Ill 



his beloved gardens at Sheen." And, in his Fruit Gardener 

 he says, that " the magnificence and generosity of this great 

 lover of planting, distributed vast numbers of the finest 

 grapes among the nurserymen about London, as well as 

 amongst the nobility and gentry." Lord Mountmorris thus 

 speaks of him: — "The retirement of this great man has be- 

 queathed the most invaluable legacy to posterity. Of the 

 taste and elegance of his writings too much can never be 

 said, illuminated as they are by that probity and candour 

 which pervade them, and those charms which render truth 

 irresistible. Though other writers may be more the objects 

 of imitation to the scholar, yet his style is certainly the best 

 adapted to the politician and the man of fashion; nor would 

 such an opinion be given, were it not for an anecdote of 

 Swift, which I had from the late Mr. Sheridan, who told me 

 the dean always recommended him as the best model, and 

 had repeatedly said that the style of Sir William Temple was 

 the easiest, the most liberal, and the most brilliant in our 

 language. In a word, when we consider his probity, his 

 disinterestedness, his contempt of wealth, the genuine beauty 

 of his style, which was as brilliant, as harmonious, and as 

 pure as his life and manners; when we reflect upon the trea- 

 sures which he has bequeathed by his example and by his 

 works to his country, which no man ever loved better, or 

 esteemed more; we cannot avoid considering Sir William 

 Temple as one of the greatest characters which has appeared 

 upon the political stage; and he may be justly classed with 

 the greatest names of antiquity, and with the most brilliant 

 characters which adorn and illustrate the Grecian or Roman 

 annals." Mr. Mason, in his English Garden, contrasts Sir 

 William's idea of " a perfect garden/' with those of Lord 

 Bacon, and Milton; but he candidly says, 



and yet full oft 



O'er Temple's studious hour did truth preside, 



Sprinkling her lustre o'er his classic page; There 



