of the Stamina, and often of the Pistilla, Shakspeare notices this strange effect produced 



by art. 



Per. Sir, the year is growing ancient. 



Not yet on summer's death, nor on the birth 

 Of trembhng winter ; the fairest flowers o th' season 

 Are our Carnations, and streak' d Gillyflowers, 

 Which some call Nature's Bastards: — of that kind 

 Our rustic garden's barren, and I care not 

 To get slips of them. 



as trifling, yet surely without reason. Did Nature bring forth theTuUp and the Hyacinth, the Rose and the Carnation, to be neglected by the 

 haughty pretender to superior reason? 'fo omit a single social duty for the cultivation of a Polyanthus were ridiculous as well as criminal; 

 but to pass by the beauties lavished before us, without observing them, is no less ingratitude than stupidity. A bad heart finds little amuse- 

 ment but in a communication with the active world, where scope is given for the indulgence of malignant passions; but an amiable dispo- 

 sition is commonly known by a taste for the beauties of the vegetable creation." Knox. 



Herbs and flowers may be regarded by some persons as objects of inferior consideration in philosophy; but every thing must be great 

 which hath God for its author. To him all the parts of Nature are equally related. The flowers of the earth can raise our thoughts up to 

 the Creator of the world as effectually as the stars of heaven; and till we make this use of both, we cannot be said to think properly of 

 either. The contemplation of Nature should always be seasoned with a mixture of devotion, the highest faculty of the human mind, by 

 which alone contemplation is improved, and dignified, and directed to its proper object. — With this devotion, the study of flowers seems 

 to restore man in his fallen state to a participation of that felicity which he enjoyed while innocent in Paradise." — Nothing indeed proves 

 more satisfactorily a benevolent Deity than the vainety he hath established in flowers, even amongst the same species. What a blaze of 

 light bursts in upon the inquiring mind respecting the intentions of this Deity ! A full proof of the existence, wisdom, and never-ceasing 

 agency of a presiding Power — kind and good — an Almighty Power! — Our inimitable Harvey bursts out into these rapturous expressions 

 at the sight of a flower garden : 



" What colours, what charming colours, are here! these, so nobly bold; and those, so delicately languid. What a glow is enkindled in 

 some! what a gloss shines upon others! In one, methinks, I see the ruby with her bleeding radiance; in another the sapphire, with her sky- 

 tinctured blue; in all, such an exquisite richness of dyes, as no other set of paintings in the universe can boast. — With what a masterly skill 

 is every one of the varying tints disposed! Here, they seem to be thrown on with an easy dash of security and freedom; there, they are 

 adjusted by the nicest touches of art and accuracy. Those which form the ground are always so judiciously chosen as to heighten the lustre 

 of the superadded figures, while the verdure of the impalement, or the shadings of the foliage, impart new liveliness to the whole. Indeed, 

 whether they are blended or arranged, softened or contrasted, they are manifestly under the conduct of a taste that never mistakes, a felicity 

 that never falls short of the very perfection of elegance. — Fine, inimitably fine, is the texture of the web on which these shining treasures 

 are displayed. What are the labours of the Persian looms, of the boasted commodities of Brussels, compared with these curious manufac- 

 tures of Nature? Compared with these, the most admired chintzes lose their reputation; even superfine cambrics appear coarse as canvas in 

 their presence. 



" What an inchanting situation is this! One can scarce be melancholy within the atmosphere of flowers. Such lively hues, and delicivous 

 odours, not only address themselves agreeably to the senses, but touch, with a surprising delicacy, the sweetest movements of the mind. 



" How often have I felt them dissipate the gloom of thought, and transfuse a sudden gaiety through the dejected spirit! I cannot wonder 

 that kings descend from their thrones, to walk amidst blooming ivory and gold; or retire from the most sumptuous feast, to be recreated 

 with the more refined sweets of the garden. I cannot wonder that queens forego, for a while, the compliments of a nation, to receive the 

 tribute of the parterre; or withdraw from all the glitter of a court, to be attended with the more splendid equipage of a bed of flowers. 



" What a surprising variety is observable among the flowery tribes! how has the bountiful hand of Providence diversified these nicest 

 pieces of his workmanship! added the charms of an endless novelty to all their other perfections! — A constant uniformity would soon i-ender 

 the entertainment tiresome, or insipid; therefore every species is formed on a separate plan, and exhibits something entirely new. The 

 fashion spreads not from family to family; but every one has a mode of its own, which is truly original. The most cursory glance perceives 

 an apparent difference, as well as a peculiar delicacy, in the airs and habits, the attitude and lineaments of every distinct class. 



" Some rear their heads with a majestic mien, and overlook, Uke sovereigns or nobles, the whole parterre. Others seem more moderate 

 in their aims, and advance only to the middle stations; a genius turned for heraldry might term them the gentry of the border. While 

 others, free from all aspiring views, creep unambitiously on the ground, and look like the commonalty of the kind. — Some are intersected 

 with elegant stripes, or studded with radiant spots. Some affect to be genteelly powdered, or neatly fringed; while others are plain in their 

 aspect, unaffected in their dress, and content to please with a naked simplicity. Some assume the monarch's purple, some look most 

 becoming in the virgin's white; but black, doleful black, has no admittance into the wardrobe of Nature. The weeds of mourning would 

 be a manifest indecorum, when Summer holds an universal festival. She would now inspire none but delightful ideas; and therefore always 

 makes her appearance in some amiable suit. Here stands a warrior, clad with crimson; there sits a magistrate, robed in scarlet; and yonder 

 struts a pretty fellow, that seems to have dipped his plumes in the rainbow, and glitters in all the gay colours of that resplendent arch. 

 Some rise into a curious cup, or fall into a set of beautiful bells; some spread themselves in a swelling tuft, or crowd into a delicious cluster. 

 In some, the predominant stain softens, by the gentlest diminutions, till it has even stole away from itself. The eye is amused at the agree- 

 able delusion, and we wonder to find ourselves insensibly decoyed into a quite different lustre. In others, you would think the fine tinges 

 were emulous of pre-eminence. Disdaining to mingle, they confront one another, with the resolution of rivals, determined to dispute the 

 prize of beauty; while each is improved, by the opposition, into the highest vivacity of complexion. 



" How manifold are thy works, OLord!" multiplied even to a prodigy: yet "in wisdom," consummate wisdom, "hast thou made them 

 all." How I admire the vnstness of the contrivance, and the exactness of the execution! Man, feeble man, with difficulty accomplishes a 

 single work. Hardly, and after many efforts, does he arrive at a tolerable imitation of some one production of Nature. But the Almighty 

 Artist spoke millions of substances into instantaneous being; the whole collection wonderfully various, and each individual completely 

 pe?ifect." 



Pol. 



