VOL. LIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 5Q5 



kindly, though they are sometimes eaten very good from English trees. In 

 Scotland, neither the walnut nor chestnut produce good fruit, though there are 

 some very fine and promising timber-trees, of the latter kind, at the Earl of 

 Bredalbane's, in the highlands. All these circumstances seem to afford a strong 

 inference, that the Spanish chestnut cannot be a native of Great Britain. But 

 he next considers the proofs which are generally adduced to the contrary. 



Mr. Miller, in his Gardener's Dictionary, has endeavoured to prove, that 

 the Spanish chestnut grew in great profusion to the northward of London, 

 by a citation from Fitz-Stevens, which only implies, that there were large 

 forests in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, without either the chest 

 nut, or any other tree, being specified. Most antiquaries suppose, that 

 Old London was chiefly built with this kind of timber from these forests; there 

 is not the least appearance however of any such tree at present within 20 miles of 

 London, which may not be accounted for, as being of infinitely a more modern 

 introduction than the time of Henry the Second, when Fitz-Stevens wrote. Dr. 

 Ducarel, in his Anglo-Norman Antiquities, has inserted a note of some length, 

 to prove, that Old London was not only built with chestnut timber, but that 

 there still continues a large tract of chestnut wood near Sittingbourn in Kent, 

 which he conceives to be a full demonstration, that this tree is indigenous in 

 England. Mr. B. had no sooner read this account, than he determined to exa- 

 mine these woods himself, as well as what trees might be found in their neigh- 

 bourhood. The result of a very minute inspection of them is, that he found 

 those parts which consist of Spanish chestnut to be planted in beds or rows, 

 about 5 yards distant from each other; nor are there any scattering trees to in- 

 troduce them, which is what must be expected near woods of natural growth. 

 Dr. Ducarel next relies on a manor in the neighbourhood of Sittingbourne being 

 called Chastenye or Castenye, from the circumstance of its being supposed to be 

 among chestnut woods. This however is a single instance of such a name to any 

 place in England; and therefore the chestnuts being indigenous can be no more 

 inferred from it, than that box naturally grows in this country, from the name 

 of Box-hill, in Surrey. Now we happen to know that this hill was so called from 

 an Earl of Arundel's having introduced this tree there, in the time of James or 

 Charles the First;* and, from many circumstances, Mr. B. supposes that the 

 chestnut plantations near Sittingbourne are not of a much more ancient date. 

 The oldest tree we have any account of, perhaj)s in Europe, is a Spanish 



• " This place (viz. Boxrhill) was first planted by that famous antiquary (the Earl of Arundel), 

 with box wood, designing to have built a house there j but want of water made him alter his reso- 

 lution, and build one at Albury, hard by ; now belonging to the Earl of Aylesford." Journey through 

 England, vol. i. printed in 1722. See also the atticle Box-hill, in an Account of the Environs of 

 London, printed for Dodsley. — Orig. 



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