no higher than the device, fashion, and form of flies; with advice also for their management, together with seasonable time and use.

"Arn. That was my intention, had you never mentioned it; but were it to another, I should rather refer him to our modern assertors. For indeed the frequent exercise of fly-fishing, though painful, yet it is delightful, more especially when managed by the methods of art, and the practical rules and mediums of artists. But the ground-bait was of old the general practice, and beyond dispute brought considerable profit; which happened in those days, when the curiosity of flyfishing was intricate and unpracticable. However, Isaac Walton (late author of the Complete Angler) has imposed upon the world this monthly novelty, which he understood not himself; but stuffs his book with morals from Dubravius and others, not giving us one precedent of his own practical experiments, except otherwise where he prefers the trencher before the troling-rod; who lays the stress of his arguments upon other men's observations, wherewith he stuffs his indigested octavo; so brings himself under the angler's censure, and the common calamity of a plagiary, to be pitied (poor man) for his loss of time, in scribbling and transcribing other men's notions. These are the drones that rob the hive, yet flatter the bees they bring them honey.

Theoph. I remember the book, but you inculcate his erratas; however, it may pass muster among common mudlers.

"Arn. No, I think not; for I remember in Stafford, I urged his own argument upon him, that pickerel weed of itself breeds pickerel. Which question was no sooner stated, but he transmits himself to his authority, viz. Gesner, Dubravius, and Androvanus. Which I readily opposed, and offered my reasons to prove the contrary; asserting, that pickerels have been fished out of pools and ponds where that weed (for ought I knew) never grew since the non-age of time, nor pickerel ever known to have shed their spawn there. This I propounded from a rational conjecture of the heronshaw, who to commode herself with the fry of fish, because in a great measure part of her maintenance, probably might lap some spawn about her legs, in regard adhering to the segs and bull-rushes, near the shallows, where the fish shed their spawn, as myself and others without curiosity have observed. And this slimy substance adhering to her legs, &c. and she mounting the air for another station, in probability mounts with her. Where note, the next pond she happily arrives at, possibly she may leave the spawn behind her, which my Complete Angler no sooner deliberated, but dropped his argument, and leaves Gesner to defend it; so huffed away: which rendered him rather a formal opinionist, than a reformed and practical artist, because to celebrate such antiquated records, whereby to maintain such an improbable assertion.

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Theoph. This was to the point, I confess; pray, go on.

"Arn. In his book, intituled the Complete Angler, you may read there of various and diversified colours, as also the forms and proportions of flies. Where, poor man, he perplexes himself to rally and scrape together such a parcel of fragments, which he fancies arguments convincing enough to instruct the adult and minority of youth, into

the slender margin of his uncultivated art, never made practicable by himself I'm convinced. Where note, the true character of an industrious angler, more deservedly falls upon Merril and Faulkner, or rather upon Isaac Owldham, a man that fished salmon but with three hairs at hook, whose collections and experiments were lost with himself."

How characteristic of the two fishermen is this account of the "Argument" at Stafford, as Captain Franck denominates it! The trooper propounds his opinion, as though he had Isaac at the broadsword. But Isaac, the gentlest creature alive, no sooner "deliberates" the matter, but he "drops the argument," and leaves Gesner to defend it. Isaac is no warrior no hardy champion for any particular mode of breeding pike. He simply states what he reads, and what he thinks, and finding that the Captain has a contrary opinion with that of Gesner, viz.-that pickerel weed breed pike in pools; he leaves the two to settle the question. Isaac is content to catch fish; and, rather than cavil, we do not doubt but that he would at any time have believed that perch might have been bred out of old hen-roosts as easily as pike out of pickerel weed, so very amiable was he in his pursuit.

The sight of the town of Forfar calls to the recollection of Arnoldus a story of Billy Pringle's cow drinking a cooler of new ale, which is told in the Captain's own elaborate and fanciful manner. The beer-robbery becomes a question first. for the Provost's decision, and then for the court at Edinburgh. But let the author speak for himself at the conclusion of his story. He is very lively on the subject of new ale.

