PIERRE GASSENDI (1592-1655).

One of the most distinguished naturalists, mathematicians and philosophers of France. 1624, wrote his "Paradoxical Exercises against the Aristotelians,” which earned him the influence of Nicolas Peiresc, President of the University of Aix. He then studied Astronomy and Anatomy, and wrote a treatise to show that man was intended to be a Vegetarian. 1628, he visited Holland, and wrote an Examination of Robert Fludd's Mosaic philosophy. 1631, he observed the Transit of Mercury over the Sun's disc, foretold by Kepler. 1641, he was called to Paris, and wrote a metaphysical Disquisition on Doubts upon the "Meditations" of his friend Descartes: they became estranged and reconciled. Gassendi's philosophy of Atoms and a Void was founded upon the Doctrines of Democritus and Epicurus. 1645, appointed Professor of Mathematics in the College Royale de Paris by influence of Cardinal du Plessis. 1647, published his chief work on "The Life and Morals of Epicurus," which rehabilitated this philosopher; and in 1653, the Lives of Tycho Brahé, Copernicus, and other Astronomers.

Bayle styled him "the greatest philosopher among scholars, and the greatest scholar among philosophers."

AS concerning Plants, it may be expected that I should in this

place reckon up the principal of them; yet I will not stand to speak of such, which though accounted rare are to be seen in other Gardens. I shall only touch at some of those which Peireskius was the first, that caused to be brought into, and cherished in Europe. Of which the Indian Gelsemine is one, a wooddy plant, always green, with a clay-coloured yellowish flower, of a most sweet smell.

This was first brought from China, planted at Beaugensier, and from thence propagated into the King's and Cardinal Barlerine his Gardens. The next is a plant called Lifa, or the Gourd of Meccha . . also the true Papyrus Ægyptia or Ægyptian paper. . . also the Indian Coco Nuts. . . . In the next place, Ginger, which being brought out of India did wax green in his Garden, from whence it was sent to Paris, to Vidus Brosseus, a famous Physician, the chief storer of the King's Garden, and principal shewer thereof. . . .

I say nothing of the broad-leaved Myrtle, with the full flower of the Storax, and Lentise-Tree, which yields Mastick and other plants mentioned before. Much lesse shall I speak of the great American Gelsemine, with the Crimson-coloured flower, not of the

Persian, with a violet-coloured flower, nor the Arabian with a full flower of the Orenge-Trees, with a red and particoloured flower; of the Medlar and soure Cherry without stones; Adam's Fig-Tree, whose fruit Peireskius conceived to be one of those which the spies brought back, that went to view the Land of Canaan; the rare Vines which he had from Tunis, Smyrna, Sidon, Damascus, Nova Francia, and other places. Least of all shall I stand to speak of the care he took in ordering his Knots, and planting his trees in such order, as to afford even walks every way between them; in bringing the water every where into his Gardens; in providing that the tenderer sort of Plants might receive no dammage by the Winters cold, in sending for the most skilful Florists, to furnish himself with all variety of Flowers: in a word, omitting nothing that might beautifie and adorn his Grounds.-The Mirrour of True Nobility and Gentility being the Life of The Renowned Nicolaus Claudius Fabricius Lord of Peiresk, Senator of the Parliament at Aix. Englished by W. Rand, Doctor of Physick. London, 1657.1

1 Nicolas de Peiresc, born in Provence in 1580, was one of the greatest patrons of letters. The friend of De Thou and Isaac Casaubon, he was called by Bayle "Le Procureur Général de la Littérature.” In 1605 he came to England in the suite of La Boderie, the French Ambassador, and visited Oxford, where he became intimate with Selden, Camden, Sir Robert Cotton and Sir Henry Saville. Scaliger, Holstensius and Saumaise were aided by him with presents of books, and at his instigation Grotius wrote his great work " De Jure Belli et Pacis."

"He kept up a noble traffic with all travellers, supplying them with philosophical instruments and recent inventions . . . it was the curiosity of Peiresc which first embellished his own garden, and thence the gardens of Europe with a rich variety of exotic flowers and fruits . . . The correspondence of Peiresc branched out to the farthest bounds of Ethiopia, connected both Americas, and had touched the newly discovered extremities of the Universe."-I. Disraeli. He died in the arms of his biographer, Pierre Gassendi, on the 24th June 1637.

