61 



of the empire* They were tlie style ol' garden, first brouglit 

 to Britain by the Romans ; and it prevailed universally in 

 England, as we learn from both Hentzner and Plott, in the 

 days of Q,uecn Elizabeth. 



The removal of large trees has been practised in Europe 

 for nearly two centuries ; and it is more than a hundred 

 and fifty years since it was introduced into England. It 

 seems to have come into vogue among the great and pow- 

 erful, sometimes for the purpose of concealing a defect in 

 their formal gardens, or perhaps for supplying or prolonging 

 a favourite vista. But it was, for the most part, a mere dis- 

 play of expense and labour, adopted without plan, and 

 executed without skill or science. 



Among the earliest and most successful planters, on a 

 great scale, was Count Maurice of Nassau, who figured as 

 Governor of Brazil in 1636, when that settlement was in 

 the hands of the Dutch. This prince was a man of taste 

 and elegance, for the age in which he lived ; and he adorned 

 his palace and gardens there, with a magnificence worthy 

 of the satraps of the east. Caspar Barleeus, one of the best 

 poets of his time, is the historian of the expedition ; and he 

 has given the narrative in a style, that, in some instances, 

 will bear a comparison with the delineations of Livy or 

 Tacitus. 



The governor's residence was upon an island, formed by 

 the confluence of two rivers, which are called, by Barlaeus, 

 the Capevaribis, and the Biberibis, and was named Friburg. 

 Before the Prince commenced his improvements, as the his- 

 torian informs us, it was a very hopeless subject ; a dreary, 

 waste, and uncultivated plain, without a tree or bush to 

 shelter it ; and, in a word, equally worthless and unattrac- 

 tive. Here, notwithstanding, he erected a splendid palace, 

 and laid out gardens around it, of extraordinary extent and 



* Note X. 



