The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 249
above a hundred fathom deep, having four and twenty habitable
islands, some of them stocked with deer, and all of them covered
with wood; containing immense quantities of delicious fish, salmon,
pike, trout, perch, flounders, eels, and powans, the last a delicate kind
of fresh-water herring peculiar to this lake; and finally communi-
cating with the sea, by sending off the Leven, through which all those
species (except the powan) make their exit and entrance occasionally?
Inclosed I send you the copy of a little ode to this river, by Dr.
Smollett, who was born on the banks of it, within two miles of the
place where I am now writing.—It is at least picturesque and accu-
rately descriptive, if it has no other merit.—There is an idea of truth
in an agreeable landscape taken from nature, which pleases me more
than the gayest fiction which the most luxuriant fancy can display.
I have other remarks to make; but as my paper is full, I must
reserve them till the next occasion. I shall only observe at present,
that I am determined to penetrate at least forty miles into the High-
lands, which now appear like a vast fantastic vision in the clouds,
inviting the approach of,
Yours always,
Cameron, Aug. 28. MATT. BRAMBLE
ODE TO LEVEN-WATER
ON Leven’s banks, while free to rove,
And tune the rural pipe to love;
I envied not the happiest swain
That ever trod th’ Arcadian plain.
Pure stream! in whose transparent wave
My youthful limbs I wont to lave;
No torrents stain thy limpid source;
No rocks impede thy dimpling course,
That sweetly warbles o’er its bed,
With white, round, polish’d pebbles spread;
While, lightly pois’d, the scaly brood
In myriads cleave thy crystal flood;
The springing trout in speckled pride;
The salmon, monarch of the tide;
The ruthless pike, intent on war;
The silver eel, and motled par.†
† The par is a small fish, not unlike the smelt, which it rivals in delicacy and
flavour.