
KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
11 
i Lae a he a eR A.A US oe a SUS 
THE GREAT CEDAR AT HAMMERSMITH. 

THIS MAGNIFICENT TREE, says Strutt, has every 
way aclaim to the title of Great, being at this 
time one of the largest, the stateliest, and the most 
flourishing in the kingdom. Its stem, at the 
eround, is sixteen feet six inches in circumference, 
its height is fifty-nine feet, and its branches cover 
an area of eighty feet in diameter. When it isin 
the full prime of its summer foliage, waving its 
rich green arms to the gentle breezes and hiding 
the small birds innumerable in its boughs, it forms 
a fine exemplification of the sublime description of 
the prophet Ezekiel, in his comparison of the glory 
of Assyria in her most “high and palmy state.” 
“ Behold the Assyrian was as a cedar in Lebanon, 
with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, 
and of an high stature, and his top was among 
the thick boughs. The waters made him great. 
The deep set him up on high, with her rivers 
running round about his plants, and sent out her 
little rivers unto all the trees of the field. 
“Therefore his might was exalted above all the 
trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, 
and his branches became long, because of the 
multitude of waters, when he shot forth. 
“ Allthe fowls of Heaven made their nests in his 
boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts 
of the field bring forth their young, and under his 
shadow dwelt all great nations. 
‘““Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length 
of his branches, for his root was by great waters. 
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide 
him. The fir trees were not like his boughs, and 
the chesnut trees were not like his branches, nor 
any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in 
his beauty... 
“T have made him fair by the multitude of his 
branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were 
in the garden of God envied him.”—Chapter 31. 
A fertile imagination might be led to suppose 
‘that this noble tree had witnessed its princes, its 
heroes, its statesmen, holding their councils, and 
forming their lofty projects, under the shadow of its 
branches. 
The house with which it may probably be coeval, 
and which appears to belong to the Elizabethan 
order of architecture, was in later times the resi- 
dence of Oliver Cromwell, during the period of the 
Protectorate; and some who, dazzled by the glare 
of false greatness, confound striking incidents with 
grand ones, have been anxious to inspire additional 
respect for the venerable walls, by assigning to 
them the unenviable distinction of having had the 
death-warrant of Charles the First signed within 
them. Very different at this time are the pursuits 
carried on,—the consultations held,—in the once 
stately council-chamber. The house has been the 
last. half-century devoted to the purposes of educa- 
tion. Fair and youthful forms supply the place 
of sour-visaged Puritans and lank-haired Round- 
heads; mandates and treaties are turned into 
exercises and themes; and though the cedar may 
still be made occasionally the confidant of whispered 
greatness, or visionary happiness, it 1s to be hoped 
it will never again listen to the schemes of guilty 
ambition, or the signs of fruitless remorse. 
Puss. 
—_—. 
ANOTHER REMARKABLE YEW TREE 
GROWING IN DARLEY DALE. 
I HAVE PERUSED, in the last number of 
OUR JOURNAL, Mr. Editor, a very interest- 
ing account of the Yew Tree. As I love 
these trees, and feel sure that all other 
lovers of nature must unite in the feeling, 
let me direct attention to another very 
beautiful specimen, growing in that pictu- 
resque spot—Darley Dale. 
Darley Dale is distant from Matlock 
some four miles; and from Chatsworth the 
distance is five miles. The tree [ allude to, 
graces the south side of the churchyard. 
My admiration of this very beautiful 
object, has induced me to ascertain its di- 
mensions, and I have had it accurately 
measured. At four feet from the ground, 
its girth is forty-two feet and four ches. 
Nor is it in any way a deformed tree. 
From its vast trunk issue radiating branches 
of proportional size and length—the whole of 
fine form, and well-grown. 
I hardly need tell you, that this king of 
trees is lovingly cherished by the parishion- 
ers. Nor is its fame unknown to strangers, 
of whom a vast number come to pay it a 
visit. <A lithographic print of it has been 
executed, one of which is in the possession 
of a friend of mine, residing in Norfolk. I 
may mention, that there are some gems of 
younger growth in this same spot, all giving 
lively promise of robust and lofty stature as 
time develops their latent powers. 
Is it air or soil, or both combined, that 
produces such remarkable specimens of so 
slow-growing a tree as the Yew? 
Kingston Lisle, July 6. E. F. P. 
[The cause of the rapid growth and 
healthy state of these noble trees, no doubt 
originates in their love for the soil, air, and 
climate ; all which evidently conduceto their 
good looks and colossal proportions. If we 
mortals were to study more closely than we 
do what suits our constitution, and to live 
in a more “healthy atmosphere’”—we use 
the expression quantum valeat, we too should 
flourish like these trees. Ere long, we pur- 
pose taking a trip to see what is here so 
kindly brought under our notice. We love 
the yew tree dearly. |] 

THE PRAISE WE LOVE BEST. 

Praise from Tay lips,—what is it worth to me? 
They know, who know the worth of Fame ; a star 
Pluck’d from high Heaven to set upon the brow. 
Speak it again ; for it issweet to hear 
Praise from the voice we LOvE. ‘Tuy voice is soft, 
And hath a touch of tenderness, as ’twere 
A gentle flower, grown musical! 
Q. 

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