36 



From the remains of Roman Villas, and other records of the 

 state to which they had brought the arts of civilization in ihis 

 Island, we have every reason to believe, although particular cvi- 

 denco is wanting, that Gardening was likewise improved by 

 them so as to be m every respect similar to its practice in their 

 mother country. The Britons amalgamated with the Roman 

 settlers, who were very numerous. The veterans even, whether 

 they received reward of their services in land or money, usually 

 settled with their families in the country were they had spent 

 their youth, and in Britain far removed from the influence of 

 the tyranny, and convulsions which shook the City, and their 

 native land generally, there were many extra temptations to 

 adopt this as their home. 



The seeds of Improvement having thus strongly germinated, 

 no untoward circumstances were afterwards capable of entirely 

 preventing their further growth, for though continually checked 

 yet on a review of ages, the superior civilization of any one 

 over its immediate predecessor is always apparent. 



Immediately after the departure of the Romans, namely 

 ahout A. D. 450, the Saxons formed a settlement in our Island, 

 and a series of civil wars succeeded until the inhabitants pretty 

 generally hailed Egbert, about A. D. 726, sole sovereign of 

 the realm. During this stormy period, in A. D. 507, Christi- 

 anity was introduced among the inhabitants, and may be 

 reckoned as an Epoch in the Hortulan Annals of this Country, 

 Independant of the tendancy which Christianity had to soften the 

 manners of the people, and thus by rendering them moredomes- 

 tic, in an equal ratio encouraging the progress of the useful Arts, 

 to its Ministers, in those days especially. Gardening was an 

 Art most congenial ; it helped innocently to beguile otherwise 

 unoccupied hours, and was the means of affording luxuries to 

 the palate, which were by no means held in contempt by the 

 Monks and other ReUgicux of those times. They were persons 



