of Winchester,5 and Dr. Seth Ward, bishop of Salisbury. To be esteemed, and to be caressed by men of such comprehensive learning and ex

5 Edward Powell, in some commendatory verses prefixed to the Complete Angler, has commemorated the friendship which subsisted between bishop Morley and Walton :—

"He that conversed with angels such as were

Oldsworth and Featly, each a shining star
Shewing the way to Bethlehem; each a saint,
Compar'd to whom our zealots do but paint:
He that our pious and learn'd Morley knew,
And from him suck'd wit and devotion too."

A distinguished trait in the character of this prelate, who was first known to the world as the friend of Lord Falkland, and to whom Waller owns himself indebted for his taste of the ancient classics, may be discovered from the following:

6

Being consulted by the Mayor of a country Corporation, what method he should take effectually to root out the fanatics in the year of his mayoralty-the bishop, now growing old, first preached friendliness to him, by ordering him a glass of Canary, as oft as he started the question in company; and next admonished him, when alone, to let those people live quietly, in many of whom, he was satisfied, there was the true fear of God, and who were not likely to be gained by rigour and severity.'-Kennet's Register, p. 816.

6 After the Restoration, many Divines, who had been educated among the Puritans, and had gone into the notions and scheme of Presbytery, upon mature thoughts, judged it lawful, and even eligible to conform for the honour and interest of the Christian religion, and for the peace and happiness of this church and nation. Among these was Dr. Seth Ward, cele

K

traordinary abilities, is honourable indeed. They were his choicest and most confidential companions, and after the Restoration, he and his daughter had apartments constantly reserved for them in the houses of these two Prelates. Here he spent his time in that mutual reciprocation of benevolent offices which constitutes the blessedness of virtuous friendship. He experienced many marks of favour from the bishop of Winchester, of whose kindness to him he has signified his remembrance in the ring bequeathed at his death, with this expressive motto 'A MITE FOR A MILLION.' It was doubtless through his recommendation, that Ken obtained the patronage of bishop Morley; who, having appointed him his chaplain, pre

brated for his mathematical studies, who, having been appointed President of Trinity College, Oxford, in 1659, was ejected in 1660; but in the same year, was admitted Precentor of Exeter, succeeded as Dean in 1661, and Bishop in 1662. He was translated to the see of Salisbury in 1667, and upon his death, in 1688, Dr., afterwards Bishop Burnet, who has given a character of him in his History of his own Times, was inducted in his stead. A few years before his death, he suffered a fatal decay, not only in his body, but in his intel lectual faculties. For, to the mortification of all human sufficiency and wisdom, this great master of reason so entirely lost the use of his understanding, as to become an object of compassion, and uneasiness to himself, and a burden to his friends and attendants.-See Dr. Walter Pope's Life of Seth Ward, bishop of Salisbury. 1697, 8vo. p. 183.

sented him to the rectory of Woodhay, in Hampshire; and then preferred him to the dignity of a Prebendary in the Cathedral Church of Winton.

The son of so excellent a father had no cause to complain that his merit was unnoticed, or unrewarded. Isaac Walton, junior, was educated at Christ Church, in Oxford. Whilst he was bachelor of Arts, he attended his uncle, Mr. Ken,' in 1674, to Rome, where he was present at the jubilee appointed by Pope Clement X. in 1675. On this occasion Ken was wont to say, that "he had great reason to give God thanks for his travels; since, if it were possible, he returned rather more confirmed of the purity of the Protestant religion than he was before." During his residence in Italy, that country, which is justly called the great School of Music and Painting, the rich Repository of the noblest productions of Statuary and Architecture, both ancient and modern, young Walton indulged and improved his taste for the fine arts.8 On his return to England, he retired to the University of Oxford, to prosecute his studies. Having afterward accepted an invitation from bishop Ward, to become his domestic chap

7 Ken was not admitted to the degree of D.D. till 1679. 8"VIATOR.-But what have we got here? A rock springing up in the middle of the river. This is one of the

oddest sights that ever I saw.

Why, Sir, from that pike that you see standing