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debted for half their prowefs. In the arts 

 of peace as well as of war, in architecture, 

 tillage, and manufactures, the a(h objects to 

 bufinefs of no kind : while even it's very refufe 

 fpars are accounted the beft fuel in the foreft*. 

 The afhen billet produces a fteady, bright, 

 lambent flame ; and as Mr. Evelin tells us, 

 may be reckoned among the OMOL^VU. uA, fuel 

 with little fmoke. 



I have fometimes heard the oak called the 

 Hercules of the foreft j and the am, the Venus. 

 The comparifon is not amifs : for the oak 

 joins the idea of ftrength to beauty : while 

 the am rather joins the ideas of beauty, and 

 elegance. Virgil marks the character of the 

 am, as particularly beautiful. 



Fraxinus in fylvis pulcherrima 



The am generally carries it's principal ftem 

 higher than the oak -, and rifes in an eafy, 

 flowing line. But it's chief beauty confifts 

 in the lightnefs of it's whole appearance. It's 

 branches at firft keep clofe to the trunk, and 



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

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



D 2 form 



