to partake of; and, after all the Evidence produced, think I have a Right to conclude, against the Motto of this Paper, that there is fuch a thing as Generofity in the World. Though if I were under a Mistake in this, I should fay as Cicero in relation to the Immortality of the Soul, I willingly err, and should believe it very much for the Intereft of Mankind to lye under the fame Delufion. For the contrary Notion naturally tends to difpirit the Mind, and finks it into a Meannefs fatal to the God-like Zeal of doing good. As on the other hand, it teaches People to be Ungrateful, by poffeffing them with a Perfwafion concerning their Benefactors, that they have no Regard to them in the Benefits they bestow. Now he that banishes Gratitude from among Men, by fo doing stops up the Stream of Beneficence. For though in conferring Kindneffes, a truly generous Man doth not aim at a Return, yet he looks to the Qualities of the Perfon obliged, and as nothing renders a Perfon more unworthy of a Benefit, than his being without all Refentment of it, he will not be extreamly forward to oblige füch a Man.

Am fo great an. Admirer of
Trees, that the Spot of

Ground I have chosen to build a fmall Seat upon, im the Country, is almost in

the midst af a large. Wood b was obliged, much against my Will to.. cut down feveral Trees, that I might have any fuch thing as a Walk in my Gardens; but, then I have taken. Care C to leave the Space, between every Walk, as much a Wood as I found it. "The Moment you turn, either to the Right ar Left, you are in a Foret, where Nature prefents you with a • much more beautiful Scene than could have been raised by Art.

INSTEA Dof Tulips or Carnations, 'I can fhew you Oaks in my Gardens ' of four hundred Years ftanding, and a Knot of Elms that might shelter as Troop of Horfe from the Rain.

IT is not without the utmost Indignation, that I obferve feveral pro-digal young Heirs in the Neighbour-hood, felling down the moft glorious • Monuments of their Ancestors Induftry, and ruining, in a Day, the Pro• duct of Ages.

I am mightily pleafed with your • Difcourfe upon Planting, which put me upon looking into my Books to give you fome Account of the Vene-ration the Ancients had for Treas. There is an old Tradition, that Abra-ham planted a Cypress, a Pine, and a Cedar, and that these three incorporated into one Tree, which was cut down for the building af tlie: Temple • of Solomon.

'IS IDO RUS, who lived in the • Reign of Conftantius, affures us, that The faw, even in his time, that famous Qak in the Plains of Mambré, under which Abraham is reported to have dwelt, and adds, that the People looked upon it with a great

We

Veneration, and preserved it as a fa cred Tree.

THE Heathens ftill went farther, and regarded it as the highest Piece of Sacrilege to injure certain Trees which they took to be protected by.. "fome Deity. The Story of Erifilthon, to Grove of Dodona, and that at Delphi, are all Inftances of this kind.

IF we confider the Machine in Vir--gil, fo much blamed by feveral Cri-ticks, in this Light, we fhall hardly think it too violent.

ENEAS, when he built his Fleet, in order to fail for Italy, was obliged to cut down the Grove on Mount Ida, which however he durft not do till he had obtained Leave from Cybele, to whom it was dedicated. The Goddefs could not but think her felf obliged to protect the Ships, which "were made of confecrated Timber, after a very extraordinary manner, and therefore defired Jupiter, that they might not be obnoxious to the Pow❝er of Waves or Winds. Jupiter would not grant this, but promised her, that as many as came fafe to Italy fhould be transformed into Goddeffes of the Sea; which the Poet tells us was accordingly executed. And

And now at length the number'd Hours were come,

Prefix'd by Fate's irrevocable Doom,

When the great Mother of the Gods was free
To fave her Ships, and finish Jove's Decree.
First, from the Quarter of the Morn, there sprung
A Light that fign'd the Heavens, and shot along :
Then from a Cloud, fring'd round with Golden
Fires,

Were Timbrels heard, and Berecynthian Quires:
And laft a Voice, with more than Mortal Sounds,
Both Hofts in Arms oppos'd, with equal Horror
wounds.

O Trojan Race, your needless Aid forbear;
And know
And know my Ships are my peculiar Care.
With greater Eafe the bold Rutulian may,

With biffing Brands, attempt to burn the Sea,
Than finge my facred Pines. But you my Charge
Loos'd from your crooked Anchors launch at large,
Exalted each a Nymph: Forfake the Sand,
And fwim the Seas, at Cybele's Command
No fooner had the Goddefs ceas'd to speak,
When lo, th' obedient Ships their Haulfers break
And strange to tell, like Dolphins in the Main,
They plunge their Prows, and drive, and spring
again:

As many beauteous Maids the Billows sweep,
As rode before tall Veffels on the Deep.

Dryden's Virg.

THE