40 



was the most curious man in that time, or perhaps will be in 

 any age. He had above one thousand species of exotick 

 plants in his stoves and gardens." 



No monument has, I believe, been erected to Mr. London's 

 memory, deservedly eminent and esteemed as he was in his 

 day, courted and caressed by all, nor can I find out even 

 where he was born or buried. If one could obtain a resem- 

 blance of him, one hopes his Picture, or his Bust, may not 

 deserve the censure of our noble poet: 



What is the end of fame? 'tis but to fill 



A certain portion of uncertain paper ; 



* * * * 



To have, when the original is dust, 



A name, a wretched picture, and worse bust.* 



The two following works were published by them: 



The Complete Gardener, &c. by Mons. de la Quintinye. 

 Now compendiously abridged, and made of more use ; with 

 very considerable Improvements. By George London and 



* These lines are from him, at whose death (says Sir W. Scott in his ge- 

 nerous and glowing eulogy) we were stunned " by one of those death-notes 

 which are peeled at intervals, as from an archangel's trumpet" they are 

 from " that mighty genius which walked amongst men as something superior 

 to ordinary mortality, and whose powers were beheld with wonder, and 

 something approaching to terror, as if we knew not whether they were of 

 good or evil" they are from " that noble tree which will never more bear 

 fruit, or blossom! which has been cut down in its strength, and the past is 

 all that remains to us of Byron : whose excellences will now be universally 

 acknowledged, and his faults (let us hope and believe) not remembered in 

 his epitaph." His " deep transported mind" (to apply Milton's words to 

 him) thus continues his moralization : 



What are the hopes of man? old Egypt's king 



CHEOPS, erected the first pyramid, 

 And largest; thinking it was just the thing 



To keep his memory whole, and mummy hid; [But 



