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CHAPTER XIV. 



Burn ham Beeches. 



Of the Commons within twenty- five miles of London, 

 easily accessible by railway, and every year becoming 

 more and more the resort of Londoners, the most 

 renowned for its beauty is that knowm as Burnham 

 Beeches. It lies within three or four miles of Slough, 

 at no great distance from Stoke Poges Church. It 

 owes this reputation not so much to the lie of the land, 

 as to its splendid groves of ancient beech trees. The 

 poet Gray lived for some time within half a mile of 

 it, and is supposed to have composed his celebrated 

 Elegy on a Country Churchyard when walking in it. 

 Writing to a friend he said : " The Common is covered 

 with most venerable beeches that, like most ancient 

 people, are dreaming out their old stories to the winds 



* Arid as they bow their hoary tops relate 

 In murmuring sounds the dark decrees of fate ; 

 While visions, as poetic eyes avow, 

 Cling to each leaf and swarm on every bough/ " 



The beeches are of very great size ; each tree stands 

 out by itself. They were evidently pollarded at some 

 long distant date. Tradition says that this was done 

 in Cromwell's time, in order to make stocks for mus- 

 kets. They form a rare and unequalled picture of 

 sylvan grandeur and beaut}', quite unique of its kind. 



