LIME. 59 



the inner bark of the linden, and which it was 

 esteemed a great honour to wear. The lio- 

 mans also made cords and ropes from the 

 thready substance which is found between the 

 wood and the inner bark of this tree. The 

 Roman cooks sliced the inner bark of the 

 linden to boil with meats that were over 

 salted, as it was found to make them per- 

 fectly fresh. 



Of the ancient use of the timber of this 

 tree, we learn from Virgil, who says : 



" Of beech the plough-tail, and the bending yoke, 

 Or softer linden, harden'd in the smoke." 



Geor. i. 



It is from the wood of the linden-tree prin- 

 cipally, that the incomparable carvings of 

 Gibbons were formed, which for lightness and 

 elegance of design have never been equalled 

 in modern times, and perhaps not surpassed 

 by the chisels of the ancients, as those beau- 

 tiful festoons of fruits and flowers in His 

 Majesty's castle at Windsor, and those which 

 ornament one of the noble apartments of the 

 Earl of Egremont's mansion at Petworth, will 

 evince, as well as those which decorate the 

 choir of St. Paul's and other churches, and 

 noble residences both in London and in the 

 country. 



Architects make their models of this wood, 



