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To say nothing of the virtues still attributed to the juice 
of its berries as a wine, of its flowers as a cosmetic, and of its 
pith and bud as a cure for ringworm, which are generally 
known: by favour of Lord Ducie, another of its valuable 
qualities, of which I was not previously informed, has come to 
my knowledge. <A small piece of it cut from a young shoot 
just above and below a joint, so as to leave the bud projecting 
at each end of it after the fashion of a rude cross, borne 
constantly about the person, is a most certain and effectual cure 
for Rheumatism. I produce two pieces of the proper form, 
of which, anyone is quite at liberty to take notice; but, in 
order to prevent any contention for them amongst gentlemen 
afflicted by that very distressing affection, I. will at once state 
that, these pieces, although perfectly orthodox in cut, are not in 
the slightest degree to be depended upon, as they did not grow 
in a churchyard; only the trees growing in consecrated 
ground, being endued with the property indicated. 
As Lord Ducie’s neighbourhood is highly favoured by the 
existence of such a tree, applications have been repeatedly 
_ sent to the person who gave me these slips, from a considerable 
distance for the like; and some of their recipients it is said, 
are able and willing to give it a good character, of fourteen or 
fifteen years standing, 
The reason why supernatural power or influence, should 
have been ascribed to any plant or tree, does not at first con- 
q sideration, appear to be very near the surface; but, if we go 
back to the Anti-Christian era, and examine the various forms 
of religion then prevailing, the mystery will soon, to some 
extent, explain itself. 
The idea appears to have been once almost universally 
entertained, that all nature was animated, and endowed with 
sensibility, in fact, it almost forms the soil in which mythology 
is rooted. 
The grand old Gods of Egypt, for example, with their 
Meaning attributes, and majestic titles, which for our purpose, 
_ may be regarded as the archetypes of all which followed them, 
: resolve themselves under the searching gaze of modern 
