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tor. — Here, in Maryland, there is as yet no public 

 garden of the kind — but our Society is we trust 

 awakening public attention to the subject. 



A taste is now springing up amongst us — and many 

 private gardens beautifully represented here to-night, 

 attest the success of individual efforts. The field 

 is before us — labourers are wanted — its limits are the 

 confines of our republic. — Look to the south, clothed 

 at this time in a garb of rural splendour, to which 

 its tropical flowers and brilliant evergreens, give 

 a surpassing lustre. — There alone flourishes the live 

 oak, that tree, which upon the ocean is the bulwark 

 of our land and the boast of our prowess. How 

 irresistible and magical is the march of improvement, 

 and the triumph of culture and art ^ Let the rover 

 or naturahst seek some cool sequestered spot by the 

 sources of the Missouri or the Mississippi, and 

 pleased with the bright and lively rill which dances 

 from rock to rock, to the murmuring cadence of its 

 own music, watch and follow it as it steals under the 

 osier and the vine with gentle wing till he finds it ; 

 the majestic river upon whose bank wealth builds his 

 palace — science his temple, and religion her sacred 

 fane ; could his wonder be greater or his joy more 

 intense than ours at the triumphs of art and re- 

 finement over the rudeness of uncultured nature? 

 Methinks the progenitors of many who hear me, 

 once sought the fresh breeze of the evening, and 

 plucked the scented wild flower on this very spot. 