Isaac Disraeli thus speaks of this Biography:-" A moving picture of the literary life of a man of letters, who was no author, would have been lost to us, had not Peiresc found in Gassendi a twin spirit." When are we to have a reprint of this Life "of that incomparable Virtuoso," as Evelyn called Peiresc?

JAMES Educated at Oxford; travelled abroad as agent for first glass manufactory HOWELL established in England; later M.P. and one of the Clerks of the Privy Council (1595-1666). to Charles I.; Secretary to British Ambassador in Denmark; imprisoned in Fleet and released by Cromwell; Historiographer to Charles II.; author of "Dodona's Grove" and "Epistola Ho-Eliana." (Familiar Letters of J. H.)

THE

HE stables (at Lord Savage's House in Long-Melford) butt upon the Park, which for a cheerful rising Ground, for Groves and Browsings for the Deer, for rivulets of water, may compare with any for its highness in the whole land; it is opposite to the front of the great House, whence from the Gallery one may see much of the Game when they are a-hunting. Now for the gardening and costly choice Flowers, for Ponds, for stately large Walks, green and gravelly, for Orchards and choice Fruits of all sorts, there are few the like in England: here you have your Bon Christian Pear, and Bergamot in perfection, your Muscadel grapes in such plenty, that there are bottles of Wine sent every year to the King; and one Mr Daniel, a worthy Gentleman hard by, who, with him long abroad, makes good store in his Vintage. Truly this House of Long-Melford though it be not so great, yet it is so well compacted and contrived with such dainty conveniences every way, that if you saw the Landskip of it, you would be mightily taken with it, and it would serve for a choice pattern to build and contrive a House by.-(Letter to Dan. Caldwell, Esq., 20th May 1621).

SIR

A Parliamentary General in the Civil Wars, originally of the same family WILLIAM as Edmund Waller the poet.

WALLER (1597-1668).

HE

E that walkes with God can never want a good walke, and good company. There is no garden well contrived, but that which hath an Enoch's walk in it.

How cleanly are these Allies kept? and how orderly are the Hedges cut, and the Trees pruned and nailed, and not an irregular 1 "Enoch walked with God 300 years."-GEN. v. 22.

Twig left? there is no such care taken for the weeds, and bushes and brambles that grow abroad. God is careful to preserve the Garden of his Church in all decency and order; and will not suffer it to be overgrown with errours or prophaness; but is (like a good Husbandman, if I may say so with all humbleness) ever at work about it; either weeding out, what his heavenly hand hath not planted; or if need be, lopping, and cutting off luxuriant branches, that bear not fruit; or purging those that do bear, that they may bring forth more fruit.-Divine Meditations (Upon the sight of a pleasant Garden).

SIR

CHAPTER V

THE FORMAL GARDEN IN THE SEVENTEENTH

CENTURY UNDER

FRENCH AND DUTCH INFLUENCE: ORIENTAL TRAVELLERS

ON PERSIAN AND JAPANESE GARDENS.

THOMAS FOR though Physick may plead high, from that medical act of BROWNE God, in casting so deep a sleep upon our first Parent; And (1605-1682). Chirurgery find its whole Art, in that one passage concerning the

Rib of Adam: yet is there no rivality with Garden-contrivance and Herbery. For if Paradise were planted the third day of the Creation as wiser Divinity concludeth, the Nativity thereof was too early for Horoscopie; Gardens were before Gardiners, and but some hours after the Earth. Of deeper doubt is its topography and local designation; yet being the primitive garden, and without much controversy seated in the East it is more than probable the first curiosity, and cultivation of plants, most flourished in those quarters.

However, the account of the pensile or hanging gardens of Babylon, if made by Semiramis, the third or fourth from Nimrod, is of no slender antiquity; which being not framed upon ordinary level of ground, but raised upon pillars, admitting under-passages, we cannot accept as the first Babylonian gardens, but a more eminent progress and advancement in that art than any that went before it; somewhat answering or hinting the old opinion concerning Paradise itself, with many conceptions elevated above the plane of the Earth.1 Nabuchodonosor (whom some will have to

1 Simon Wilkin, the editor of Browne's Works, quotes a passage from MS. Sloan, 1847, which he thinks intended for this work, wherein Browne writes, "We are unwilling to diminish or loose the credit of Paradise, or only pass it over with (the Hebrew word for) Eden, though the Greek be of a later name. In this excepted, we know not whether the ancient gardens do equal those of late times, or those at present in Europe. Of the Garden of Hesperies, we know nothing singular but some golden apples.”