ' doctus ser- * mones utriusque hnguae."* He appeared, however, ashamed of having shown his learning, and returned immediately to his dogs and kine. He was an extraordinary compound of contradictions. He talked of persons of rank with contempt, while he was flattered at any approaches they made to an acquaintance with him. He affected to despise learning, while it was evident that he had sedu- lously cultivated it, and he dressed himself like a sloven, while his servants appeared in the most expensive liveries. He was, however, hospitable, and a kind master, and understood the habits and supphed the wants of his numerous labourers, who looked up to him as a friend always ready to assist them. I had a proof of this at a harvest-home to which I was invited. Great numbers of peasants had assembled, with their wives, children and rela- tions. Tables were spread under sheds in the farm-yard, which were profusely covered with meat and puddings, together with a plentiful supply of ale, on which Mr. Tibbalt prided himself much. As soon as dinner was over, the host went round the tables to enquire if every one was satisfied, and this was the signal for drinking his health. One of the principal labourers got up, and in a clear, loud voice, sang the following hnes, every one joining in the chorus, which might have been heard a mile off. U6 PERCH FISHING CLUB. Here's a health unto our master, The founder of the feast, And 1 do hope with all my heart, His soul in heav'n may rest ; And that all things may prosper Which he does take in hand, For we are all his servants And under his command. CHORUS. Then drink boys, and sing boys, Take care, you do not spill, For if you do, you must drink two, And that's our roaster's will. These lines were probably the production of some * mule inglorious Milton' of the village. The threat of any one''s being obliged to drink two tum- blers of ale in case any of it was spilt, would most likely lead many to commit the crime for the sake of incurnng the penalty When the dinner was over, the whole party adjourned to the great bam, which had been fitted up for the occasion. Here they danced and sang till a late hour in the morning, and then dispersed full of gratitude and good wishes to their liberal entertainer. I have mentioned this scene more particularly, because it was one of those old customs which is now falling into disu.se. It helped to cenient that good understanding which should always exist between a master and his labourers. It was one of those ties which bind them together, and produced FARM YARD. O^ that kindliness of feeling which almost deprives labour of its burthen, and cheers the peasant during the performance of his daily task. The characters I have attempted to describe, in addition to a few other persons of respectability, met together in my younger days, at an old fashioned farmhouse, standing by the side of a deep stream, and belonging to a wealthy farmer and miller, for the purpose of perch fishing, and playing at bowls. This house was the very picture of neatness and comfort. It was built of grey sandstone, having windows which projected a little, and it was covered with roses, creepers of various sorts, and an old vine, all carefully trained, and which gave it a cheerful appearance. Numerous stacks of various sorts, and of a portly size, were seen on one side of the house, and amongst them turkies, geese, ducks, fowls and pigs, revelled in the utmost luxury. On one side, a small terrace was raised just above the stream, having a fishing-house at one end of it, and opposite the house was a well kept bowling- green. Here a club, consisting of the persons I have referred to, and who rented the miller'*s stream, met once a fortnight during the summer, to enjoy the diversion of perch fishing, for which the river was celebrated, or if they thought proper, to vary the amusement, by playing at the healthy and animating game of bowls. The worthy miller had allowed the club to be 98 PERCH FISHING CLUB. established, I verily believe, as a source of amuse- ment to himself. He provided a dinner for us, protected the fishery, and took a great interest in the election of a new member. He knew the cha- racter and history of every one in the neighbour- hood, and gave his opinion freely of those whom he thought would not make a pleasant addition to the party. Our host himself looked like a regular Boniface. Enormously fat and portly in his person, rough in his manners, and having a sly, cunning look out of the comers of his eyes, like a magpie, he was nevertheless liberal in his entertmnments, and mode- rate in his charges to the club, of which he considered himself a member. He beat us all as a perch fisher, but a game of bowls was his delight, although he was unable to pick up a ball, and like FalstafF, it was many a year since he had seen his own knee. During a game of bowls, he watched his opportu- nity of making a small bet, which he generally won to his evident satisfaction, and on receiving the money, he gave a significant look, implying, in the language of the road, that he knew a thing or two. Such was Tom WagstafFe, and I verily believe that the happiest days of his life were those on which the Club met at his house. He was rich and prosperous. His mill was kept constantly going, and the noise of the wheel, and the splash of the water, added to the interest of the scene around us. His farm, and farm-yard, teemed with TOM WAGSTAFFE. 99 abundance, and the opposite bank of the stream presented a beautiful verdant slope of meadow to the very edge of the water, while at a little dis- tance on the opposite side, the ground was here and there abruptly steep, and adorned with trees and underwood. Tom Wagstaffe was a widower, and had only one son to inherit his riches. He was a solemn, contented looking young man, and was held in good order by his father, who kept him constantly at work, and seemed to have a dread of his be- coming elated with the prospects before him. At this mill, or rather at the fann-house adjoin- ing it, the Members of the Club met at such times in the morning as suited their inclination, and com- menced fishing for perch. The dinner, however, was always placed on the table punctually at three o'clock. It consisted of a water souch^ of perch floating amidst parsley, and parsley roots, a sightly piece of beef, certain products of the farm, with puddings and tarts in abundance, all of which were placed on the table at the same time, an arrangement which our worthy host persisted in, because his father and grandfather had done so before him. For this fare, in addition to good ale ad libitum, each Member paid in those times of prosperity the sum of eighteen pence. To be sure our host did not gain any thing by us, but then he had the satisfaction of seeing a merry and joyous party around him, and he chuckled with 100 PERCH FISHING CLUB. delight as his dinner was praised, and ample justice done to it. Dr. Aston, as the senior Member of the Club, took his place on the right hand of our landlord, and a more jolly pair seldom met. He was sup- ported on his left, as a matter of course, by Dennis Dawson. He was a lawyer and an Irishman, and had set up for practice in a neighbouring country town. His idle and vagrant habits, however, his careless good humour, and his fondness for society, caused him to possess but little business. He was moreover a poet and a wit, and these qualifications helped to make him a welcome guest at every one's table. We were waited upon by our landlord's son, assisted by Phoebe Cobus, a sort of upper servant and factotum in the house, and who has since become its mistress. Phcebe was a sightly damsel, with good wholesome rosy cheeks, plump arms, and red elbows, and dressed in the neatest manner possible. She was a general favourite with the Members of the Club, from her good humour and attention to them. She blushed at Dr. Aston's jokes, and simpered when she was addressed by tlie lawyer, occasioned perhaps by the following verses which he made upon her, a line or two from which he would sometimes whisper in her ear as she handed a glass of ale to him. They are duly recorded in the archives of the Club, with some other fooleries, and I have no doubt are still pre- DENNIS DAWSON. 101 served with all due care by the son of our old land- lord, and may be inspected by any one who is curious in such matters. As for myself, I delight in these records of rural life, although they are only of interest to those who are happily disengaged from the bustle and cares attendant on politics and dissipation. The following are some of Dawson's lines on Phoebe — No eye has beheld since the reign of Jacobus, A damsel so fair as the sweet Phoebe Cobus. Hiough fashion in silks and in satins may robe us, 'Tis Nature alone decks the sweet Phoebe Cobus, Sing hi diddle, ho diddle, tantarra bobus. No damsel so fair as the sweet Phoebe Cobus. Dawson, in addition to his poetic talents, of which the above is a fair specimen, was also apt at parodies. Seeing the worthy vicar helping him- self one day to some fowls and ham, he exclaimed, in imitation of * Glorious John's '' Alexander's feast — He saw the sirloin fat and good Of which to fill his plate Became his high estate ; (Old English royal food) Deserted now, for why the need ; On this he ev'ry Sunday fed. Not so the ham and fowls go by Untouched, &c. This parody was received with all due applause, which probably induced him to make our jolly host repeat the following lines on our next club day, 102 PERCH FISHING CLUB. which he did however with considerable hesitation, and much apparent bashfulness, as we were sitting down to dinner. My worthy masters, pleas'd you see. Our viands rare of each degree ; 'Tis but your favorite taste to move, And melt the mouth with what you love. Savory, sweet, stew'd, roast and boil'd. Nicely cook'd and nothing spoil'd ; Beef to-day cures toil and trouble. To-morrow makes good squeak and bubble. On the rump if you're beginning, Mustard makes it most enjoying. What's worth all beside is near you. Take your fill, nor surfeit fear you. This sort of wit however did not suit Mr Tibbalt, who advised the landlord not to let Mr. Dawson make a fool of him another time, but to attend to his carving, as the dinner was getting cold. His anger however did not last long, for I soon after- wards overheard him exclaim to himself, while he was conveying a glass of foaming ale to his mouth, And eyeing the good cheer before him with evident satisfaction — ' Hinc tibi copia ' Manabit ad plenum benigno ' Ruris honorum opulenta comu.' As he got mellow afterwards with wine and ale, he would give a favourite toast, and as he cheered it, would call out most vociferously — * Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero ' Pulsanda tellus.' BOWLING GREEN. 103 placing a peculiar emphasis on the word nunc, and beating time very appropriately with his feet at the same instant. Dr. Aston whispered to Dawson that their worthy neighbour was ' half seas over.' ' So he is,* said Dawson, * but his soul's in Port.' I must however add for the credit of the Club, that except Mr. Tibbalt, no one was inclined to go beyond the bounds of a proper de- corum in drinking. After dinner some of the party resumed their amusement of perch-fishing, while others adjourned to the bowling-green. It is seldom that a happier or a merrier set of persons met together. Those who preferred bowls, selected their favourite num- bers, sides were then chosen, the Jack was cast, and the game began. It is too well known to require a description. The words, ' rub, rub,' were incessantly heard, and legs and arms were thrown into various attitudes, as if the doing so would influence the movement of the ball as it approached the Jack. Some jumped with delight, and others ran after their ball as soon as it was de- livered to see where it had stopped, or what eft'ect it had produced on those of their opponents. One person would abuse his ball for having too much bias, and another for not having enough. As the party became hot and tired, tankards of foaming ale were brought to refresh them. Some enjoyed it under the shade of a beautiful thorn, which 104 PBRCU FISHING CLUB. flourished by the side of the bowling green. I never saw it covered as it was in the spring with blossom, without thinking of those pretty lines of Burns — * Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.' I will now leave the bowlers to enjoy their amuse- ment, and give my readers some account of our perch-fishing. ITie stream was admirably adapted for these fish, having rather high banks here and there, with deep holes, into which piles of wood had been driven from time to time in order to pro- tect the banks from the wash of the water from the mill. It is in such places that perch delight to haunt, or under the stumps of old willow pol- lards. In summer they are given to rove, but in the autumn they become gregarious fish, and it is at this season of the year that an expert angler has generally the best sport. Such a one will often try for perch in a good gravel-scour where the water turns freely in, and makes an eddy. Indeed an old angler observes * that you may search and * find him under eddies, hollow banks, pools, miln- * pits, turns of streams, at the tails of sluices, flood- * gates, and back waters, near to the stumps of * trees, war-heads, stanks, candocks, and bull- ' rushes.^ He then adds this good advice — ' Now let the angler that would fish <'or perch, ' The turns in rivers, and back-waters search. • In deepest holes the largest perch you'll find ; • And where the perch is, kind will answer kind.' BAIT. 105 He also recommends dew worms as an ex- cellent bait if well compurated^ and the junior fry of small fish, but adds that the charm of all baits that invites a perch ashore is that truculent mortal the gild-tail, I frankly confess my igno- rance of gild-tails, and compurated worms being good baits, and instead of these I now recommend to the perch-fisher to use a small gudgeon or min- now. These, if well put on a set of small hooks about the size of the accompanying sketch and similar to those I have described in my account of trolling for pike, and properly spun, are a killing bait for large perch. The hooks are to be of the smallest size of those used to take roach, and not to exceed three inches from the first to the last. There is no occasion for any great length of line, nor should the tackle be coarse. The bait should be spun as near to the bottom as possible in the places I have described, or in any other ' sohtary deeps.