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flourifhed after it, as well as any tree in the 

 grove. The probable reafons of this uncom- 

 mon appearance are given us by the learned 

 author of the natural hiftory of Oxfordfhire, 

 in a long philofophical enquiry, which may be 

 found in the i66th page of that work. I have 

 heard alfo, but I know not on what authority, 

 of another difbarked elm, growing at this time, 

 vigoroufly at Kenfington. 



The oak, the am, and the elm, are com- 

 monly dignified, in our Englifh woods, as a 

 diftinct clafs, by the title of timber- trees. But 

 the picturefque eye fcorns the narrow concep- 

 tions of a timber- merchant ; and with equal 

 complacency takes in the whole offspring of 

 the wood: tho it muft be owned, the three 

 fpecies already characterized, are both the moft 

 ufeful, and the moft picturefque. We efteem 

 it fortunate, when the idea of picturefque 

 beauty coincides with that of utility, as the 

 two ideas are often at variance. 



After timber-trees, the beech deferves our 

 notice. Some indeed rank the beech among 

 timber-trees ; but, I believe in general it does 



not 



