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to be distinguished by their museums of natural curiosities. 

 The former sometimes extended itself, from the flowery 

 parterre, and the well-arranged rows of tulips, hyacinths, 

 carnations and auriculas, into no less formal labyrinths, 

 or perhaps a double pattern of angular or spiral walks, 

 between clipped hedges, exactly alike on each side of a 

 broad gravel walk. Such was the most sublime effort of 

 the art within the compass of our recollection. " Grove" 

 could by no means be said to " nod at grove," for the 

 perpendicular and well-trimmed structure was incapable 

 of nodding ; but that "each alley should have a brother" 

 was an indispensable part of the design. Greenhouses 

 of exotic plants, except oranges and myrtles, were at this 

 time scarcely known ; and the writer well recollects 

 having seen, with wonder and admiration, above forty 

 years ago, one of the first African Geraniums that ever 

 bloomed in Norwich. If, however, the progress of natural 

 science was slow in this angle of the kingdom, the wealthy 

 manufacturers, become their own merchants, found it ne- 

 cessary to acquire a knowledge of various foreign lan- 

 guages, in order to carry on their wide-extended com- 

 merce. In learning French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and 

 German, they unavoidably acquired many new ideas. 

 Their sons were sent to the continent, and it were hard 

 indeed if many of them did not bring home much that 

 was worth learning. The society of the place, aided by 

 some concomitant circumstances, and the adventitious ac- 

 quisition of two or three men of singular talents and ac- 

 complishments, became improved. A happy mixture of 

 literature and taste for many years distinguished this 

 city above its rivals in opulence and commercial pros- 

 perity. Such Norwich has been in our memory; and if 

 its splendour be gone by, a taste for mental cultivation, 

 originating in many of the before-mentioned causes, still 

 remains, and is fostered by the novel pursuits of chemistry 

 and natural history, on which some arts, of great import- 



