PLANTING. 151 



" their gradations, like those of visible ob- 

 *' jects, is known and ascertained, yet, from 

 " the beneficial mixture and frequent inter- 

 " communication of high and low, that sepa- 

 " ration is happily disguised, and does not 

 " sensibly operate on the general mind. But 

 " should any of these important links be 

 " broken : should any sudden gap, any dis- 

 " tinct undisguised lineof separation, be made, 

 " such as between the noble and the roturier, 

 " the whole strength of that firm chain (and 

 *' firm may it stand) would at once be broken. 

 " May the strength of that exalted prin- 

 " ciple, whose effects I have so much enlarged 

 " upon, enable us to cultivate this and every 

 '' other art of peace in full security, whatever 

 " storms threaten us from without ; and as it 

 " so happily pervades the true spirit of our 

 '' government and constitution, may it no 

 *' less prevail in all our plans for embel- 

 " lishing the outward face of this noble 

 " kingdom, 



' Till Albion smile 

 ' One ample theatre of sylvan grace.' 



" I will now conclude this long comment 

 " on your Letter; and as it is the first, so I 



L 4 



