in acquiring Knowledge. 169 



Out of two evils I should select the least. Instead of finding 

 fault with " An Enemy to Bribery," for exposing a system, 

 because it was far from being general, Mr. Whidden either 

 knows, or ought to know, that to stop the progress of any evil 

 most effectually is to attack it whenever it presents itself, and 

 rot to wait until the generality of the pi'actice, as in the case 

 of premium-taking, proves almost a sufficient defence. 



A calm comfortable state of mind greatly accelerates the 

 acquisition of knowledge ; but this advantage the journeyman 

 gardener is often a stranger to, his mind being kept in con- 

 stant uneasiness from the tyrannical conduct of his master. 

 Those who have always been placed under kind intelligent 

 masters can form no idea of the painful sensations which the 

 feeling mind experiences in being placed in circumstances 

 entirely the revei'se. I am happy to inform you that the prac- 

 tice of tyrannising over the men is unknown in this neigh- 

 bourhood ; but the pleasing circumstances in which I am at 

 present placed, under one of the most affable and communi- 

 cative of masters, with great opportunities for mental cultiva- 

 tion, have not yet erased from my memory the recollection of 

 scenes, not more revolting to the honourable mind, than they 

 are subversive of the improvement of gardeners. Painful 

 though the truth be, it must be told that there are master- 

 gardeners whose practice gives evidence that they consider 

 themselves a different species of beings from their assistants ; 

 and who, were it not for the laws we enjoy, would exercise 

 their power in as cruel and overbearing a manner as ever was 

 attempted by any blood-stained despot. I have witnessed a 

 master-gardener, with rage in his countenance and fury in 

 his eyes, seizing a rod, and threatening to lay prostrate a 

 couple of his men ; and, merely as an instance of haughtiness 

 and pride, I may mention that I have seen another, who, 

 when observing one of his assistants coming towards him for 

 the purpose of asking a favour, generally commenced walking 

 in another direction, so that the degraded suppliant was under 

 the necessity of walking at his heels in making known his 

 request, and then obliged to act the part of a dog for a 

 considerable distance fafrther, before his mighty highness 

 would deign to give an answer of yes or no. There is one 

 comforting thought, however, that, in almost all the places I 

 have heard of where master-gardeners are noted for their 

 haughtiness and oppression, they are likewise known for their 

 want of general knowledge, and a deficiency in intellectual 

 attainments. True ability has little chance of being noticed 

 in such places. Nay, were it not that it would take up too 

 ch space, and might be prejudicial to some individuals, I 



