46 DR JOHNSTON'S ADDRESS. 



previously been known to grow in the western parts of the county — but 

 sure I am that this discovery gave us less pleasure than the sight, the 

 welcome sight, of many a common, albeit beautiful, floweret of old and 

 familiar acquaintance, that every where courted our admiration, and 

 filled the heart with sweet memories and associations ! 



" Beautiful objects of the wild-bee's love I 



The wild-bird joys your opening blooms to see. 

 And in your native woods and wilds to be. 



All hearts, to Nature true, ye strangely move ; 

 Ye are so passing fair — so passing free — 

 I love ye all ! " 



It was really vexatious and hard to have the feelings — the boy-like 

 feelings — which the contemplation of these wild-flowers awoke and set to 

 sport, arrested in their course and effect by the wisdom and heartless- 

 ness with which a learned gentleman maintained that the said muirs 

 might be made to bear turnips in their peat-bogs, and yellow corn on 

 their russet heaths, by the aid of modern chemistry — I wean, a reckless 

 enterprise. The advocate of this nefarious scheme is, I regret to say, 

 an old and esteemed member of the Club, but truly a renegade brother. 

 Why, our Club has ever entertained a bitter enmity against all such 

 ugly and utilitarian inroads on the primitive condition and naked beauty 

 of Nature, which threaten to curtail, or, it may be, to annihilate the 

 field of our operations. There is the consolation that these so called 

 improvements are in the distant prospect, and, in the meantime, let us 

 gratefully join the poet — 



" Thanks be to Nature, some green spots remain 

 Free from the tread and stain of that gross world 

 Whose god is commerce, and religion gain — 

 Its altars furnaces, whose smoke is curled 

 Around the very clouds ! Be praise agen 

 To Nature and her God ! 



There still are flowery meadows, pathless woods. 

 Groves, hills, and vales, forests and solitudes !" 



And so may it ever be ! The Linnaea was reached about noon, but, on 

 account of the backwardness of the season, it was not in flower, and the 

 buds that were shewing themselves might not be full-blown for ten or 

 fourteen days to come. From this sacred spot the party directed their 

 weary steps to the village of Gordon, to partake of some refreshment, 

 and to examine the spirited improvements in husbandry effected and in 