* In this way perch of a large size may be F 2 106 PERCH FISHING CLUB. taken, and I have generally found that in places where these fish are very numerous, the largest perch are taken with a large gudgeon. I have also had some good sport while I have been gently rowed in a boat on a pond or lake, with a considerable length of line let out, with a bleak or gudgeon at the end of it which would spin well. Frequently also, while I have been trolling for pike, I have taken large perch. The Pater noster may be used with good effect in deep holes, baited with minnows, but the angler must not expect to take many large perch with them. I am no advocate for fishing with worms, and therefore say nothing about it, except that the evident pain which is inflicted on these reptiles when they are impaled on a hook, would, I should think, counterbalance any pleasure to be derived from catching fish with them — they are all — the meanest things that are — ' As free to live, and to enjoy that life, ' As God was free to form them at the first, ' Who in his sovereign wisdom made them all.' Perch will sometimes grow to a large size. One of nine pounds weight was taken in a lake in Ireland, and I have seen the painting of one of six pounds which was taken in the canal near the Brades m Warwickshire by Mr. Hunt, the late ex- cellent and amiable proprietor of the extensive steel COLOUR VARYING IN PERCH. 107 works at that place. Mr. Pennant also mentions one which was taken in the Serpentine river in Hyde Park which weighed nine pounds. The colours of perch vary according to the waters they inhabit. I have seen them nearly black in ponds where there was a great deposit of leaves, and a perch, nearly white, was taken in a chalk-pit in Surrey, a proof perhaps how much the soil influences their colour. In clear running streams, with gravelly bottoms, the perch becomes the most beautiful of our British fish, and is per- haps the best, with the exception of those of the Salmo genus. Having given this account of our Perch fishing, it is time to return to the Club. As the evening drew towards a close, we adjourned to the house, where tea was made by Phoebe, not in tiny cups, but in good capacious bowls, which bore a due pioportion to the piles of muffins and toasted rolls which were placed on the table. Exercise had pro- duced a fresh appetite, and I am not sure whether this meal was not as much enjoyed as our host's good dinner. There was also something in the cheerful- ness of the room which made every one feel happy and comfortable. The rays of a setting sun, just disappearing beneath a distant hill, and tinging the tops of the trees with its lustre, and afterwards. * The last faint gleam ings of the twilight sky,' — added to the charm of the scene before us : We 108 PERCH FISHING CLUB. looked upon an extensive meadow, through which our pretty stream wandered where its fancy seemed to lead it, and which was adorned by the numerous flocks and herds of our landlord, giving us a pic- ture of — ' A painted meadow, and a purling stream.' Every thing we saw from the window bespoke prosperity and content, and every one in the house appeared joyous and well fed. The room we sat in requires a description. It was long and low, having its comer cupboards in which certain specimens of old china, odd fashioned glasses, and silver tankards were duly displayed. An ostrich''s egg was sus- pended from the roof, togetlier with a sort of china ball on which certain grotesque figures had been painted. A sampler was duly preserved in its gilt fhmie, stating that it haabeen worked by Betty Wagstaffe some fifly years ago. There was also the print of a fat ox, an oval glass adorned by many a peacock^s feather, and a vile daub of our fat host in his Sunday *s dress. All these are still fresh in my recollection, together with an old yellow faced clock at the fiirther end of the room, which Dawson was apt to put back as the evening advanced. How well also do I remember the rubber of long whist played on a ricketty table, with a coarse, rough, green baize cloth thrown over it, which was for ever changing its position. While Dr. Aston and our OLD ENGLISH HABITS, 109 landlord were playing a hit of backgammon for six- pence, others were talking over the sports of the day, or cracking their jokes to the great interruption of the whist players. A barrel of oysters, when the season permitted, and a bowl of ale properly sea- soned with nutmeg, toast, and brown sugar, enabled the party to conclude the evening to their hearts content, and they separated with hearty good wishes, and many a hearty shake by the hand. Such was a country club in my younger days, and such as it was, it helped to cement kind feelings, and to produce much cordiality and reciprocal kind- ness amongst the gentlemen of the neighbourhood. My account may be thought minute and trifling, yet I cannot but think that any picture of old English habits is worth recording, especially when it is strictly iaithful. Expensive habits, and other causes, have drawn many country gentlemen from their houses at a time when their presence and example are but too much needed. It is one of the fearful signs of the times when those whose duty it is to watch over the welfare of their poorer neigh- bours, abandon them to poverty and their own resources. ' Ignarosque viae mecum ipiseratus agrestes.' 10 TWO DAYS FLY FISHING, ON THE BANKS OF THE TEST. ' Oh the gallant Osher's life. ' It is the best of any, * Tis full of pleasure, void of strife * And ti» beloved by many.' IZAAC WALTON. It was on a beautiful morning towards the begin- ning of June that I set off with my old and dear friend Harry Warner on a fishing excursion into Hampshire. We were neither of us * mighty mos- * ters of the hne/ but then we yielded to none in enthusiasm for the sport, or rather in that love of nature, which is so delightfully enjoyed on the banks of a trout stream. Perhaps I run the risk of losing the good opinion of some of my worthy brother anglers, when I candidly confess that I derive only a secondary gratification in the mere act of fishing. The balmy softness of a fine morning in the spring, THE BANKS OF THE TEST. Ill the ' song of early birds,* the beauties which Flora now begins to disclose, the revival of all nature teem- ing with joy and harmony, have inexpressible charms for me. The very insects which are bursting into a new life, the fresh and tender leaf with its cheerful verdure, and the kindly influence of the sun, all these add to the pleasures of spring, and enable me to contemplate nature with satisfaction and delight. * Here the wing'd people of the sky shall sing ' Their cheerful anthems to the gladsome spring.' It was on such a morning that we rolled rapidly along to the place of our destination, a small country inn, or rather ale-house, near the banks of the river Test in Hampshire, where I had received permis- sion to fish in a preserve belonging to Mr. Peebles, who shall be presently introduced to my readers. Those only who are acquainted with the locale of old Test can form an idea of its various charms as a fishing station. The little inn we put up at was as perfect in its way as the neighbouring stream. We had visited it on a former occasion, and were now welcomed by the antient hostess and her grand- daughter as old friends. We had previously an- nounced our intended arrival and found every thing ready for our reception. There is something inex- pressibly pleasing in the first arrival at a place of this sort. It had formed much of our conversation 112 TWO DAYS FLY-FISHING duiing the journey, and we experienced a gaiety of thought, and an anticipation of pleasure on the morrow, which produced a disposition in the mind to view every tiling witli c<>mplacency and satisfac- tion. I do believe that " all honest anglers," par- take as largely of this feehng as any individuals whatever. Their very employment results from a quiet and contented frame of mind ; they are alive to the beauties of creation, and their pursuits lead them to those haunts were all is serene and still. After enquiring respecting the welfare of our hostess and her family, we sat down to our clean and frugal dinner and in the evening were visited by old Tom Clubb, the fisherman who was to attend us, and who had previously ensconced himself in the chimney comer of the inn to await our sum- mons. Indeed we found afterwards that he was considered as a sort of fixture belonging to the house, amusing the landlady and her guests with his jokes, while he dubbed his flies and prepared his tackle for the ensuing campaign. Tom was a short thickset man, with a profusion of white hair hanging over his shoulders, and a pair of bandy legs of no ordinary dimensions. His face was the picture of health and longevity, and there was an arch, cun- ning look about him and a twinkling of the eye, which was intended to impress an idea that he knew a thing or two. As he was constantly prowling along the banks of the river, he was supposed to be IN THE TEST. 113 well acquainted with the haunts of the best fish, and it was with a wish to hear all that he had to tell us on this interesting subject that we sent for him into the parlour. I never yet knew one of these local fishermen who did not exaggerate the sport to be had in his neighbourhood ; and we of course received the flattering assurance of excellent amuse- ment the next day, provided the wind kept in the south. By Tom's account there were more fish in the river than had ever been known before, which he attributed to gentlemen having fished fairly; that is having turned into the water again the small fish which they had caught — a hint which we did not fail to attend to afterwards. Indeed it is much to be regretted that small trout are not always returned to the stream from which they have been taken. It is a sportsmanlike act, and a kind- ness to brother anglers in general. Tom informed us that the weir was pretty free from pike, and not an otter had been seen for a length of time past. On that very day he had observed some good fish rising at a favourite spot of his, to which he proposed to take us as soon as we had finished our early breakfast. Our flies were then examined and criticised by Tom, who evidently thought his own much superior to those we had procured in Crooked Lane. It is how- ever quite impossible to follow him through all his dissertations on green-grannams, cow-lady, and oak- 114 TWO DAYS FLY-PISHING flies, which he descanted upon with no small degree of enthusiasm, while he deliberately finished his mug of ale. We at last dismissed him to his nook in the kitchen, and retired to our small, but clean and comfortable bed-rooms. I like a little country inn, provided always that it has a civil and obliging host or hostess, is not very noisy, has a sunny aspect, and is moreover kept tolerably tidy. We experience an absence of all care. The world with its politics, its vices, and its deformities is shut out, and the mind is left in that state of repose and refreshment which produce ' The soul's calm sunshine, aad the heartfelt joy.' There is perhaps no satisfaction greater than being able to retire to rest with the mind in this state. It produces feelings of grateful thankful- ness to the giver of all good, and prepares it for partaking in those innocent enjoyments which are to be found in the decorations of nature, and in rural objects and amusements. I shall not soon forget the emotions of pleasure which I felt on awaking the next morning, and seeing the first ruddy streaks of the sun through my small case- ment window. I arose and opened it, and saw the sparkling dew-drops on the grass, and heard the lark offering up its song of gratitude and praise. Every thing looked fresh, and gay and smiling. IN THE TEST. 115 It was impossible not to think of that beautiful passage — ' Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, ' With charm of earliest birds.' After having despatched our breakfast, arranged our fishing baskets, and shouldered our rods, we sallied forth, with our attendant, in high spirits, and full of eager anticipations of good sport. The meadows we crossed were white with daisies, those * stars of earth,' as one of our poets calls them, ' Peaceful and lowly in their native soil' — the dew still twinkled on the grass, and we enhaled the breath of cows as they returned with eagerness to their pasture. As we approached the winding stream we had come so far to visit, we observed the trout rising in every direction, while moor-hens were silently stealing away to their hidden retreats, and willow-wrens and sedge birds gave their notes of alarm. How charming are the banks of a trout stream ! Although the Test winds not among wooded rocks, or romantic dells, it ghdes through flowery meadows, and its clear and transparent water gently bends the rushes in its passage, while it meanders in a wanton manner till it meets with a dam of gravel over which it falls into a placid pool below. Here and there old willow pollards bend a little over the stream, upon which flies settle, and dropping upon the water are seized by trout which 116 TWO DAYS FLY-FISHING harbour amongst the decaying roots of the tree. A river which derives its force from mountain tor- rents, which brawls and foams amongst rocks and the obstructions it meets with, always puts me in mind of the \'iolent passions of man. A clear, placid and unruffled stream, on the contrary, is a 6t resemblance of those, who, pursuing the even tenor of their way, fall gently into the ocean of life, undisturbed by bad passions and unsullied by mixing with tlie turbid waters of the world. ' So calm, the waters scarcely seem'd to stray, ' And yet they glide like happiness away.