V ( 35 ) 



debted for half their prowefs. lit the arts 

 of peace as well as of war, in architecture, 

 tillage, and manufactures, the afh objefts to 

 bufmefs of no kind : while even its very refufe 

 fpars are accounted the heft fuel in the foreft *. 

 The afhen billet produces a fteady, bright^ 

 lambent flame ; and as Mr. Evelin tells us, 

 may be reckoned among the ctKUTrvot fvAa, fuel 

 with little fmoke. 



I have fometimes heard the oak called the 

 Hercules of the foreft ; and the afh, the Venus. 

 The comparifbn is not amifs: for the oak 

 joins the idea of ftrength to beauty : while 

 the afh rather joins the ideas of beauty, and 

 elegance. Virgil marks the character of the 

 afh, as particularly beautiful. 



Fraxinus in fylvis pulcherrima 



The afh generally carries its principal fleni 

 higher than the oak ; and rifes in an eafy, 

 flowing line. But its chief beauty confifts 

 in the lightnefs of its whole appearance. Its 

 branches at firft keep elofe to the trunk, and 



. 



* In fome parts of the continent of Europe the afhen billet fellg 

 for one half more than any other wood, except beech. 



D 2 form 



