OF SELBORNE. 135 



degrees ; and a clear sky shall again compel 

 it to descend to its former gage. 



And here it may be proper to observe, 

 on what has been said above, that though 

 frosts advance to their utmost severity by 

 somewhat of a regular gradation, yet thaws 

 do not usually come on by as regular a de-* 

 clension of cold ; but often take place im- 

 mediately from intense freezing; as men 

 in sickness often mend at once from a pa- 

 roxyism. 



To the great credit of Portugal laurels 

 and American ]\mv^QX^y be it remembered 

 that they remained untouched amidst the 

 general havock : hence men should learn 

 to ornament chiefly with such trees as are 

 able to withstand accidental severities, and 

 not subject themselves to the vexation of 

 a loss which may befal them once perhaps 

 in ten years, yet may hardly be recovered 

 through the whole course of their lives. 



As it appeared afterwards the ilexes 

 were much injured, the cypresses were 

 half destroyed, the arbutuses lingered on, 

 but never recovered ; and the bays, lau- 