* Byron. As soon as we had adjusted our tackle we pro- ceeded to work, and flogged the waters with un- abated perseverance for two hours ^^•ithout getting a rise. We changed our flies from picked wing to blue duns, and from blue duns to the red-hackled palmer, but nothing would do. Our attendant looked provokingly significant, and now and then marvelled at our want of success. Few things are more annoying than that magpie look of cunning which a man puts on when he thinks that he knows more than yourself. His head is turned a little on one side, and one eye is a little closed. Such was Tom Clubb*s sly glance while he watched our un- availing efibrts. It was now about noon, and to our great delight the Mayfly began to make its IN THE TEST. 117 appearance. Nothing could then exceed the ani- mation of the scene. Fish were feeding in every direction, and the beautiful fly ascended and sported about in the full enjoyment of its new existence. Swallows no longer skimmed the meadows, but a numerous assemblage of them darted up and down and across the river. They were joined by wagtails and other birds of the fly-catcher tribe, and all preyed on the interesting and beautiful insects. The day was warm, and the sun shone brightly, and our attendant at last hinted that we should have no suc- cess as long as even the shadow of our rods was seen on the water, which was as clear as crystal. Subsequent experience has proved to me that he was right, and I am convinced that a fish will sel- dom be taken in the Test with an artificial fly when the sun is bright and the water clear and still. I dislike a bloto-line, because I think it an illegiti- mate and unsportsmanlike way of catching fish. As however we depended on our piscatory success for a part of our early dinner, these lines were put in requisition, and we caught two tolerably sized trout which we killed and crimped, and then des- patched Tom with them to our inn. I now beg to infonn all those who may come to the Test for the first time (for the clubs are well acquainted with the circumstance), that a trout caught in that river, and crimped and dressed half an hour after it has been killed, is not only dehcious, but far surpasses in 118 TWO DAYS FLY-FISHING flavour aiid firmness a fish which has been killed earlier in the day. Indeed the epicures belonging to some of the clubs will not allow one of the latter to be dressed for their dinner, and I must say that they are right. As we were contented with our morning's sport, and had a short time to spare, we seated ourselves on the bank of the river to enjoy the animated scene before us. As the day advanced, the flies became more numerous, until at last the space about us was thickened with them to a degree which I had never witnessed before, except on the banks of the Colne, at Denham. The history of this beautiful insect is not yet sufficiently known, nor am I sure that I can throw much light upon it. The May-fly, or as they are sometimes called, the day-fly, take their name from the shortness of their life. Some live several days, others do not take flight 'till the setting of the sun, and seldom live 'till morning. Some exist an hour, others half that time. Mr. Barbut observes, with respect to those that live some days, that they have to cast off one slough more, an operation which sometimes takes twenty-four hours to complete. The ephemerae before they fly, have been decidedly aquatic insects up to that time. They remain in the states of larva and chrysalis for one, two or three years. The chrysalis differs from the larva by having on its back, cases containing tlie rudimentary wings. Both IN THE TEST. EPHEMERiC. 119 have on their sides small fringes of hair, which, when put into motion serve them as fins. It is very curious to see them plying their little oars in the water. These larvae scoop themselves dwel- lings in the banks of rivers, and they are small tubes made like syphons, the one serving for an entrance, the other for an outlet. The banks of rivers are often perforated with them. When the waters decrease, they dig fresh holes in order to enjoy the water. The season and hour when the chrysalides of the different species of the Ephe- merae turn into flies, maintain a kind of regularity, being accelerated or postponed by the temperature, or the rise and fall of the waters. The Ephemerae of the Rhine, appear in the air two hours before sunset. These flies are hatched at the same instant in such numbers as to darken the air. The females by the help of the threads of their tail, and the flapping of their wings, support them- selves on the surface of the water, and drop their eggs into it. Perhaps the most curious circumstance in the history of these Ephemerae, is the fact, that after they have quitted the water, and taken flight, often to some distance, they have to disengage themselves fiom a thin skin which covers every part of them. The exuviae are generally found on bushes, so that some support seems necessary to 120 TWO DAYS PLY-PISHING enable the insect to detach itself from this skin. When the beautiful and delicate formation of the fly is examined, it is difficult to conjecture how the slough can be cast off from such fragile textures. After having amused ourselves a short time in watching the movements of these interesting in- sects, we returned towards our inn. In our way there, I will give my reader a short account of my companion, Henry Warner. He was one of the friends of my early youth, and our friendship had remained unimpmred. His good-natured, cheer- ful, and social manners, rendered him a delightful companion, and these were habitual to him. He resided at a small rectory in Suffolk, and there he was perfectly adored by his parishioners, whose welfare he studied, and whose wants he relieved to the utmost extent of his power. His feeling for distress amounted almost to a degree of weakness ; for to his money and his personal exertions, his tears were oflen added, when a case of misery pre- sented itself to him. His moral character was pure, and his information various and extensive, to which was added a taste for ] oetry, in which he now and then indulged himself. It was in his own village, however, that he was always seen to the greatest advantage. Here he seemed the friend and guardian of his parishioners, partaking with them in their innocent country amusements, in- structing the ignorant, endeavouring to reclaim the IN THE TEST. HENRY WARNER. 121 vicious, and relieving the wants of all. His house was fitted up with comfort, and even elegance, and his library particularly, was a proof of his classic taste. He took great delight in his flower garden, which sloped down gently to a pretty stream, which watered the roots of some magnificent tulip trees that flourished on the lawn. Here he had what Horace wished for — Hortus ubi et tecto vicinus jugis aquae fons, Et paulum sylvae super his foret. Sat. 6. Lib. II. Warner was, hke myself, fond of fishing, or rather, as I said before, of the enjoyment to be derived from strolling along the banks of a beau- tiful trout stream. It was in one of our annual excursions that he composed the following song. We were then, as at present, by the side of our favourite river, * old Test.** MAY MORN, OR THE ANGLER'S REVEILLEZ. 'Tis the birth day of May ! Up, brothers, I say ; Your tackle out look, and let us away. There's a cloudy sky, and a breeze from the west, Oh 1 we shall have ' killing' to day in old Test. Chorus. Sing trollillee, sing truUilloe, Where the trout streams flow. And the breezes blow A fishing, a fishing, a fishing we go ! What son of the angle, would bear to lie sleeping While grayling and trout are all wagging and leaping ? G 122 TWO DAYS FLY-riSHING With our flics and our skill, our panniers we'll fill. And friendship shall feast on the spoils that we kill, Sing, tec, March brown, and oak -fly, and green grannam we'll try. With the caperer, coachman and cowlady fly, The red hackl'd palmer, and gnats dun and blue I Art and nature shall smile as our sports we pursue ! Sing, tec. * I/>ok Hal ! there'a a thumper — he's mine for a bumper I • Look Jack — here's another — good luck what a jumper I ' Our panniers are filling, and still we are killing — ' Oh ! we are the lads that are able and willing !' Sing, &c. Hold ! let us give o'er, see ! we've kill'd a good store. Not Izaac or Charley would ever do more ! Give the tribes of old Test, a day or two's rest. And us a good song, and a cup of the best.— Sing, &c. Fill high to the joys of the rod, line and hook ! Good luck to each brother, by river or brook 1 May he fish all his life, without trouble or strife. And ne'er want a bottle, a friend, or a wife 1 1 Sing, &c. The two first of these wishes we enjoyed toge- ther at our snug little inn, in addition to the fish we had caught, and our landlady **& roasted chickens. We talked over our morning's amusement, and adjourned towards the evening to the banks of the river, accompanied by our attendant, who had been regaling himself in his usual situation in the chim- ney comer. I delight in the tranquillity of a walk by the side of a beautiful stream in the stillness of an evening. The song of birds has ceased with the IN THE TEST. EVENING. 123 exception only of the sedge-bird, one of the prettiest of our warblers. The corn-crake also now and then interrupts the silence, and the chattering of starhngs is heard as they settle for the night amid some neighbouring alders. Something disturbs a bittern from the sedges, and his boom seems to sound from afar as he takes his sullen flight. The beetle hums as it rapidly passes, and little white moths hover about the willows in every direction ; trout appear to suck them in as they fall upon the gently moving water, while others are caught by the bats as they leave their haunts in some old tree, and hawk about with a movement as silent, as it is rapid and various. A bright star appears in the ' ample sky,* — * Eve's first star thro* fleecy cloudlet peeping' — and the moon, soon after the glowing red streaks of the setting sun have disappeared, emerges from a passing cloud, and adds to the beauty of the scene. Not a breath of air rustles among the reeds, but ail is calm and tranquil — It was an evening, bright and still. As ever blush'd on wave or bower. Smiling from Heaven, as if nought ill Could happen in so sweet an hour. Moore. Although our success in fishing was tolerably good, it did not afford us so much gratification as the enjoyment of the beautiful evening I have 124 TWO DAYS FLY-FISHING attempted to describe. Having landed between us two brace of good trout and returned some smaller ones to their native stream, we were proceeding to put up our tackle, when we were joined by Mr. Peebles, the proprietor of the water where we had been fishing, and of a small landed estate in the neighbourhood. I had known Mr. Peebles in Lon- don, and had obtained his permission to fish in his part of the river whenever I pleased. He had been duly informed of our arrival, and now came to see what success we had had. He was one of those unfortunate men who, having sufficient to live upon, have nothing to do. He had been some years seeking for happiness in the metropolis, and not having been able to find it, had purchased an estate in the country in hopes of finding it there. He was a good-natured man, fond of talking of himself, and never so happy as when he could get any one to listen to his prosings. His great amuse- ment, perhaps his only one, was fishing ; and he might be seen almost daily, sauntering along the Imnks of the river with his rod in his hand, and attended by a country lad. He could hardly, how- ever, be called a fisherman, as he made more use of a worm than a fly in taking trout. He was in short, any thing but a disciple of Izaak Walton. IVIr. Peebles had one great disadvantage, that of extreme ugliness. His eyes were large and far between, and almost seemed as if they were placed IN THE TEST. MR. PEEBLES. 125 in his temples. His nose was wide and very flat, and he had a multitudinous assortment of teeth. So many indeed, to appearance, that he might be thought to have double the number which falls to the lot of most people. Whether this was owing to his total want of a chin, or to some peculiar for- mation of his jaws, I know not, but so it was. His figure was short and dumpy, but he tried to im- prove it by a smart waistcoat, and a knowing sort of jacket. After some conversation on the sport of the day, we invited Mr. Peebles to accompany us to our inn, and as his heart opened over a glass of grog, he gave us the following account of what he called his misfortunes. My readers shall have it in nearly his own words, and I hope they will be more entertained than I was. My want of taste in this respect, may be owing, perhaps, to my desire to retire to rest after the fatigues of the day. I should inform my readers, that I by no means con- sider Mr. Peebles as a legitimate ' brother of the angle.' This hint is necessary to prevent its being supposed that he belongs to that worthy fraternity. 126 TWO DATS FLT-FI8HIN0 MR. PEEBLES' STORY OF HIMSELF. * How oft and firuitless have I strove to move ' Unfeeling beauty with the pangs of love ; * Heavens ! with what scorn you strove my suit to meet, * Frown'd with your eyes, and spum'd me with your feet.' When you met me in London a few years ago, I had become tired of its smoke and bustle, and lK*gan to turn my attention to the blessings of a aiuntry life. I accordingly bought a smail estate in this neighbourhood, having a sort of rustic villa upon it, witli stabling, out-houses, and plea- sure gardens, and annexed to it the right of fish- ing, as I had heard so much of the pleasures of ang- ling, and been told that no one could enjoy the country without it. Here for a short time I lived in peace and perfect happiness. I turned myself into a complete country gentleman. I made my- self master of the com laws, wore shorts and gaiters, and brewed my own beer. But, alas ! these plea- sures so hours at this time of the year. In the autumn they congregate in a manner which is truly surprizing ; every bird seems to l)e actuated by the same impulse to assemble at the same moment in some particular place. This mi- MIGRATION OF SWALLOWS. 