"Arn. And now the guid wife arrests Billy Pringle, because that his cow drank off her ale. And he like a man to purge himself by law, traverses the action at the court at Edinburgh, where the case was opened, and pleadings on both sides. But the woman's counsel pleads hard for satisfaction; when an advocate for Billy Pringle solicits the Judge, that an award be allowed to his client Pringle: For, my lord, quo he, they produce no precedent; nor was it ever known in the kingdom of Scotland that a cow paid a plack for a standing-drink: nay, more than that, she never called for it, and Doh and Doris is the custom of our country; where note, a standing-drink was never yet paid for. With these and the like circumstances he made the court merry, because utterly to exceed and confound their practice; so that now every lawyer became a mute, and every auditor a silent admirer.

"During this silence there rushed into the court a crew of saucy surly fellows, that proffered to swear for the guid awd wife, that the cow drank the ale brewed for them to drink and it's thought they would have sworn through a double deal-board, they seemed so enraged for the loss of their ale. This you must conceive warmed the woman's counsel, so that they moved the court for satisfaction, and prayed a

more strict examination of the matter. Upon which the records of the court were called for, but no precedent was found to punish a cow for drinking of ale, sitting or standing. Besides, it was adjudged beyond the practice of the court to determine any thing wherein the laws were silent. Yet notwithstanding all this, and a great deal more, the woman's counsel moves again for satisfaction, which proposal was quashed by sentence of the court, almost as soon as it was propounded, because to refer it to the provost of Forfar.

"Theoph. Why so?

"Arn. Can you think him a man of that capacity, to decide a controversy so foreign and intricate, that all the law in Scotland could not then determine?

cult?

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Theoph. Why so; was the nature of the thing so rare and diffi

"Arn. Was it not, think you, to take all the proofs, to swear all the witnesses; and as near as possible to ultimate the difference, with this proviso to both parties' satisfaction?

Theoph, I confess it was intricate; but how did he behave him

"Arn. Very well, I fancy, and the manner on't was thus. First, he calls a hall; but admits no man to speak a word save himself; and as his gravity directs him, puts a question to the woman, which in short was this. He demands to know of her how the cow took the liquor, whether she took it sitting, or if she took it standing? To which the brewster-wife, after a little pause, answered, by making this reply: In guid fa, sir, quo the wife, the cow took it standing. Then, quo the provost, your e'en words condemn ye, to seek satisfaction for a standing-drink. This annihilates the custom of doh and doris. For truly sike another ill precedent as this were enough to obliterate so famous a custom, as stark love and kindness for evermare. Where note, guid wife, ye have wronged Billy Pringle, for prosecuting the guid man contrary to law; and have done mickle damage to Puggy his cow, because to chastise her but for a standing-drink."

The travellers pass on to Loughness, and "Hero it over another Hellespont." The border of Southerland is trod-and Tayn in Ross is approached.—

"Arn. The town of Tayn in Ross, that equalizeth Dornoch for beautiful buildings; and as exemplary as any place for justice, that never use gibbet nor halter to hang a man, but sacks all their malefactors, so swims them to their graves."

Ross is celebrated, says the Captain, not only for fine fabricks, but also for

Eagles, signets, falcons, swans, geese, gossander, duck and malard, teal, smieth, widgeon, seapyes, sandelevericks, green and gray plover, snite, partridge, curlue, moorgame, and grows."

A few pages conduct us on to Aberdeen. thor is lavish of his powers of description.

Here the au

He dances on

from point to point with the air of a gallant. He revels on his pen-feathers.

"Theoph. But what have we here? Cawses uncartable, and pavements unpracticable, pointed with rocky stumpy stones, and dawbed all over with dingy dirt, that makes it unpassable; and the fields, as I conceive, are ten times worse, because overspread with miry clay, and incumbered with bogs that will bury a horse.

"Arn. For better for worse, we must through it, if intending to climb the southern elevations. Now at the foot of this pavement there's a small little harbour which they call Steenhive, but I take the liberty to call it stinking hive, because it's so unsavory; which serves only for pirates and pickeroons; but it bravely accommodates the Highlander for depredations.

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Theoph. What fabrick is that peeps out of the ocean?

