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fupport, like the hop, and others of the 

 creeping tribe : but forms one ftiff, unpliant 

 curve. Nor has it any foliage to recommend 

 it. In other pendent plants, the leaf is 

 generally luxuriant, and hangs loofely in rich 

 feftoons : but in the fuckers of a bramble 

 the leaf is harfh, fhrivelled, and difcoloured. 

 In fhort, it is a plant, which fhould not, 

 I think, prefume in landfcape farther, than 

 hath juft been allowed : it has little beauty 

 in itfelf, and harmonizes as little with any 

 thing around it ; and may be characterized 

 among the moft infignificant of vegetable 

 reptiles. 



But however beautiful thefe minuter plants, 

 and wild flowers may be in the natural 

 fcene ; yet no painter would endeavour to 

 reprefent them with exaffnefs. They are 

 too common ; too undignified j and too much 

 below his fubjecl. Inflead of gaining the 

 character of an exact copier of nature by 

 a nice reprefentation of fuch trifles, he would 

 be efleemed puerile, and pedantic. Fern per- 

 haps, or dock, if his piece be large, he 

 might condefcend to imitate : but if he 

 wanted a few touches of red, or blue, or 

 yellow, to enliven, and inrich any particular 