141 gratory disposition is possessed by the swallow in all parts of the world where they are found. It takes place annually at the Cape of Good Hope, and a friend in the West Indies writes me word that on the 20th of January he remarked that the swallows were congregating in thousands in the same way as they do with us ; and on the same day not one was to be seen. He added, that on the 23rd of No- vember numerous swallows were seen, but they did not appear to be stationary. During that day they were seen resting on the branches of the silk cotton trees, as if recovering from fatigue, and as the sun went down, they made an effort to hunt for food, but in a lazy sluggish flight. If the arrival and de- parture of swallows in different parts of the world was communicated from time to time, it would prove very interesting to naturalists, and would tend to clear up many of the doubts which exist re- specting the history of these interesting birds. During the heat of the morning we reclined under the shade of some beautiful lime trees, re- freshing ourselves w ith Angler's fare, which we had brought with us, and which proved no unpleasant part of the day's amusement. It was on this oc- casion that my companion composed the following song, which I am sure will be read with interest by my worthy brothers of the rod and line. 142 TWO DAYS FLY-FISHING THE STIRRUP CUP. Come underneath these old lime trees, * A stirrup cup,* come drink with me; My toast, — a bumper if you please — ' Our May-fly Club* — with three times tliree ' Oh ! we are Anglers keen and true. Met here to fish the streams of Test I And the dainty trout our skill shall lue, E'er Phoebus sinks down in the west I Tho* March and April both are past, (Tho* May has left her fly for June} The rush-green Drake is come at last. And Angler's hearts arc all in tune ! Now perl and hackle throw aside, Let mimic art to nature yield ; Long rods and blowing lines provide, Up, brother, up, I and take the field. — For see where Sol illumes the streams, And May gnats caper in the haze ! Frail emblems of life*s passing dreams, And plemsure*s short-liv'd dancing days ! But we've no time to moralize, By practice artists wiser grow — • A lively fly — and a merry rise* — And then to work like Anglers go ! We resumed our sport after my friend had pen- cilled down his song, and met with ample success. the afternoon was perfect, and 6ur charming river glowed with animation. Those only can judge of its beauty as a stream who have seen it on such a day as this. It is one of my pleasing dreams that IN THE TEST. REFLECTION** 143 I may pass the remainder of my life near the banks of some beautiful trout stream, for I love each full, o'erflowing river. Rolling on as if for ever ! Indeed, I am persuaded that there never was a lover of nature who did not find peculiar enjoy- ment, and his mind happy and tranquillized, when- ever he walked along the banks of a clear and pic- turesque river. He sees at every step something to interest him. Dragon-flies flit about in every direction, their wings glittering in the sun as they settle on one of the numerous water-grasses, or on the broad green leaf of a water-Hly. Bees hum their music as they seek for honey amongst the bright flowers which adorn the meadows and the banks of the river, while gaudy flies appear in the full enjoyment of their renovated existence. To these we may add the song of birds, the rising of trout, the call of a moor-hen, and the distant cooing of the ring-dove. Even the sudden splash of a water-rat, when it is disturbed by having its haunt approached, is not without its interest in such a scene as this. The very air is perfumed, and its softness reminds one of those pretty lines of Mr. Coleridge''8 — the gentle south-west wind ' O'er willowy meads and shadow'd waters creeping.' In describing our two days excursion to the banks of the Test, I must not forget to mention 144 TWO DAYS FLY-FISHING that my friend was attended by a little black and tan terrier dog, his constant companion. This dog does away with the necessity of a landing-net, for whenever my friend hooks a fish, the little animal takes the water as soon as he is told to do so, and seizing tlie fish by the back of the head, lands him safely. He neither bites or tears it. On one occa- sioD he landed in one day 2S pike and 81 perch. This perhaps, is the more singular, because I be- lieve that terriers in general dislike water. I some- times amused myself with watching the sagacious look of the dog, and his eagerness and anxiety when a fish was hooked. I have also heard of a dog that would fetch floating trimmers (or as they are called in Norfolk, Uggers) out of the water, and the pike attached to them, even if they were pulling hard. The setting of the sun this evening was most beautiful. Its golden rays glittered on the distant trees, and shed a flood of glory as far as the eye could reach. The horizon was irradiated with various tints, which were reflected on the clear transparent waters of the river. These roseate hues gradually disappeared, a gentle breath of air was felt, and nature sunk into repose. O Nature ! holy, meek and mild. Thou dweller on the mountain wild ; Thou haunter of the lonesome wood, Thou wanderer by the secret flood, IN THE TEST. 145 Thou lover of the daisied sod, "Where Spring's white foot hath lately trod; Oh ! lead me forth o'er dales and meads. E'en as her child the mother leads ; And while we saunter, let thy speech God's glory and his goodness preach. A. Cunningham. As we were quitting the banks of the river, we observed a heron take its slow and heavy flight, and settle on the edge of the water, where it imme- diately assumed that attitude of patience which is so characteristic of the bird. O melancholy bird, a winter's day Thou standest by the margin of the pool ; And, taught by God, dost thy whole being school To patience, which all evil can allay : God has appointed thee the fish thy prey; And given thyself a lesson to the fool Unthrifty Lord Thurlow. We now took our leave of the Test with great regret, but with a hope of revisiting it the follow- ing year. I have been far from exaggerating its merits as a trout stream, and my only fear is, that some of its admirers will think that I have not said enough in its praise. At particular times and sea- sons, it requires a master of the rod to have a chance of taking any good sized fish, and speaking generally, a bungler had better try his luck in any other stream. 146 THE ANTON, OR TEST. ———— the sprightly Test arising up in Chute, To Itchin, her ally, great weakness should impute. For, from that wondrous pond, whence she derives her head. And places by the way by which she's honoured, (Old Winchester, that stands near in her middle way. And Hampton, at her fall into the Solent sea) She (Itchin) thinks in all the Isle not any such as she, And for a demigod she would related be. OrATTON'8 POLY-OLBION. I FEEL so much interest in the Test, of wliich the more classic appellation is the Anton, that I hope my readers will excuse me if I endeavour to trace the account which antient writers have given of it ; and which formed the subject of our evening's con- versation on our return to our village inn. It is well known that more than one of our British rivers were called by the Romans, Antona. Although the word Hampton is so common in British topo- graphy, and its Saxon etymology so clear, it has been doubted that the names of Northampton and Southampton are derived from that stock ; for the Romans long anterior to what we call Saxon times, mention two British rivers of the name o^ Anton; the one, the North Anton, is supposed to be the Nen, on which Northampton is situated : the other is surely the South Anton or Test, the chief tribu- tary of the Southampton Water. It was, however, so much the habit of the Ro- THE TEST. 147 mans to Jatinize vernacular names, and Antona is so like what they would probably have formed from Hampton, that it may be reasonably suspected that those places were called by that name as early as the British times, and that, of course, its etymo- logy must be traced to some higher source, com- mon both to the British and Saxon. Be that as it may, I think that I shall be able to show that the Romans called the Nen, which runs by Northampton, the Anton; and the Test, on which Southampton stands, the Anton ; and again, the Arun which falls into the sea at Little Hamp- ton, the Anton also. Tacitus, in his Annals, says that Ostorius esta- ])lished a line of forts along the rivers Sabrina and Antona. The Sabrina is no doubt the Severn, but there has been a diversity of opinion about the Antona. Lipsius pronounced decidedly that the Antona was the Nen. Camden was likewise of opinion that Tacitus meant the Nen, but he sus- pected that the word Antona was an error of trans- scription for Aufona. In this he was probably mistaken, for Aufona is surely the Avon ; and as Camden agrees with Lipsius, that Ostorius' forts were along the Nen, it seems gratuitous to call the Nen by the name appropriate to the Avon, contrary, I believe, to all the MSS. of Tacitus. Richard of Cirencester (who wrote long before either Lipsius or Camden, but who was unknown 14« THE TEST. to both, for his work was only discovered about the middle of the last century) has given us a rough map of the British Isles, in which he pre- 8er\*es both the names of Antona and Aufona, to two midland rivers ; but, by an odd mistake, he calls the Avon the Antona, and the Nen the Aufona. His evidence, however, proves that there was in those parts a river called by the Romans Anton. But, aAer all, it is now, I believe, universally admitted that there was a midland An- ton, and that this Anton is the Nen ; and Ortel- lius' map of " Britain after the Ancients,"" describes (and I have no doubt correctly) by the name of Antona, the Nen which flows by Northampton, north-eastward ; and by that of Aufona, the Avon .which runs south-westward to the Severn. So far as to the North Anton. As to the South Anton the case is much clearer ; indeed it is liable to no doubt or difficulty at all. In the great Ord- nance map, the river at the mouth of which South- ampton stands, is called * the Anton or Test river,' and in the common road )x>oks we are told that at Redbridge, Stockbridge, and Andover, ' you cross the river Anton.' Indeed the name Andover, is probably derived from Anton. Here then beyond all doubt, is a South Anton, and that appears to corroborate, in a great degree, the text of Tacitus, the commentary of Lipsius, and the map of Ortel- lias, as to a North Anton. THE TEST. 149 But we now arrive at some curious circumstances connected with this South Anton. Southampton Water is an aestuary composed of three principal tributaries : the Anton or Test, the Itchin, and the Hamble river. Now Ptolemy, in his Geography of Britain, places on the southern coast of England, and in the immediate neighbour- hood of Portus Magnus, or Portsmouth, a river which he calls Trisantona. This name, I can have no doubt, designates Southampton water — formed of three tributaries, of which the Anton is much the greatest — as the Humber is called by ancient geo- graphers Trifonia, from its being also composed of three principal tributaries. But Ptolemy places Trisanton eastward of Portus Magnus, which has induced some authors (and amongst them the learned Stukele) , I think) who were not aware of the local name of the Anton or Test, to consider Ptolemy's Trisanton as Chichester Haven ; whereas it is clear that Ptolemy, or his copyist, had made the mistake of transposing the two names, and that Trisanton can be no other than the Southampton Water. But we have still another Anton to dispose of, I mean the Manantonis. I forget whether this river is mentioned by Ptolemy. I am sure it is by the writer called Ravennas, and by other authorities ; and it is placed eastward of Trisanton and of Por- tus Magnus, just in the place where the modern name ' Little Hampton'' seems to indicate the ori- ginal appellation. 150 THE TEST. From all these instances, I tliink it may be con- cluded that the three names Northampton, South- ampton, and lattle Hampton, are either not derived from the Saxon compoimd Hampton, or, that Hampton is not of Saxon, but of British derivation, and was translated by the Romans into Antona ; that it is probable that the Antona of Tacitus was the Nen ; still more probable that Manantonis was Little Hampton ; and finally, that it is certain that the Test and South Anton are the same ; that the Trisanton of Ptolemy is the Southampton Water, and that of course it should have been placed by him a little to the westward instead of a little to the eastward of Portus Magnus. IjECKford fishing club. 151 Sometimes on the grass ourselves we will lay. And see how the watery citizens play : Sometimes with a fly stand under a tree, And chuse out what fish our captives shall be. There are several fishing clubs on the Test, of which perhaps the Houghton is now the best, and the Leckford was. In the first mentioned club many eminent men are, and have been amongst its members; Dr. WoUaston, Sir Francis Chantrey, and several others might be named, as well as the agreeable author of ' Maxims and Hints for Anglers.* The Leckford Club was formerly in great repute, and the late Mr. