[ iss ] 



inculcated by other Writers, none has ref-* 

 cued me at all from animadverting upon 

 the fingularity of the natural growth of this 

 illuftrious plant in England ^ it would there- 

 fore be unpardonable in me to omit it, as 

 the whole of this I'raEl depends upon it. I 

 call not that, properly, a natural manner of 

 growth, v/hen it is confined and reftrained, 

 by growing in too thick an Ajfemblage with 

 I each other ; But my bufinefs now is to con- 

 fider it, when felf fown, or otherwife, as 

 not having too near a neighbourhood of 

 any kind above ground, nor has been rivaU 

 led by any mafterly fuffrutices below — It 

 is thence to my purpofe to confider it like- 

 wifc^ as arrived to twenty, or thirty foot in 

 height, head and all, or a little under, ot 

 over ; by which time if the heavens have 

 been any thing favourable, fomething of 

 judgment may be made of it's future pro- 

 duce, altho' not a perfect one ; as no body 

 then knows, what unfavourable ftrata's of 

 earth it may afterwards meet with~But alas ! 

 it is from the dubious heavens proceed it's 

 obftrudion to afpiring, oftner than from 

 mother tellus. It is therefore great impro- 

 priety for me to call it, the Oak's natural 

 manner of growing with us, in either cafe, 



at 



