[ 9 ] 



acres, comprehenàlng trchard., ^îneyard and kitcben-gai-âen^ 

 was a Jîretch of luxury the warld ^t thaï time had newr 



bcheîd. 



The hanging gardens of Babyîon were a ftill greater pro^ 

 digy, We are not acqua'mted witb téeir difpojition or con- 

 tents, but as they are fiippojed to hâve beenformed on ter- 

 rajfes and the walls of the palace, whither foil was conveyed 

 on purpofe, we are very certain of what they were not ; I 

 mean they muji hâve been trifling, of no txtent, and a wanton 

 injîance of expence and labour. In other words, they were 

 what fumptuous gardens bave been in ail âges till the prefent, 

 unnaturaly enriched by art, pojfibly with fountains, ftatues, 

 balujîradesy and fummer-houfes, and were any thifig but 

 'Derdant and ruraL 



From the iays of Homer to thofi of Pliny, we bave no 

 traces to lead our gmfs to what were the gardens of the in^ 

 tervening âges. JVhen Roman autbors, whofe clîmate infiil- 

 led a wifi for cool retreats, fpeak oftheir enjoymcnts in that 

 kind, they fgh for grottoes, caves, and the refrejhing bollows 

 of mountains, near irriguons and Jhady founts -, or boaji of 

 their porticos, walks of plajies, canals, baths and breezes fro?n 

 thefea, Their gardens are never mentioned as affording fiade 

 and Jheher from the rage of the dc^g-fiar. Pliny bas left us 



defcrijptions 