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, was, I believe, one of its members. At all events he appears to have joined a fishing party at that place, which met in commemoration of Izaak Walton; and the following lines, descriptive of some of the persons who composed the party, were written on this occasion by one of the members of Mr. Sheri- dan's family. Say, how shall mortal man in earthly strains, Sing, Leckford, all thy pleasures and thy pains. Supremely blest, e'en Craven's gallant lord, With all that wealth and beauty can afford, For Leckford quits, and quits alone for this, The fair example of domestic bliss : \5'2 LECKFORD FISHING CLUB. Our Duke ,• whom cloudless sky and eastern breeze, Full oft, as 'twere in sport conspire to teaze. Yet, ever gentle and serene, defies The malice of east-winds, and cloudless skies ; And bending to fair nature's fickle will, — I'st calm, — he's calmer than the sun -clad hill ; Or if it pours — from her he takes his cue. And, in libation to the day, pours too. But oh ! for the sweet verdant rising plot. Where erst, around the vicar's decent cot, E're tasteless ignorance had dar'd invade Our creeping honey-suckle's scented shade. The crimson speckled game laid out in state. From four to one pound, and Tom's f under freight ; Their bright sides mottled by death's various hue, The prowess of each arm display'd to view. From mom to night when Kerrick knew no rest. And Scott's t quick eye, e'en quick-ey'd Mo confess'd. When Gordon's pealing slumbers wont to burst The trembling walls of middle room, or worst ; (The walls where Gordon fitted in so well. Clean as a crab, or cob nut to its shell — Gordon, who all good-nature, will excuse The saucy mirth of no unfriendly muse.) And Cythercan songs — ^that Mistress Moore Lov'd, as she listened at the parlour door. In concert with the cock's shrill matin -horn, ProcUim'd to sleeping villagers 'twas mom. Ah 1 ere the fleeting voice of merriment Hath left, in stillness left, our jovial tent, Here, ere we part, we'll pledge one cup to him. The life of Leckford, and the soul of whim, * Duke of Argyle; one of the last of the survivois uf the party, t Tom Sheridan. I Henry Scott, Esq., brother to Lady Oxford. LECKFORD FISHING CLUB. 153 Who hails, perchance, across Atlantic seas, Hails, as of old, the warm south-western breeze. And almost jealous of each senseless pufF That breathes destruction on his rippled ruflf. In waking dreams, begs ' just to take a look,' Before he starts, at ev'ry body's book ! Yes ! with the glass for him that sparkles clear. Chase (for 'twill rise) the sad foreboding tear. And drink, ' that time in summers yet to come * To Leckford's sedgy banks may bring poor Tom ! '♦ On the occasion referred to, Mr. Richard Brins- ley Sheridan, drew up certain rules and regulations for the guidance of the piscatory party. These rules, in the hand-writing of Mr. Sheridan, are now before me, by permission of the Walton and Cot- ton Fishing Club, having been presented to it by W. Dunn, Esq. the Treasurer of Drury Lane Theatre, one of the worthy members of the club. Some of these rules have no interest at present, as they applied to the peculiarities of persons, many of them long since dead. Others which partake of that wit and humour which has, and which will continue to delight the world, are now given. They will be read with interest by many persons as cha- racteristic of Mr. Sheridan in his joyous moments, when his wit, his good-humour, and the kindness of his heart, always left a strong feehng of love and affection in the minds of his friends. ♦ The late Thomas Sheridan, Esq., at that time at the Cape of Good Hope, where he died. h2 154 RULES AND REOULxVTlONS Piscatory Party in Commemoration of IzAAK Walton. Rules and Regulutiotisfor. the Same. * That each male member of the party shall * forthwith subscribe-/he sum of five pounds five * shillings, towards tlie general expences, and that * such subscriber do really pay the same into the ' hands of the treasurer. * Henry Scott, Esq., Captain of the Light In- * fantry of the South Hants, to be collector of the ' said subscriptions in the town department. The ' said Captain having given a great proof of ability * for that office, inasmuch as he has already collcct- ' ed five guineas from Gigar, alias Mathew Lee, * Esq., and the scxiiety have the strongest hopes * tliat he will give an equally unexpected proof of * his integrity, by paying over the said sum into * the hands of the treasurer. * A journal is to be kept of the occurrences of ' each day, which, among other interesting matters, < is to contain an account of the number of fish * caught, their respective weights, by whom caught, * &c. &c. * The said journal is at a proper time to be * printed and published, and although the party * are confident that the said journal will also be a * record of wit, humour, pleasantry, and jiossibly * even of deep observation, from the acknowledged « and various talents of the said party, yet, dis- OF THE LECKFORD FISHING CLUB. 155 * daining all personal advantage, it is resolved in * humble imitation of the example set by the Rev. ' W. L. Bowles, that in case any copies of the said * fresh-water log-book should be sold, the profits * shall be solely applied to the benefit of the widows ' and orphans of deceased fishermen.* ' No drawing, painting, sketch, or model of any * trout, shall be taken at the general expense, un- * less such fish shall have exceeded the weight of * five pounds, and shall have been bona fide caught * by one of the party, and not privately bought at * Stockbridge. * Any member describing the strength, size, * weight of any immense fish which he had skil- * fully hooked, dexterously played with, and suc- * cessfuUy brought to the bank, when by the clum- ' siness of the man with the landing-net — only * conceive how provoking — the said fish got off — * shall forfeit half-a^guinea — and so tottes quoties, * for every such narrative. To prevent unneces- ' sary trouble, the said forfeits are to be collected * by the Rev. I— O— . * There shall be but one hot meal in the course * of the day, and that shall be a supper at nine * o'clock ; cold meat and other refreshments in the * tents, or at the water side at two o'clock. ' A committee is to be appointed to provide these * This refers to Mr. Bowles having published a' poem, the pro- fits of which were to be given to some charity. 156 RULES AND REGULATIONS * re|)asts, and shall l)e called and entitled tlie cater- * ing committee, and their decision as to snack and ' supper shall be final. * Any member willing to send in any stores for * the general benefit at his own expence, shall be ' permitteil so to do, and is entitled to be laughed * at accordingly. * All fish by whomsoever caught, are to be con- * »dered as general property ; and if there are suf- * ficient to send any as presents, tlic choice of the * fish shall be determined by lot ; always excepting * such as shall be sent to the drawing- room, which * are to be a tribute from tlie firm. ' Any gentleman falsely, shabbily, and treache- * n)usly concealing the number offish he had>^ught, ' and slily sending off any of the same as a present * to ladies or others, shall forfeit on detection, one ' guinea for each fish so purloined from the common * stock, and be publicly reprimanded at supper for * the same. Mrs. Sheridan is not to draw up the ' form of this reprimand. ' Any person restless and fidgetty, presuming to * insinuate that sea-fishing is preferable to the tame * and tranquil occupation of this party, and detected * in endeavouring to inveigle elsewhere any of the * liege and dutiful subjects of Izaak Walton, shall * on conviction, be sentenced to fourteen minutes * abstinence from ale, beer, porter, wine, brandy, * rum, gin, hollands, grog, shrubb, punch, toddy, OP THE LECKFORD FISHING CLUB. 157 ' swiperus, caulkers, pipe, segar, quid, shag, pig- ' tail, short-cut, varinas, canaster, pickater, and if * such culprit shall appeal against the severity of * the above sentence as a punishment dispropor- ' tioned to the utmost excess of human delinquency, ' he shall be entitled to have rehearing, and Nat * Ogle assigned to him as counsel. ' The Rev. is not to chew the tobacco * called pigtail after sunset, as he will then join the ' society of the ladies ; nor for the same reason is ' Jos. Richardson, Esq. M. P., and author of the ' ' Fugitives,"* to flick his snufF about during supper, ' even though he should have been competing ' with Nat Ogle. * If any of the party, deserting the rod shall * assume the gun, it is recommended to them as , * wh'ite-wales* are not likely to be seen, and black- * whalers are unworthy their pursuit, to direct all ' their attention to green whalers, alias plovers, * which will afford not merely good sport to the * shooter, but considerable aid. to the larder. ' A copy of these Rules and Regulations fairly and ' legibly transcribed, is to be posted over the chimney * ofthe eating-room of the society's house at Leckford, * provided the pannel or any side of the said room ' is of size to contain such paper. If not, authentic * copies thereof shall be delivered to each member.' * It is not known to what this refers. It is copied exactly from the manuscript. 158 OBSERVATIONS ON These are a few of the playful rules and regula- tions which Sheridan drew up on the meeting of a party of his friends at Leckford, in commemoration of that father of all honest anglers, Izaak Walton. We must regret that there is no further account of the proceedings which took place on so interesting an occasion, or of the sport they had in capturing the trout of the Test. As some of the party how- ever have lef> behind them the character of being most expert fly-fishers, it is probable that the jovial assembly were not left without a due supply of fish. Having given my readers such anecdotes con- nected with the Test as I have been able to collect, it is time to mention what I consider the most approved method of taking the trout, with which it abounds in all places where they are preserved. I must premise that I am not one of those who think that a great variety of flies are necessary in fishing for trout either in the Test, or in any other river. I am at the same time aware that many fly-fishers, and good ones too, are prepared with every description of fly, that in case they do not succeed with one sort, they may with another. As far as my experience goes, I am of opinion that the angler gains but little by having such a multiplicity of flies. Much time is lost in putting them on and in taking them off* his line, and after all, perhaps, he has met with no success, I would recommend FLY-FISHING. 159 to all frequenters of a trout-stream, and especially those who may try it for the first time, to consult some resident angler of the neighbourhood respect- ing the best flies to be used, and to use such as he may recommend. As a general rule, however, for the Test, and for most of our British trout streams, I should say that four flies only are necessary, and that if trout can- not be taken with them, it is useless to try others. I am aware that many of my brother anglers, and especially those who have some degree of pride in ex- hibiting the beauty and variety of their flies, will scout my opinion as erroneous. They will quote ' honest Izaac Walton's friend Cotton,' old Tom Barker, the author of ' Salmonia," and many others, as having both by their precept and example thought and acted otherwise. Notwithstanding such formidable authorities, I must honestly state what I think on this subject, and I therefore recommend the young angler to provide himself only with large flies of a dark and light colour for his morning and even- ing fishing when there is a good curl on the water or a strong stream, and small flies of the same colours when the water is calm and still. If trout are at all inclined to rise, they will generally take these at any time. If on the contrary they decline doing so, no variety of fly will succeed with them. Some days are propitious, and others are not so. It is the state of the atmosphere, the passage of clouds, a 160 PLY-FISHING. shower of rain, the colour of the water, and a variety of other circumstances which tend to the success or disappoiniment of an angler, and upon these he must depend more than upon tlie flies in his pocket-book. There is a sort of coxcombry in angling as in every thing else ; and if the young angler is on his guard against it, he will save both his time and his money. I should however observe, that some experienced anglers consider that the six flies about to be men- tioned are sufficient to kill trout, grayling, and other flsh, at all seasons of the year, and they have, therefore, been called standard flies. Having given a list of them, the young angler, to whom these hints are chiefly addressed, can provide himself with them, or not, as he thinks proper. The following are the flies referred to, viz .• — The black hackle. — This is for the end fly, or stretcher. The grouse-hackle. — To be used either as a dropper or stretcher. The wrerCs'ta'iL — To be used either as a dropper or stretcher. T%e smoky-dun hackle. — To be used as stretcher or dropper. The brown-rail, — As stretcher or dropper. The hare's-ear. — To be used as drop flies. I would recommend to young beginners in the * noble art' of fly-fishing to commence with a single- HINTS TO ANGLERS. 