THE ELM. 



119 



season, accustomed to hold his justice meetings. 

 This tree was blown down on the 23rd of Decem- 

 ber 1833. 



The famous " Gospel Elm/' which formerly 

 stood at Stratford on Avon, and was held in ve- 

 neration, not only for its size, but for the pious 

 custom which its name commemorated,* was cut 

 down in 1847, an impression having gained ground 

 that it was hollow and consequently unsafe. When, 

 however, the trunk was sawn through, it was 

 found, too late, to be perfectly sound, and the 

 grain of the tree beautifully marked, particularly 

 towards the crown; scarcely a blemish or flaw 

 was discernible throughout, which materially 

 tended to increase the very general regret ex- 

 pressed that so interesting a relic should have 

 been sacrificed. It was sold by auction, and rea- 

 lized the sum of 23L 13s., being purchased to be 

 manufactured into pieces of furniture. 



Mr. Jesse mentions in his Gleanings" a tree 

 which possesses considerable historical interest. 



It is, perhaps," he says, not generally known 

 that one of the Elm-trees standing near the 

 entrance of the passage leading into Spring 

 Gardens, was planted by the Duke of Gloucester, 

 brother to Charles I. As that unfortunate mo- 

 narch was walking with his guards from St. 

 James's to Whitehall, on the morning of his ex- 

 ecution, he turned to one of his attendants and 

 mentioned the circumstance, at the same time 

 pointing out the tree." 



* See vol. I. p. 91. 



