more cultivated countries. In the forefts of 

 America, and other fcenes, where boundlefs 

 woods have filled the plains from the begin- 

 ning of time, and where they grow fo clofe, 

 and cover the ground with fo impervious a 

 made, that even a weed can fcarce rife beneath 

 them, the fmgle tree is loft. Unlefs it ftand 

 on the outfkirts of the wood, it is circum- 

 fcribed ; and has not room to expand it's vaft 

 limbs, as nature, directs. When we wilh 

 therefore to find the moft fublime fylvan 

 character the oak, the elm, or the am in 

 perfection, we muft not look for it in clofe, 

 thick woods ; but {landing fmgle, independent 

 of all connections, as we fometimes find it 

 in our own forefts, tho oftener in better pro- 

 tected places, mooting it's head wildly into 

 the clouds, and fpreading it's arms towards 

 every wind of heaven. 



-The oak 



Thrives by the rude concuffion of the ftorm. 



He feems indignant ; and to feel 



The impreflion of the blaft with proud difdain : 



But, deeply earthed, the unconfcious monarch owes 



His firm {lability to what he fcorns; 



More fixed below, the more difturbed above. 



if 