161 handed rod, and with one fly only, until they have arrived at a certain degree of proficiency. Their line at first should not be much longer than the rod, or they will be apt to leave their fly at grass. When they are tolerably perfect at this length, they may use more progressively, until they find themselves enabled to manage the length of line generally thrown by experienced anglers. The fly should never be drawn against the stream, because that is not the natural tendency of flies on the water, and the young angler should always bear in mind that he will seldom err if he strictly con- fines himself to the course which nature points out to him. Thus his fly should be so thrown as to come upon the surface of the water as lightly and naturally as possible, playing the rod in such a manner as to bring the fly very gently towards him, but still allowing it to go down the stream. In throwing a fly, keep the line as nearly taught as possible, so that very little of the gut should ap- pear on the surface of the water. In drawing the line out of the water for the pur- pose of recasting it, the rod must make a circle round the head, so that the fly may be well behind the angler before he attempts to throw it forward, and never let him use any unnecessary length of line, as it is not so conveniently managed. An angler will fish up or down stream according as the wind may be, and he should always make the 162 FLY-FISHING. most of it in casting his fly, by keeping it at his back as much as possible. Let him always place himself as far from the edge of the bank as he can, and keep the shadow of the rod from the water. Fish are very quick-sighted. As far as my observation goes, all fish get into deep water when the weather is cold. A recollec- tion of this circumstance may save the young angler much unnecessary trouble. When the water is low and- clear, without any curl upon it, \«nth a hot sun, but little sport can l)e expected. Under these circumstances, however, fish may he taken, and the angler is recommended to try with a black hackle, fishing doum the water by the sides of banks, with very fine tackle, and with a considerable length of line, taking especial care to keep himself quite out of sight The following hint, by a brother angler, is worth attending to. When a fish is seriously feeding on the fly, he stations himself at no greater depth than his own length, and, making his tail the hinge of his motions, he gently raises his mouth to the top of the water, and quietly sucks in the fly which may be passing over him. A rising of this sort is not easily seen, but it is worth looking for, be- cause, although a fish feeding in this manner will rarely go many inches on either side for a fly, he will as rarely refuse to take one which co|pes (with- out any gut in the water) directly to him.* * Maxims and Hints for an Angler. HINTS TO ANGLERS. 163 The young angler must be taught by experience the best situations for fishing. As a general rule however he should try under banks against which flies may have been blown from trees and grass, and at the mouths of streams and ditches running into the river. If the weather should be bleak and cold, the fly should be allowed to sink a little below the surface of the water, but on the contrary, with a warm wind, the fly should be kept on the top of it as much as possible. If a trout will not take a fly after three or four casts, it is useless to continue trying for one at that spot. In fact, after each throw it is as well to take a step or two either backwards or forwards so as to vary the place where the fly alights. The best time for the angler to use his fly is after the water has been somewhat discoloured with rain, and has nearly become clear again — also when the day is cloudy with some breeze. When the wind is high, fish arc generally to be met with in slieltered deeps. Some old anglers thought that the best fish rise late in the evening. This may be so, at all events the young angler is recommended as a general rule to fish as long as he can see his fly. By following the above instructions, a beginner in the gentle art of fly-fishing may soon become a proficient, but it is by constant practice alone, and 164 FLY-FISHING. a real fondness for the amusement, that he can arrive at perfection. Above all, he should delight in the channs of nature, and contemplate her works as he wanders with his rod by the side of some dear and tranquil stream, or traverses the shore of a turbulent and eddying pool. The beauteous scenery also, which is generally to be found on the banks of our pretty trout rivers, their graceful and fanciful windings, and the sweet and gay flowers which ornament their sides, should all add to the pleasures of the angler. Far removed from the haunts of the idle and tlie profligate, he may see in every thing around him proofs of the care and bounty of a beneficent Creator. His mind will be impressed with pure and holy thoughts of the Great Author of the Universe, he will possess that best and most valuable of blessings, a cheerful and con- tented disposition, while the exercise he takes in the pursuit of his favourite amusement, will render his body active and healthy, and like our excellent father, Izaac Walton, he will experience that happy tran- quillity which is alone to be derived from religion, virtue and temperance. How rich in humble poverty is he Who leads a quiet country life, Discharg'd of bus'ness, void of strife — Sometimes beneath an ancient oak, Or on the matted grass he lies, No God of sleep he need invoke ; The stream that o'er the pebbles flies. With gentle slumber crowns his eyes. HINTS TO ANGLERS. 165 The wind, that whistles through the sprays. Maintains the consort of the song; And hidden birds with native lays The golden sleep prolong — Amidst his harmless, tranquil joys, No anxious care invades his health ; Nor vice his peace of mind destroys. Nor es^er avarice of wealth, Cowley. 166 GRAYLING FISHING KEAR LUDLOW. * The river glides at the bottom of the garden, and there is no ' stream in England more productive of grayling.' — Salmonia. Since the preceding chapter was written, I have had the following acamnt of Grayling fishing sent me. I was at first tempted to embody it with the short account I have given of that fish, but on se- cond thoughts, I detcnnincd on publishing it just as I received it, and I am sure that it will be read with interest and pleasure by my brethren of the rod and line. ITie Author, as will be readily seen, is a good practical angler, and his remarks will be found to be equally useful and pleasing. He clears up some of the erroneous statements which have been made res|)ecting the habits, growth, and the best mode of fishing for the grayling, and gives the result of his practice and experience with an evi- dent wish that others should benefit by them. I now beg to offer him my best acknowledgments SIZE OF THE GRAYLING. 167 for his entertaining remarks, and also for his pisca- tory invitation at the condusion of them. The Author of Salmonia has made Leintwar- dine and the Teme interesting localities to all anglers, and especially to those who have had no previous practice in grayling fishing. The following remarks, therefore, may be considered as a sequel to Sir Humphy Davy's account of the sport he and his friends had in the Teme ; some of his apparent mistakes are corrected, and testimony is borne of the fidelity of many of his remarks, especially as regards the great abundance of fish to be found in the river referred to. That grayling do not grow to the same size in the Teme that they do in the Test is acknowledged. Whether this is owing to their great abundance in the former river I know not, although this is probably the case, as I have generally found that where fish abound, they degenerate in weight. I had a grayling sent to me last year by an old and kind member of the Houghton Fishing Club, which weighed 4i pounds; and very recently ano- ther member of the Club sent me two brace, one brace of which were the largest and heaviest which had been caught in the Test during the present season (1836) and weighed about 3 A pounds each. They were caught in the evening rise. Mr. Pen- nant mentions one which was taken near Ludlow, above half a yard in length, and weighing four pounds six ounces, as a rare instance. 168 THE TEME. * My Dear Sfr, ' You asked me some little time since to send you some information respecting grayling fishing. * Living as I do on the banks of the Team^ or Teme, and with a most liberal permission to angle both at Leintwardine and Oakley Park, I am per- haps one of the most determined persecutors of the finny tribe ; and although I have on ocxiasion tried most kind of baits, the fly is the only one I take any delight in. * So much has been said by Sir Humphry Davy, in his Salmonia of the country, anatomy, and habits of the grayling, and so great an authority is he in such points, that I hardly dare venture to con- tradict him — and yet in some cases I think he is in error. * Any person who has ever fished in a grayling river, will remember that there are three very dis- tinct sizes of fish : — the pink, so called, I imagine, from its not much exceeding the minnow in size ; the skett, or shote, which average about five to the pound ; and the half pound fish, which then takes the name of * grayling' * Now, as I have myself constantly caught all these several kinds on the same day, and that in the month of October ; and it is allowed by all that grayling spawn in April, or at latest in May ; if all these fish are the produce of the same year, how can you account for the great difference in size ? — GRAYLING FISHING. 169 And yet Sir Humphry affirms that the fish spawned in April, in the October of the same year attain the weight of half a pound, or even ten ounces ! ! * Leaving this for more competent judges to deter- mine, I will now state the common opinion, to which I confess I am much more inclined than the other. It is that the pink grayling are the fry of the pre- sent year, the shett, of the year preceding ; and therefore, instead of being a fish of rapid growth, that a grayling of more than half a pound is a fish of nearly two years of age, and up to which time they do not spawn, * I cannot either allow the grayling to be a shy fish; if you miss a trout once, you have little ehance of rising him again, at least in a river so much fished as the Leintwardine water; but you may rise a grayling six or eight times at successive casts, and at last find a snug corner for him in your basket. But enough of Sir Humphry, who in my opinion was a better philosopher than a fisher- man ; and I should have been happy to fish against Halieus and Ornither, or either of his companions, for the best 1 3 foot fly-rod in old Chevalier's shop. In proof of this, and to give a tolerable idea of the sport, I have copied out a list of grayling killed by ray own rod in the summer of 1 833. I ought how- ever to observe, that on many of the days recorded I was only at the river for an hour or two, on my way to, and from, Ludlow, — and also that it only I 170 GRAYL.INO FISHING. comprises those fish which I brought home ; since, if I had reckoned shett grayling, and trout out of season, all of which I threw in again, it would have increased the total to more than double the present amount* ' During the last two summers I have been absent late in the autumn in Ireland and Scotland, and I was only at Leintwardine three times during last season (in October), and then killed 1 1 7 fine fish with the same casting line and three flies, which, on •l«3S. Fish. No. Where kiUed. Remarks. Aug. C Grayling. 10 Oakley Park ■ • 28 Sept. Best day I — 9 ditto 16 ditto ever had in Teme, fil- — 12 ditto 31 Leintwardine ling my basket, which — 16 ditto 31 ditto holds 171b. in less than — 19 ditto 23 ditto 4 hours, when 1 was — 20 ditto 27 ditto forced to leave off. I — 23 ditto 14 ditto gave my flies on leaving — 26 ditto 15 ditto toa gentleman who had — 29 ditto 19 ditto then only caught 2!! Sept. 6 ditto 21 Downton Castle and be told me he after- — 13 ditto 16 Do. and Oakley Park wards quite filled his — 14 ditto 16 Leintwardine basket. — 23 ditto 18 ditto t 1 2 Oct. From this —•28 ditto 31 ditto day till the end of the — 30 ditto 23 ditto month, the water was Oct. 3 ditto 15 Uttle Teme too high for sport. The — 5 ditto 19 ditto light blue (or ' Fisher- - 7 ditto 15 Leintwardine man's curse,' as it may — 10 ditto 20 ditto truly be called, as the — M2 ditto 11 ditto fish take nothing else, — 15 ditto 8 ditto and it is impossible to — 18 ditto 9 Little Teme imitate it) as thick as — 19 ditto 11 Leintwardine possible on the water, and almost as many 419 fishermen as flies. thrashing the river in every direction. EXCELLENT SPORT. l^l the last day, were absolutely little else than bare hooks, so completely had they been worked away by the fish. ' On one of the days I basketed 47, the best days sport I ever had, as they were all of a fair size. As for the shett grayling, on some days a person might kill as many as he could carry. I remember very well fishing one afternoon at Oakley Park, with a young friend, and, after throwing in an immense number, we agreed to count what we caught, and on comparing notes, he had thrown in ninety- seven and I ninety-two^ besides about a score each which we had in our baskets. And out of the whole number only two were half a pound in weight. * During the whole of August, and up to the middle of September in this summer, the weather was so sultry and the water so low and fine, that all our country anglers fancied it was useless to attempt to kill fish. The consequence was I had the river very much to myself; and by using very fine tackle, and wading under bushes where the fish had probably never even seen an arti- ficial fly, I had capital sport, seldom failing to fill my basket, which holds, as I have stated, about 17 lb. offish. I usually fished with three flies, the red-ant, fern, and orange tag-tail ; and I will ven- ture to back them during these two months against all the combinations of feather, fur, and silk, ever put together. Later in the season succeed the 17-' GRAYLING FISHING. willow, both dark and light, — the pale blue, the most difficult fly in the world to imitate, — and a large brown fly, called in our country the seg-fly, and one of the most killing flies I know. (It was \«ith the two latter, and a small red palmer, that I killed the 177 fish in Oct last.) ' Of these flies, and one or two others which I know to be killing ones, I have sent you patterns. I cannot boast their being my own tyeing, but they were made by a man at I.udlow, well known as ' Jones the fisherman,"' who has tied many dozens for me, and as he only charges two shilling a dozen, I think it is waste of time to do that badly, your- self which you can get done so cheap, and so much better. * And now having given you a hint about flies, I will tell you a secret or two about making use of them, which is of much greater importance. You will always see any person who is a stranger to gray- ling fishing, and I may add many who have fished for them all their lives, when the water is very low and clear, immediately betake themselves to the streams and curls, from the idea that the fish will see your line in the dead water. Let them do so; they will perhaps catch a few trout, and some shett grayling. But go yourself to a deep, dead part of the river, never mind if there is no wind, or if the sun is hot; use the finest gut you can procure (even if you give a guinea a knot REAL SECRET. 