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which i conclude is the greatest. But i find they cannot hear 
the severe frosts. I had one of this sort, in the severe Winter of 
39-40, split very near half an inch wide, where i could run a 
table-knife it’s length into the crack : but this is quite closed; & 
covered with bark. To show you the growth of this kind of Tree, 
i have a memorandum of a former Rector of an adjoining Villago, 
“that he planted a Chesnut Tree by his Church in 1610,” which 
was in Autumn 1788, 19 F. 4 I, or 184 inches in 178 years. I 
suppose Ld Bucie’s Tree may he 1100 years old, if it increased in 
the proportion reasonable for such a vast Tree ; & might be about 
eleven yards round, in King John’s time, as tradition calls calls it the 
great Chesnut at that time. — Stillingfleet was a very estimable man. I 
knew him from his first leaving College. Fortune frowned on him 
from his birth, ’till near his end. He used for many years to visit me. 
His father, after the Bishop’s displeasure, lived on his little Rectory 
in Norfolk. 
Sir, in your 39 th - letter to Pennant you ask where the Stock- 
dove breeds'? In Norfolk in hollow Trees. The Fern-Chvl lays its 
eggs on the plain Land. I think your Countrymen should bo 
punished for laying so heavy a charge against an innocent Bird. 
I find a memorandum of mine of so old a date as Sep. 14. 1722 
i shot a ring-Ouzel. This was the first my father had seen. 
This shows they are strangers in Norfolk. But i have seen of them 
twice since, in severe frost. You do me honour to accept my 
Indications of Spring. To explain to you, i mark leaf, as soon as 
the smallest leaf appears; and i name the County (if not in Norfolk) 
as i have observed so near as Hertfordshire, they are sometimes a 
week earlier than here. You see ’tis shamefully imperfect. — The 
equal number of the returning Swallows, seems the greatest Mystery, 
amongst the many Mysteries that attend them. — Sir, as i live in 
hopes of sometimes having the favour of hearing from you, pray 
never again make an apology for length ; every Article is pleasing 
to me : but i am unreasonable to wish for so much of your time. I 
am, with true esteem, Sir, 
your most humble 
& obliged Servant, 
R: Marsham. 
P.S. I have had the pleasure of recommending your Work to all 