"Arn. Donnotter-Castle, surrounded with sea, and waves for recreation dance about it: it's a house so inoculated and cemented into rocks, that a man would fancy it to swim in the ocean; and the natural strength so impregnable, supposeth the artificial but inconsiderable, whose rocky foundations, like Atlas's pillars, support the bulk of this gaudy fortress. For art and artist are but nature's substitutes; wherever therefore nature ceaseth to operate, then is the time for artist to begin his progress. But nature has finished what she had to do, and has left nothing for the artist to practise, save only to adorn the natural excellency. After this manner is that artificial embellishment, for the rock itself is the natural strength, then the castle can be but the artificial. From whence we conclude, that nature and art have formed such a fabrick for strength and beauty, that amuses and amazes every beholder.

Theoph. I behold and consider this invincible castle, lifted up like a cloud into the ambient air. I have also considered the gaiety of her galleries, and those ornaments that adorn her gaudy frontiers. I have also considered those opposite mountains, whose formidable aspect are no pleasing prospect to those embellished battlements, that seemingly float in the arms of the ocean."

We are next brought to Dundee. Disconsolate Dundee ! Here the author is mighty in alliteration and lamentation. It is a perfect congress of D's!

"Arn. Ah, poor Dundee ! torn up by the roots; and thy natives and inhabitants picked out at the port-holes. Can honour shine in such bloody sacrifices, to lick up the lives of inhabitants, as if by a studied revenge? Can nothing sweeten the conqueror's sword, but the reeking blood of orphans and innocents? Blush, O heavens, what an age is this! There was wealth enough to answer their ambitions, and probably that as soon as any thing betrayed her. Could nothing satisfy the unsatiable sword, but the life of Dundee to atone as a sacrifice? English men without mercy, are like Christians without Christianity; no moderation nor pity left, but parcelling out the lives of poor

penitents in cold blood? Who must answer for this at the bar of heaven, before the judge of all the world? But he that doomed Dundee to die, is dead himself, and doomed e're this; and Dundee yet living to survive his cruelty.

"Theoph. Is this Dundee ! Disconsolate Dundee, where the merciless conqueror stuck down his standard in streams of blood?

"Arn. Yes, this is that unfortunate and, deplorable Dundee, whose laurels were stript from the brow of her senators, to adorn the conquering tyrant's head. Here it was that every arbour flourished with a fruitful vine; and here every border was beautified with fragrant flowers. Yet her situation seems to me none of the best; for if bordering too near the brinks of the ocean proves insalubrious, or stooping too low to salute the earth, incommodes health by unwholesome vapours; then to stand elevated a pitch too high, suffocates with fumes, that equally offend and infect the air, by blotting out sanity with the sovereignty of life.

"Theoph. This somewhat answers my former opinion, that neither honour nor riches, nor the ambitions of men, stand in competition with the mediocrity of health; nor is there any blessing under the sun adequate to the sovereign sanctions of sanity on this side eternity, but the radies of sanctification from the sun of righteousness. The world's a fool, and none but fools admire it: Yet not that I prophane the beautiful creation; when only censuring that fictitious and imaginary world in man. Go on with Dundee; I overflow with pity, and could wish my reluctancy penitency enough to weep her into a religious repentance, but not with Rachel never to be comforted. Hark, Arnoldus! Don't you hear the bells?

"Arn. Yes, I hear them, and what of that? Bells and bonfires are two catholick drumsticks, with which the church beats up for volunteers only to debauch them."

Cooper of Fife comes next, or, rather, we come next to Cooper of Fife; and soon after our travellers embark for "the beautiful pier of Leith." Having been a little sea-sick, Arnoldus puts the following kind, but rather "flourishing" question to his friend

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Theoph. Will you close up the orifice of your relaxed stomach with a glass of brisk claret? So mingle some liquor with your maritime labours, and thank generous Neptune to act the part of a physician, to shave off the foreign ferment from your crude and indegestive ventricle."

Leith has "flourishing ports." flourishing ports." From Leith we come to Edinburgh-famous Edinburgh!

"Arn. Welcome to these elevated ports, the princely court of famous Edinburgh. This city stands upon a mighty scopulous mountain, whose foundations are cemented with mortar and stone; where the bulk of her lofty buildings represent it a rock at a reasonable distance, fronting the approaching sun; whose elevations are seven or