173 for it), and two flies, and when you have thrown your Hne as light as gossamer, let it sink for eight or ten inches. You will not see a rise, but a slight curl in the water, which by a little practice you will understand quite as well, and when you strike you will have the pleasure of finding a pounder or more tugging away at the end of your line. * This is the real secret of grayling fishing, and I have often filled my basket, while eight or ten other fishermen on the water, using the very same flies, have not managed to kill a decent dish amongst them all. * I have also remarked that another circumstance, very well known to be true in regard to salmon, is equally applicable to grayling, viz. that on certain streams they prefer particular flies. One stream in particular I can mention, where I have found them take the orange tag-tail, often refusing every other fly, and when no fish in any other stream would look at the tag-tail. But no rule can possibly be laid down for this, as it can only be learnt by expe- rience ; and my strongest recommendation is when once you have got on a fly that kills fish, never change it. I have often seen a man try every fly in his book without success, whilst another with only three flies, and a little perseverance, has been quietly filling his basket. This is old advice, but it is particularly applicable to grayling, as some- 174 GRAYLING FISHING. times the water is literally alive with them, and they will not even look at the fly — the most morti- fying thing on earth to a fisherman. ' I have before alluded to wading, and I must say, for those who are not afraid of the water, it is a most decided advantage; you are enabled to throw a shorter line, and have much better chance of hook- ing your fish ; you can cross the river to fish either side at your option ; and you can fish under bushes, and in places which the shoal fisher is unable to get at — three of the most important points in fishing ¥rith the fly. ' That one sometimes meets with disagreeable ad- ventures in consequence I cannot deny, as rather a ludicrous one happened to myself not very long ago. I had commenced fishing at the top of a weir- head, and as the river was very low, and the sun shining very brightly over my head, I had picked my way along some shelving rocks for a consider- able distance till within about fifty yards of the weir itself. On each ade of me were high alder trees, and I had most extraordinary luck, hanging a fine grayling almost at every cast under the bushes. * Just however as I was thinking of beating a re- treat a cloud came over the sun, and rendered the water as black as ink. It was a long way back to the ford where I had entered, and I determined on endeavouring to proceed straight to the side, and feeling my way with my rod till within about KILLING BAITS. 1/5 ten yards of the bank, I found the water con- siderably shallower than I had expected. Having therefore thrust my rod through the bushes, I was walking out quite leisurely when souse I went in up to my chin ! I soon scrambled out, and found that I had placed my rod on the stump of an old alder tree instead of the bottom, but on searching my pockets I found all my fish had taken their departure with the exception of five ; besides considerable damage to fishing hooks, and sundry other articles, which I had before kept high and dry in the upper pockets of my jacket. * N. B. A small silk landing net with a handle eight or ten inches long, is the most convenient thing possible in this kind of fishing, as you need not then come out of the water to land your fish ; but take care when you have brought your fish close to you that he does not hook you with your drop fly, when you probably break your casting line, and lose your fish. * And now I will conclude by saying that although / prefer the fly, I must allow that the largest fish are killed by the maggot and grasshopper. The most destructive way with bothy is to sink and draw, and it is not unusual to kill four or five fish in a day exceeding two pound in weight, while you seldom get much above ' a pounder" with the fly, and the average may be taken at nearly three- quarters of a pound during the day. But * chacun 176 GRAYLING FISHING. a son gout,* and I for one prefer catching thirty or forty lively fellows of that size with the fly, to poring all day at one or two particular holes, pulling your line in and out of the water, or watching a piece of quill till your eyes ache again, even if I had the chance of killing the largest fish in the whole river. ' Ooce more adieu. If you think any of these remarks may be useful do what you like with them. At any rate I shall be happy to show you the best places to use the flies I send should you ever come to Leintwardine. your''s sincerely, E. R.' * 1. Spider fly. End of April, Very kiUing both for trout and shett grayling. Body, either pale grey silk or strand of peacock'^s hard, with the green stripped off" it. Wing, woodcock or grouse feather. Legs, black hackle, and made long, ' 2. Fern fly. June till end of September. Body bright orange silk. Wings, light woodcock feather. Legs, red hackle. A capital fly. ' 3. Red Ant-fly. Body, peacock's hard, and crimson, with silk under the wings. Wing, stare's feather. Legs, red hackle. From end of June till middle of September. *4. Tag-tail. All the summer. Body, green dubbing, mixed with a little yellow ; a tuft of orange silk or worsted for tail ; made buzz, with light blue hackle. LIST OF FLIES. l77 ' 5. Red spinner 'J * 6. Black gnat \ Summer evening. ' 7- Pale blue, with silver twist J ' 8. Seg fly. Middle of September till end of October. Wing, landrail's feather. Body, as near the same colour as possible. This and the next, ' 9. The pale blue, or * fisherman's curse,' from its being so difficult to imitate. Two of the best flies in the whole year. The only thing I ever found to succeed for the wing or legs is the feather of the tern, or sea swallow; and the body of the same coloured dubbing, mixed with a little yellow. * 1 0. Light willow. September and October. * 1 1 . Dark willow. End of September till De- cember. ' 12, 13, 14. A blue dun, and dark palmer, I never found fish refuse in any river I ever yet fished in, and a little red palmer made from the very moon of the peacock's feather, which grayling will take at all seasons of the year. ' I have here only mentioned those flies with which I myself have had the best success ; and I only put the spider fly along with them because it is a very killing fly for trout ; and I have never seen it properly made by any one but Jones ; but I do not reckon the grayling fishing to commence ♦ No, 8 may be made two sizes larger if the water is not very fine. 178 GRAYLING FISHING. till the middle of July or beginning of August, up to which time the large fish will not rise ; and I have killed a good dish of fish on a mild day even at the end of December.' 179 A VISIT TO OXFORD. Lo ! Alma Mater rears her reverend head — Unfolds the portal of her awful courts, Where nurs'd by science, future fame resorts ; • « « • « • Pleased we behold the bright'ning fuel blaze. And hot repast that gives content and ease ; The cloth remov'd, with blessing for our fare, We next the jug of cordial punch prepare. Or purple claret. G. Fitzgerald. It was on a fine autumnal Monday morning that I found myself on the front seat of the outside of an Oxford coach, immediately behind the coachman, with my fishing rod between my knees^ and my basket properly secured to the iron of one of the coach-lamps. I wanted a little relaxation, and, therefore, determined to make that celebrated seat o£ learning Oxford, my head quarters for a few days. I anticipated the pleasure of wandering, with my rod in my hand, along the banks of the Thames or the I sis, or of visiting some of the little trout streams a few miles distant from it. I was indifferent as to 180 A VISIT any success I might meet with in fishing, but I knew that I should inhale pure air in the rich and exten- sive meadows which are to be found in the neigh- Iwurhood of Oxford, and enjoy distant views of the stately public structures of that ' delicate and most * beautiful city.* As I was acquainted also with two or three fellows of colleges, and had some young friends amongst the gownsmen, I felt pretty sure of passing my time tolerably well. I delight moreover in seeing old buildings, and in examining those fine specimens of the taste and munificence of our ancestors, which are to be met with in every part of Oxford, Added to which I am an enthu- siast in cathedral music, which is heard in such per- fection at that place, and had a great desire to in- spect the museum of Natural History. With these anticipations of pleasure I commenced my journey. I found our coachman a sedate, re- spectable looking man, who seemed perfectly master of his business, driving us along smoothly and pleasantly at the rate of about ten miles an hour. He appeared a general favourite, which I found was owing to his civility and good con- duct, as well as to the steadiness and skill with which he had driven the coach for many years. Our present breed of coachmen is superior to what it was in my younger days. I recollect sitting by the side of a coachman, in a journey to the Sussex coast, whose conversation shewed so much good TO OXFORD. 181 sense, and who expressed himself with so much propriety, that I could not help testifying my sur- prize. I found that he had lodgings both in London and at the town we were going to, and that he spent his evenings at both in reading. In the course of conversation he informed me that he had previously driven a coach on the Chatham roail, which he found a profitable situation, but that he had left it because he never had the advantage of conversing with gentlemen. Our Oxford coachman appeared to be one of this class, and he evidently profited by the conver- sation of the learned persons he was in the habit of driving, for so, I presume, all Oxonians may be considered. A young gownsman was seated next to me. He affected a little dash, had a knowing neck-cloth, and a great coat curiously cut and seamed, and decorated with a sort of button which was new to me, though I presume ihey were the fashion at the seat of learning. A pickle of a ter- rier, who seemed used to the journey, took his place between the legs of his master, bristling up at every one of his own species whom he saw on the road. The young gentleman was however civil and obliging, and somewhat communicative. He talked of wine parties, bilUards, and hunting, and groaned over his Oxford debts. Part of his conversa- tion was addressed to the coachman, who, turn- ing towards him, said, ' Let me recommend you. 182 A VISIT ' Sir, always to pay for a thing at Oxford when * you have it, if you can. If you cannot, go * without it* I thought this sensible advice, and the worthy artiste of the whip raised himself in my good opinion accordingly. Persons who have of late years described English coachmen, and especially foreigners, appear quite to have mis- taken their habits and characters. One agreeable writer tells us, that a coachman has commonly a broad, full face, curiously mottled with red, as if the blood had been forced by hard feeding into every vessel of the skin — that he is swelled into jolly dimensions by frequent potations of malt liquors, and that his bulk is still further increased by a multiplicity of coats, in which he is buried like a cauliflower, the upper one reaching to his heels. He further informs us that he wears a broad-biimmed low^rowned hat, a huge roll of coloured handkerchiefs about his neck, knowingly knotted and tucked in at the bosom, and that he has, in summer, a large bouquet of flowers in his button-hole, his small-clothes extending far below the knees, to meet a pair of jockey boots which reach about half way up his legs. He also makes him thrust his hands into the pockets of his great coat, and roll about the inn yard, surrounded by an admiring throng of hostlers, stable-boys, and shoe-blacks, who look up to him as an oracle, and treasure up his cant phrases. This description TO OXFORD. 