MEMOIR. Xli 



" to scorn delights, 

 , ^ And live laborious days," 



would not fiod somethiiig in the air of this . demesne so 

 soothing as to dampen the fire of his great purposes, and 

 dispose hipi to believe that there is more dignity in repose, 

 than merit in aotion." ' . . ' 



So, ceri'ainly, I believed, as th^ May 'days passed, and 

 found me still lingering in the enchainted garden. 



In August, 18^6, " The .'Horticulturist'" was com- 

 menced by Mr.' I/uther Tucker, of Albany, who iilvited 

 Mr. Downing to become the editoj;, in which positioii he 

 remained, writing a monthly* leader for it, until his 

 death. These articles lare contained in the present vol- 

 ume. Literature offers no mote charming rural essays. 

 They are the thoughtful talk of a, country gentleman,. and. 

 scholar, and practical workman,' upon the rural aspects 

 and interests of every u^onth in the year. They insinuate ; 

 instruction, rather than directly teaish, and in a style mel- 

 low, matiire, and cheerful, adapted' to every age and every 

 mood.' By their variety of topic a.nd treatnient, they aye, 

 perhaps,, the most domplete memorial of the man. • Their 

 genial simplicity fascinated all kinds of persons. A cor- 

 respondence wiuch miglit be' called affectionate,' sptiang up 

 between the editor and scores of his readers. They want- 

 ed instructioii and Advice. They confided to him their 

 plans and hopes ; to him— the personally unknown "we" 

 of their monthly magazine— the reserved man whom pub- 

 lishers and others found " stiff," and " cold," and '" a lit- 

 tle haughty," and whose fine points of character stood out, 

 like sunny mountain p.eaks against a mist.'. These letters, 

 it appearsj w^e persGiial, and full of' feeling. The 

 writers wished to know the man, to- see his portrait, and 



