OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES. 327 



over whom he fo worthily prefides. The Count has already 

 taken the neceflary fteps, by defire of the Society, to have 

 your little duTertation tranflated and printed in the Ruffian 

 Language, in order to diffufe the advantage it holds out, as 

 widely as poflible, over this vaft Empire. I am happy in the 

 opportunity his commiffion offers, of expreffing likewife indi- 

 vidually the fatisfa&ion I have received, as a countryman and 

 lover of Botany, from the perufal of your fagacions applica- 

 tion of the Chirurgical art to vegetation ; and muft own, that 

 your extirpation of the difeafed parts, and the nfe of an 

 unguent to ward off the noxious aclion of the air and humi- 

 dity, during the exertions of nature to repair lofs of iubftaace, 

 and the languid circulation of the vegetable juices, appear to 

 me highly judicious. The analogy in certain refpeets be- 

 tween the inferior order of beings, lb particularly your care, 

 and the more animated link of the great chain of Creation, 

 feems to become every day more and more apparent. Nay, 

 if we are to credit the ingenious Author of the Philofophy of 

 Natural Hiftory, lately publifhed in Edinburgh, it is not a little 

 evident; and indeed the great number of curious facts and 

 obfervations which he has brought together render his phrafc, 

 which I have ufed above, much lefs improper than it would 

 have otherwife appeared on the face of the cafe. All fhefe 

 confiderations then make me fee, with the more pleafure, the 

 iagacious application of at leaft one branch of the healing 

 art to certain difeafes of vegetables, to the advantage of the 

 world in general, and the Britifh Navy in particular, which 

 muft gain infinitely by the prefervation and health of Britifh 

 Oak, unrivalled for the noble purpofe to which it is applied. 

 I have ftill to congratulate you on your becoming, lb 



X x defervedly, 



