THE OAK. 



55 



rence," says he, " those trees which seem to have 

 existed during many ages ; piously believing that 

 the holy men of former times had prayed and medi- 

 tated under their umbrageous shade." With such 

 feelings to enhance their favourite gratification of 

 reclining under the widely-spreading branches of 

 some fine tree, no wonder they regard the destruc- 

 tion of one as an act of sacrilege. 



The beautiful forest scenery with which the Oaks 

 at Burley are surrounded on every side, predispose 

 the lover of sylvan objects to be pleased with them, 

 at the same time that they awaken in his breast an 

 ardent desire to see every tree that bows its head to 

 the earth, either by natural decay, by the fury of 

 the elements, or the more furious and unpitying axe, 

 replaced by a whole group of successors. " The 

 value of timber," says Gilpin, " is its misfortune : 

 every graceless hand can fell a tree." But the hand 

 that fells an oak can likewise plant an acorn ; and 

 this restitution to mother earth is surely due from 

 those who despoil her of her noblest and most 

 ancient treasures, to satisfy some low necessity of 

 the passing moment. Sir Robert Walpole planted 

 with his own hands many of the magnificent trees 

 which are now the pride of Houghton ; and of all the 

 actions of his busy life, this is the one which seems 

 to have given him most gratification in the perform- 

 ance, and most pleasure in the retrospect. " Men," 

 says Evelyn, " seldom plant trees till they begin to 



