80 BIRDS IN LONDON 



many in London. There must, then, have been 

 some urgent reason and necessity for the removal 

 of this temple not builded by man. It could 

 not surely have been for the sake of the paltry 

 sum which the wood was worth — paltry, that is 

 to say, if we compare the amount the timber- 

 merchant would pay for seven hundred elm- 

 trees with the sum of seventy-five thousand 

 pounds the Government gave, a little later, for 

 half a dozen dreary canvases from Blenheim 

 — dust and ashes for the hungry and thirsty ! 

 Those who witnessed the felling of these seven 

 hundred trees, the tallest in London, could but 

 believe that the authorities had good cause for 

 what they did, that they had been advised by 

 experts in forestry ; and it was vaguely thought 

 that the trees, which looked outwardly in so 

 flourishing a condition, were inwardly eaten up 

 with canker, and would eventually (and very 

 soon perhaps) have to come down. If tlie trees 

 had in very truth been dying, the authorities 

 would not have been justified in their action. 

 In the condition in which trees are placed in 

 London it is well nigli impossible that they 

 sliould have perfect health ; but trees take long 

 to die, and during decay are still beautiful. 



