242 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



into proper garments, her Majesty, on the King's birth- 

 day, appeared at Court in a complete suit, all the effect of 

 her Majesty's own industry. The prosperity of the royal 

 scheme was beyond expectation; but upon a warm repre- 

 sentation of the merchants respecting the impolicy of 

 checking the imports, and other causes likely to arise, 

 the pursuit declined as rapidly as it had advanced, and in 

 a very short time not a public silk-work was to be seen, 

 except at this place where they had their commencement. 

 These identical trees were cut down, and sold by auction 

 in 1821, and the timber was in fine preservation, although 

 of two centuries vegetation. 



Buckingham House is said to be built on the site of 

 the old mulberry garden which adjoined to St. James's 

 Park; others suppose it was situated where Arlington 

 Street now is, as the piece of ground called Mulberry 

 Garden was granted by Charles II. in 1672, to Henry earl 

 of Arlington. These gardens were the rendezvous of 

 fashion in the time of the commonwealth. Evelyn says 

 in his Diary, May 10, 1654, " My Lady Gerrard treated 

 us at Mulberry Garden, now y e onely place of refreshment 

 about the towne for persons of y e best quality to be ex- 

 ceedingly cheated at, Cromwell and his partizans having 

 shut up and seized on Spring Garden, w ch till now had 

 been y e usual rendezvous for ladys and gallants at this 

 season." 



The mulberry-tree planted by Shakspeare afterwards 

 became an object of veneration; and when cut down by 

 an avaricious proprietor, the wood was made into various 

 utensils, which sold for a high price, and were preserved 

 with more than common affection. Mrs. Garrick has an 

 arm-chair made from this tree, which the inimitable actor, 

 her husband, greatly valued. 



Henry the Fourth of France was equally unsuccessful 

 with James of England in hrs attempt to introduce the 



