382 



NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 



by Walpole, but the embroidery of a parterre, to make a garden in the 

 reign of Trajan serve for a description of one in that of King William. 

 — See Anecdotes of Painting, vol. iv. 



That horticulture was really introduced into Britain by the Romans 

 there is no sort of doubt, and that their proconsular governors brought 

 it to a considerable height of perfection. Pliny tells us that Cherries 

 were originally an Asiatic fruit, not known in Italy till after the 

 triumphs of Lucullus, on account of the Mithridatic war, in the 

 680th year of the city, when they were brought over by that cele- 

 brated commander. But so diligently were they cultivated, that within 

 one hundred and twenty years they were carried over to Britain. — 

 Hist. Nat. lib. xv. 25. 



Note XI. Page 24. 



Prince Maurice of Nassau, as Barlseus informs us, was appointed 

 governor of Brazil about the year 1636 ; and after several successful 

 efforts, both of military and political talent, in defence of that province, 

 he erected in 1639 the Palace or Government House of Friburg, and 

 laid out the luxurious gardens of which an account is given in the text. 

 In some parts, Barlseus is extremely happy in drawing after the manner 

 of the ancient historians ; and although the passage is long, as he de- 

 scribes the site, and in some sort the particulars of one of the greatest 

 transplanting feats recorded in modern times, it may be worth while 

 (the book being scarce) to give the passage entire for the gratification 

 of the readei". " Planities horrida, inculta, nullis arboribus, nuUo frutice 



induta, sordebat situ uEdificium ea cura a Comite fuit, ut spec- 



tata salubritas fuerit, curata tranquillitas, parta loco securitas, neque 



neglecta hortorum amcenitas Surgebant Cocise spectabili serie 



septingentse, prociores aliae, alise humiliores, quarum quaedam caudicem 

 attollebant quinquaginta, quaedam quadraginta, qusedam triginta pedum 

 altitudine, priusquam ramorum attingeret divergia. Has cum trans- 

 ferri non posse omnium esset opinio, scite effossas, petoritis, trium 

 quatuorve miliarum spatio vectari, et pontonibus trans fluvios depor- 

 tari, in insulam jussit. Translates, non labore soliim sed ingenio, 

 excepit arnica tellus, eaque fsecunditate, prseter omnium spem, implevit 

 annosas arbores, ut primo ab insitione anno mira nascendi aviditate, 

 fructus dederint copiosissimos. Jam septuagenarise et octogenariae 

 erant, veterique proverbio fidem imminuere, arbores annosas non esse 

 transferendas.'' Histor, Rer. in Bras, gestar. pp. 240-242. 



