106 



SYLVA BRITANNICA. 



THE GREAT CEDAR AT HAMMERSMITH. 



This magnificent tree has every way a claim 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 ground, 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 is in the full prime of its 

 summer foliage, M^aving its rich green arms to the 

 gentle breezes, and hiding the small birds innume- 

 rable in its boughs, it affords 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 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 height 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. 



" All the 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 : 



