530 Notes and Reflections during a Tour. 



the natural rights of man will gain the ascendency can only be 

 compared to the rapid growth of a tree, which, after having 

 been for many years clipped, is at last permitted to shoot 

 forth in all the character and beauty of truth and nature ; 

 when its widely-spreading and vigorous branches soon burst 

 through the limits to which the tree had been previously 

 confined by the tonsor, and a formal and insipid piece of ver- 

 dure becomes in time one of the noblest subjects of the forest. 

 The Gardens of the Tuilleries are invaluable from their 

 situation in the centre of Paris, and from their being open at 

 all times to all the world. They have open airy walks for 

 winter, and shady walks and deep yet airy groves for sum- 

 mer ; flower-borders, in which a constant succession of showy 

 flowering plants is kept up ; lawn, kept green by daily water- 

 ing ; fountains, which, however, do not play so frequently or 

 so magnificently as they should ; and a number of very beau- 

 tiful statues. During the summer, the principal walks are 

 bordered by lofty orange trees in tubs : and what is singular 

 respecting these trees is, that the blossom, being a perquisite 

 of the gardener, is always plucked off before they are set out, 

 and sold, for his benefit, to the orange-flower-water manufac- 

 turers ; so that the trees are not half so, ornamental as they 

 would be if covered with fruit and blossom.* As to the de- 

 licious perfume which these blossoms would afford, we could 

 write a volume upon the subject. Whoever has walked in 

 the orange orchards at Nervi, knows that the quantity of 

 orange trees distributed in the Gardens of the Tuilleries, if 

 allowed to retain and expand their blossoms, would scent not 

 only the air of the gardens but of half Paris. If there are 

 any who deny this, we ask them to account for the orange 

 fragrance of the air for miles around Genoa and Naples, both 

 by sea and land. If all the public gardens in Paris were 

 moderately stocked with orange trees, and a few distributed 

 along the Boulevards (and the Parisian populace are suf- 

 ficiently cultivated not to touch either the blossoms or the 

 fruit of trees thus confided to their care for their advantage), 

 the entire atmosphere would be that of the Island of St. 



* Sprigs of orange trees in blossom, and wreaths of the same, are sold in 

 the markets at Paris throughout the year (the trees being forced in the 

 winter season), to be worn at marriages ; the bride being crowned with a 

 wreath, and the bouquets being distributed amongst her attendants. In the 

 evening the wreath is divided into small pieces, and eagerly sought for by 

 the young female friends of the bride, who believe it to possess the same 

 qualities as are attributed to pieces of the bride-cake in England. We have 

 seen sprigs of orange trees worn at marriages in this country ; and we rejoice 

 to observe the striking manner in which the customs of two nations,, so 

 formed to be united as England and France, are beginning to amalgamate. 

 — Note by J. L. Cobham. Sept. 15. 



