december, 1781 ; which is fifteen days earlier 

 than it ought to flower, according to the 

 vulgar prejudice*. 



This 



* In the Salifbury journal January loth 1786, the following 

 paragraph appeared. 



In confequence of a report, that has prevailed in this country 

 for upwards of two centuries, and which by many has been 

 almoft considered as a matter of faith, that the oak at Caden- 

 ham, in the New-foreft, moots forth leaves on every old 

 Chriftmas-day, and that no leaf is ever to be feen on it, either 

 before, or after that day, during the winter; a lady, who 

 is now on a vifit in this city, and who is attentively curious 

 in every thing relative to art or nature, made a journey to 

 Cadenham on monday the 3d inftant, purpofely to enquire, 

 on the fpot, about the production of this famous tree. On 

 her arrival near it, the ufual guide was ready to attend her; 

 but on his being defired to climb the oak, and to fearch whether 

 there were any leaves then on it, he faid it would be to no 

 purpofe, but that if (he would come on the wednefday fol- 

 lowing, (Chriftmas-day) me might certainly fee thoufands. 

 However he was prevailed on to afcend, and on the firft 

 branch which he gathered, appeared feveral fair new leaves, 

 frefh fprouted from the buds, and nearly an inch and a half 

 in length. l may be imagined, that the guide was more 

 amazed at this premature production than the lady ; for fp 

 ftrong was his belief in the truth of the whole tradition, that 

 he would have pledged his life, that not a leaf was to have been 

 difcovered on any part of the tree before the ufual hour. 



But tho the fuperftitious part of this ancient legend is hence 

 confuted, yet it muft be allowed that there is fomething very 

 uncommon and curious in an oak's conftantly mooting forth 



leaves 



