BIRCH. 127 



them by command of the senate. On the 

 report which he made respecting their con- 

 tents, they were ordered to be burnt ; for, as 

 they contained the reasons why he had made 

 innovations in the form of worship, and in the 

 religion of the Romans, their being made 

 known to the citizens might have endangered 

 the prosperity of their state, as it must have 

 appeared that their religion was built upon 

 error, and that it was merely political. 



Evelyn tells us, that, in a history of Sweden, 

 it is stated that the poor people grind the 

 bark of birch trees to mingle with their 

 bread-corn. 



Christopher the Third, king of Denmark, in 

 1450, received the unjust surname of Berka 

 Kanung, which signifies king of bark, be- 

 cause, in his reign, there was such a scarcity, 

 that the peasants were obliged to mix the bark 

 of this tree with their flour. It is to be 

 regretted, that the thoughtless people of every 

 kingdom charge their monarch with all the 

 afflictions which befall their country. The 

 cares of the state are but ill repaid by una- 

 dulterated bread, or luxurious diet ! The men 

 who fill these perilous situations should at 

 least receive, if not our love, our pity. 



Although every species of tree or plant 

 that we look upon in the shrubbery creates a 