183 may suit a post-boy, or perhaps a Scotch or cross- country coachman ; but it certainly does not apply to those who drive on our great roads. Whoever has travelled, for instance, to Brighton, Ports- mouth, Southampton, Oxford, or Reading, will have met with coachmen whose conversation is frequently as agreeable as their manners are civil and obUging. They join to their civility the tact of never being obtrusive, or forgetful of the situa- tion they occupy. We had scarcely cleared the environs of Lon- don, when a passenger who sat beside the coach- man, turned his head round, and I discovered an old acquaintance. After we had cordially greeted each other, he enquired the object of my journey, and on being informed, he insisted that I should dine with him that day in New GDllege, of which he was a fellow. Having thus unexpectedly met with a pleasant companion, we jogged along the road, admiring here and there the views which presented themselves. Indeed, it is impossible to see the neighbourhood of Henley - on - Thames, without being struck with its beauty. The Nettlebed beech-wood, with its silvery stems and its under- wood of holly, puts one in mind of those sylvan scenes which poets dehght to describe, and makes the tall maypole, which is seen on emerging from the wood, particularly appropriate. I prefer a beech-wood to any other. Its branches make a 184 A VISIT natural and most agreeable canopy all the summer, and its yellow leaves in autumn, give the greatest charm to forest scenery. Our ancestors made much more use of beech than we do at present — • Beech made their chests, their beds, and the joint-stools ; ' Beech made the board, the platters, and the bowls.' The entrance into Oxford is peculiarly striking, and it is impossible to see the walls of Magdalen College, without recollecting tliat James the Second knocked his head againsi them : a hint to those who are endeavouring to subvert the venerable institutions of that place. I never enter Oxford, without calling to mind what old Camden says of it. He calls it ' our most noble Athens, the seat of the * English muses, the prop and pillar, nay the sun, * the eye, the very soul of the nation ; the most * celebrated fountain of wisdom and learning, from * whence religion, letters, and good manners, are ' diffused through the whole kingdom.' Having taken up my quarters at that good and old-fashioned inn, the King's Arms, from the win- dows of which so many fine and venerable build- ings may be seen, I changed my travelling dress, and was just in time to join the fellows' table in the hail. I need not describe the hospitality which is exercised in New College, except to notice, with all due praise, the puddings to which it has given its name, and which are quite deserving of TO OXFORD. 185 the character they have received. After an excel- lent dinner, we adjourned to the chapel, where on my making the request, my favourite anthem by Kent, ' Lord hear our prayer,' was delightfully sung. This fine anthem, the beauty and lightness of the architecture of the chapel, while the shades of evening were resting upon it, and the propriety with which the service was performed, all left an impression on the mind of the most pleasing kind. Bear me to that all glorious fane Superb, ' with storied windows richly dight,' Where I may hear beneath its wondrous roof, The swelling notes of softest symphonies And anthems of such pleasant harmony, As charm the soul with sweet enthusiasm. After chapel, we adjourned to the common room, to partake of wine and desert. Those only who have witnessed the comforts to be met with there, can fully appreciate them. A good blazing fire, excellent wine, and agreeable conversation, made the evening pass most pleasantly, and it was con- cluded with a rubber of whist. While I was sauntering along the High Street the next day, I was accosted by two young gowns- men, whom I had formerly known and pouched at Eton. They pressed me so much to join their wine party in the evening, that I was obliged to consent, although I endeavoured duly to impress upon them how much an old fellow, like myself, would be out of his element in the society of a 186 A VISIT number of jolly youngsters. All my arguments, however, were of no avail, and at the appointed hour I repaired to College. I found a large party assembled, and a table covered with wine, glasses, and an expensive dessert. My companions were gay and joyous, and amused me much with college anecdotes and Oxford puns. Some of the latter I had heard before, though I took especial care duly to express my approbation, as if in total ignorance of their antiquity. Indeed I have ob- served that a genuine Oxford pun is handed down from year to year for the benefit of all new comers, and probably many of the freshmen^ on hearing one of these for the first time, repeat it as if it had just been uttered by one of the reigning wits of the day. I heard, however, two or three which were new to me, and trust they wiU prove so to my readers. At all events, they will serve to remind me of the joyous reception they met witli from my young companions. A wealthy and well-known London brewer thought proper to join a pack of fox hounds one day, and on the occasion appeared with moustaches. He was well mounted, and dressed in a very con- spicuous manner. A French nobleman who was present, and was struck by his appearance, asked Lord A. if he was not un grand militaire, * No,' rephed his Lordsliip, * il n'est qu'un Chevalier de * Malte.' TO OXFORD. 187 A well-known poet sacrificed too liberally to Bacchus one evening at the Athenaeum, and was led home by an acquaintance of his who was in a more sober state. The day had been wet, and the kennels were full of water. The poet fell into one of them, and pulled his companion after him, who exclaimed, in allusion to one of the poef s lines, * It is not /-ser rolling rapidly, but we-sir,* An old gentleman while handing his snuff-box round a table, boasted much of its antiquity, and said that it had been a hundred years in his family. * Has it ? ' retorted a wit, * then it is only * a sentry (century) box after all.' Coleman being asked what he thought of John Kemble in Don Felix, answered, that * there was ' too much of the Don, and too little of the Felix.' A race-horse, named Dawn-of-Day, won several stakes, and his owner, thinking he should get a large sum for him, determined to sell him, and told a friend of his intention. * You will never get ' any thing for him,' replied he, * his name will ' damn him.' « How so ?' said the other, ' he has ' always won in the name he now has.* * No such ' thing,' replied the other ; ' I again say his name ' will damn him, for every one will take him for a * roarer (aurora).' A celebrated architect was speaking of the dif- ficulty there would be in destroying the old London bridge. ' None at all,' said his friend, * shoot it.' 188 A VISIT To these, and many other jokes and puns, were added stories of hair-breath escapes from proctors, accounts of examinations, and of being plucked at tlie little goes, and various details of the habits of college life. In short, my young companions amused me exceedingly, and I quitted tliem with a sincere hope that it would be long ere the frowns of the world would deprive them of their happy faces and exuberant spirits. I delight in the society of the youthful, while their mirth and their conversation are kept within due bounds. They bring back to my recollection the bright days of my own youth, when care and anxiety were unknown, and that freshness of mind which persons are apt to lose as they advance in years. It is, however, their own fault if they lose it, and although youth may be the season for enjoyment, it may equally be experienced in another degree by those over whose heads time has produced a sensible alteration. Those who imagine that life has no pleasure after early youth, should recollect the following pretty lines on the subject, addressed to one who made the remark. Tell me no more, repining friend, * That youth's gay holiday once past, • Our false and fleeting pleasures end, • And life has lost all zest and taste. • To sordid selfishness a prey, ' The palsied heart forgets to feel ; TO OXFORD. 189 ' Nor generous impulse can obey ' Where cautious Age has set his seal.' Hence, cheerless pencil ! whose harsh lines And sombre tints my soul disclaims : Time mellows friendship, like old wines ; And tempers love's too ardent flames. Why dress in clouds the autumn day ? Because the spring's bright dawn is fled. Why cast the amaranth away ? Because the vernal rose is shed. Tho' summer's fervent heat is spent, Sweet is the evening hour of reason, The time to gather in content, The wholesome fruit of every season. Mrs. Dorset. The next day I dined at the fellows* table of M College, and I shall not soon forget the scene. Most of the fellows I met were a little advanced in life, and one of them was between eighty and ninety years of age. He had resided at his favourite college upwards of sixty years, and thought there was no place equal to it. If good eating and drinking, and a warm, snug fellows' room, constituted happiness, he certainly had them in perfection. After an excellent dinner, we ad- journed to this room. A sort of kidney-shaped table was placed before the fire, round which the party sat, the two senior fellows ensconcing them- selves in comfortable arm-chairs on each side of the fire-place. A bottle of port wine, such as ia seldom met with, and which did great credit to the 190 A VISIT Bursar, was placed on the table, and protected from the heat of the fire by a little triangular mahogany screen. It circulated, however, with considerable rapidity, and was as rapidly renewed. Indeed the attendant, who appeared to have exe- cuted the duties of his office for a great many years, and was a solemn and respectable-looking man, seemed to be perfectly aware when a fresh bottle would be wanted, and he always made his appearance with it to a moment. Its brightness was then duly examined, and it made its rounds like its predecessors. It was, however, the old stagers who paid the greatest devotion to their favorite beverage; and notwithstanding their fre- quent libaUons, it appeared to produce no effect upon them until late in the evening. The first symptom which was evinced of exhiliration, was a proposal from the senior fellow for a catch, by way of en- livening the company. This was opposed by some of the juniors, who were probably aware of what was coming, and were fearful of some breach of decorum in the presence of a stranger. It was, however, carried against them, with a little assist- ance I lent to the proposal, as I felt curious to hear what sort of a catch would be sung by the venerable seniors of the college. After a short consultation, the thing was settled, the jimiors declining to lend any aid to the performance ; but retaining their seats in dignified silence, looking TO OXFORD. 191 however with some degree of contempt on their more aged brethren. The patriarch of the room acted as leader of the band, and made his arrange- ments accordingly. As I had expressed my readi- ness to lend any assistance in my power in the proposed catch, he turned to me, and to my infinite surprize and dismay, desired me to sing * the cur.'' On requesting to have my part more fully ex- plained to me, that I might do it all due justice, I was informed that when it came to my turn, I was to chaunt out lustily, ' I sing cur,' and afterwards join the chorus, plena voce. The old fellow then began his part by shouting out, ' / sing Cob'' — ; the next performer followed him by squeaking out, * / sing ler ; a third, with stentorian lungs, ex- claime which he had composed, or rather parodied from his favourite author, in praise of his favourite composer Handel. Handel, with his symphonies Gentle airs, and melodies All the soul to Heaven doth raise: But his chorus so sublime From that bright and blissful clime Brings to earth an angel's praise. In his music is such art Softly sweet to sooth the heart, Or transport with extasy, Calming each perturbed breast : Care and grief are laid to rest ; Fall asleep, or hearing, die. Hark 1 O hark ! those sounds supreme, "Worship pure, and love inspire Suited to their heavenly theme. Vying with immortal choir. Give, chaste songstress, give again "With Miriam's voice, that holy strain. The doctor said, that he alluded in the last two lines to Miss Tenant's so unaffectedly and correctly singing the last air in the Messiah, and which those who have heard her will well recollect. The stranger agreed in the praise thus bestowed upon DR. HUNT. 227 Miss Tenant, and after a cordial shake of the hand, they separated for the night. The doctor, how- ever, did not go to rest, without first enquiring of the landlord who his companion was, and he heard with no small surprize, that it was the then Duke of N — whose fondness for sacred music was at least equal to his own, and who indulged it by going in a retired and unostentatious manner to the most celebrated music meetings in the kingdom. He had often heard of Dr. Hunt and his eccentricities, and therefore had no difficulty in discovering who the intruder into his room was. It is but fair to Dr. Hunt, to add, that the duke was so much pleased with his society, and their tastes were so congenial with respect to music, that he kept him by his side during the whole of the meeting, and a friendship was established between them which was only terminated by the duke's death. All the good doctor's adventures, however, did not terminate in an equally fortunate manner. It was the ambition of his hfe to fill up the whole of the large chancel window of his parish church with old stained glass. As he was too poor to purchase it, he begged, borrowed, and purloined it whenever he had an opportunity, and thus by degrees, he left to his parishioners one of the finest windows in the kingdom. Whenever the doctor found a soli- tary piece or two of old glass in the window of some small country church, he endeavoured to procure it 228 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. in some way or otlier. In one of his excursions, he had taken some trifling bits, as he thought, unper- ceived, but was followed and seized for the theft, tlie glass being found safely deposited in his coat pocket. He would have been committed for trial, had not his friends interfered and rescued him from his unpleasant predicament by restoring the glass to its former situation. He, however, would never admit that he had acted wrong in this respect. The doctor''s great ambition was to have a stall in some cathedral, where he might enjoy his favou- rite music, and he always thought that his friend the Bishop of L would gratify his wishes. On one occasion he gave his lordship the following hint. He had procured the bishop some cheese for which his parish was famous, and on being asked how he should be paid for them, the worthy vicar answered, * by instalments^ if your lordship * pleases.** The hint, however, was never taken, and after having for forty years, read prayers him- self five times every Sunday, and preached four, (mirabile