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competitions ; among which, without fuch afllftance, 

 there muft unavoidably be a tirefome fimilarity. 



And whenever it is objected to them, that many of 

 thefe things are unnatural, and ought therefore not to be 

 fuffered, they fay, that moft improvements are unnatural, 

 yet they are allowed to be improvements, and not only 

 tolerated, but admired. Our veftments, fay they, are 

 neither of leather, nor like our fkins, but formed of rich 

 filks and embroidery; our houfes and palaces bear no 

 refemblance to caverns in the rocks, which are the only 

 natural habitations ; nor is our mufic either like thunder, 

 or the whittling of the northern wind, the harmony of 

 nature. Nature produces nothing either boiled, roafted 

 or ftewed, and yet we do not eat raw meat; nor doth 

 {he fupply us with any other tools for all our purpofes, 

 but teeth and hands; yet we have faws, hammers, axes, 

 and a thoufand other implements: in fhort, there is 

 fcarcely any thing in which art is not apparent ; and why 

 fhould its appearance be excluded from Gardening only? 

 Poets and painters foar above the pitch of nature, when 



they 



