57 



Mr. Bradley has given at the end of his curious " Philoso- 

 phical Account of the Works of Nature," which is embel- 

 lished with neat engravings, a chapter " Of the most curious 

 Gardens in Europe, especially in Britain. ,J In this chapter 

 he justly observes, that " a gentle exercise in a fresh air, 

 where the mind is engaged with variety of natural objects, 

 contributes to content; and it is no new observation, that 

 the trouble of the mind wears and destroys the constitution 

 even of the most healthful body. All kinds of gardens con- 

 tribute to health." This volume also preserves the account 

 of Lord Ducie's noted old chesnut tree at Tortworth, sup- 

 posed to be more than a thousand years old; and of an elm 

 belonging to his lordship, of a truly gigantic growth.* 

 Switzer thus speaks of Bradley: — " Mr. Bradley has not 

 only shewn himself a skilful botanist, but a man of expe- 

 rience in other respects, and is every where a modest wri- 

 ter." Mr. Bradley died in 1732. Some writers have dwelt 

 much upon his dissipation ; let us remember, however, that 



Mens evil manners live in brass ; their virtues 

 We write in water. 



Mr. Weston, in a communication inserted in the Gentle- 

 man's Magazine for November, 1806, says, "Although this 

 country had a great loss by the death of Evelyn, yet he 

 was succeeded, in twenty years after, by another of equal 

 abilities, and indefatigable in endeavouring to improve the 

 art of gardening, as Bradley's numerous works will tes- 

 tify." 



* This chesnut tree is thus noticed in a newspaper of August, 1829: — 

 " The celebrated chesnut tree, the property of Lord Ducie, at Tortworth, 

 in the county of Gloucester, is the oldest, if not the largest tree in England, 

 having this year attained the age of 1002 years, and being 52 feet in cir- 

 cumference, and yet retains so much vigour, that it bore nuts so lately as 

 two years ago, from which young trees are now being raised." 



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