65 



this way, said to be tianspoitcd IVoiii V^ersaiiles to it^ [jicsent 

 site, a distance of about two leagues and a liail". To order 

 the march of an army, was the efTort of common men, and 

 every-day commanders ; to order tlie removal of a forest 

 seemed to suit the magnificent concej)tions of a prince, who, 

 in all liis enterprises, allccted to act upon a scale immeasura- 

 bly greater than that of his contemporaries, and who probably 

 was the most powerful monarch in Europe, whether of his 

 own, or of any other age. In the Bois de Boulogne, in spite 

 of military devastation, the curious eye may still distinguish 

 the traces of this extraordinary achievement, in the rectilinear 

 disposition of the trees, which were removed on that occasion. 



Respecting the success of the work, executed probably 

 about 1070, it is not easy, at this distance of time, to speak 

 with certainty. That the trees were lopped or mutilated, 

 we are well aware ; and that little science was employed, 

 excepting in the mechanical skill, displayed in the transpor- 

 tation. Of the trees, therefore, many must have died, for 

 want of roots, and of sap to support them, although theh 

 places were afterwards supplied ; and many must have lost 

 their tops, had they not been severely lopped, or altogether 

 decapitated. The lapse, however, of more than a century 

 and a half, a space far surpassing the age of man, has sup- 

 plied these defects. While it has brought the trees to 

 maturity, it has covered with oblivion all the imperfections 

 of the process ; and the former promise long to remain a 

 monument of so stupendous an exertion of physical force. 



Sturm, a German traveller, who visited France about the 

 year 1730, relates, that the great transplanting machine, 

 used on this memorable occasion, [Die grosse Garteti- 

 Macliine,)* was still shown at Versailles, and it must long 

 after have been seen by others. But from its late disappear- 

 ance, we may conclude, that it was pulled to pieces, and the 



* Sturm's Travels, p. 113. 

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