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preaches that idea of perfection, at which it 

 aims. But in the foreft-vifta the trees are 

 cafually large, or fmall ; growing in clumps, 

 or landing fingle; crouding upon the fore- 

 ground, or receding from it; as the wild 

 hand of nature hath fcattered them. And it 

 is curious to fee with what richnefs of inven- 

 tion, if I may fo fpeak, nature mixes, and 

 intermixes her trees ; and fhapes them into 

 fuch a wonderful variety of groupes, and 

 beautiful forms. Art may admire, and at- 

 tempt to plant, and form combinations like 

 hers : but whoever examines the wild com- 

 binations of a foreft (which is a delightful 

 ftudy to a picturefque eye) and compares them 

 with the attempts of art, has little tafte, if 

 he do not acknowledge with aftonifhment, the 

 fuperiority of nature's workmanmip. 



The artificial vifta again is rarely compofed 

 of more than one fpecies. It is the fir, the 

 lime, or the elm. But in the foreft-vifta, you 

 have not only different kinds of trees inter- 

 mixed ; but bufhes alfo, and underwood, and 

 wild plants of all kinds, which are continually 

 producing new varieties in every part. 



Open groves too make another variety in 

 the foreft-vifta. In the woods between Bro- 



kenhurft, 



