MR. AVILDER'S EULOGY. 



those last and well directed blows at the "heavenly'' tree, the Ailanthus, and also at 

 tlie Abele Poplar— both of which he kills off in a most celestial manner, to make room 

 for the more deserving and trulj' American Maples, Oaks, Elms, and Ashes, for the Mag- 

 nolia, the Tulip and others. Of the latter, how beautifully he speaks in the last leader 

 from his pen, in a manner so cas}- and flowing, and so characteristic of the man. " We 

 mean the Tulip tree or the Liriodendron. "What can be more beautiful than its trunk, 

 finely proportioned, and smooth as a Grecian column? What more artistic than its leaf, 

 cut like an arabesque in a Moorish palace? What more clean and lustrous than its tuft 

 of f)liage, dark green and rich as deepest emerald? What more lily-like and spacious 

 than its blossoms, golden and brown .shaded? And what fairer and more queeidy than 

 its whole figure, stately and regal as that of Zenobia?" 



Tn the progress of his journey, he reaches the commercial metropolis of New-England. 

 It is the annual exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society of that city. He 

 enters its Hall, is greeted with a cordial welcome, and invited to examine its collection, 

 particularly the exten.sive show of pears. In a subsequent di.scussion with its fruit com- 

 mittee, he proposes to them a question in his direct, practical and impressive manner, — 

 " Will each of you please to give me the names of the best three varieties of the pear, to- 

 gether with your reasons for that preference?" He obtains their opinions, and publishes 

 the same, puts the public at once in possession of their long and dear bought experience. 



The same practical and studious habit is remarkably exemplified in his foreign travels. 

 Unlike other touiists, who first visit the Tower of London, or Westminster Abbey, he 

 hastens from the parks of that city to Chatworth, then to Woburn Abbey, Warwick Cas- 

 tle, and other places where agriculture, horticulture, architecture, and all the fine arts 

 have for ages vied with each other in whatsoever is ornamental in embelli.shment and 

 princely in wealth, and where are scenes of natural and artistic beauty and grandeur, 

 which attract the chief masters of the world. He is received and entertained with kind- 

 ness and partiality, by the Earl of Hardwicke, the Dukes of Devonshire and Bedford, and 

 others with whom he formed many warm friendships in the mother country. From these 

 places, where wealth, art, nature and genius, have congregated whatever is most beautiful 

 to the eye, most approved in taste, or most impressive to sensibility, he prosecutes his 

 lourney ; everywhere observing, noting and studying the objects and scenes about him. To 

 him not a tree, a plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contained a folio volume. 



We have necessarily amplified this part of our subject in order to give a correct view of 

 the manner and extent of his education, of the peculiarities of his style, and of the forma- 

 tion of his character, and to furnish the materials for a just appreciation of his worth, and 

 for a philosophical judgment of himself and of his works. 



Mr. Downing was just what we have repre.sented, a self-taught man. His name will 

 appear in all coming time, emblazoned upon the roll of fame, among such worthies of that 

 class as Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, David Rittenhouse, Benjamin West, and 

 Nathaniel Bowditch. He was not, perhaps, so profoundly scientific, yet he' was well 

 grounded in vegetable physiology, and in the first principles of the arts to which his life 

 was devoted. Being the sovereign of his own powers and acquisitions, he could instantly 

 bring them to bear on the subject of his investigation or discourse. 



Tn his character we find that assemblage of virtues commonly called amiablencss. On 



this depended the suavity of his manners, the sincerity of his friendship, and the freedom 



of his hospitality. His guests always received a hearty welcome, and found at his resi 



a quiet home. Here Miss Bremer, Avhose fame in letters is like that of the 



htino-ale in song, wrote the introduction to one of her works; and in speak 



