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have heard that old London was built of Chestnut, 3 Tho’ ’tis apt 
to lie split with frost, ’tis certainly lasting Timber, although it 
grows tjuick. Perhaps i may have told you before now, that a 
Chestnut ; which i raised from tho nut, measures Timber at 55 f. 
high, & is a vory handsome Tree. 1 wish i could view your 
Beech of 74 feet, & your pleasing outlet: alas! all round me is 
as llat as round Thorney. I am, with true esteem, my dear Sir, your 
most humble, 
& obliged servant, 
It : Mars iiam. 
Ld Stawell’s bird must be a great curiosity. Mar. 4 
P.S. In 1748 i inclosed above 20 Acres of my Waste, & 
planted it. The poorest Land with Scotch Firs, & the best with 
Beeches, & another part chielly with Oaks. I wish i could walk 
with you about this Wood, as i believe you would find more variety 
than you expected. One part of the Beech are hill Grove, & near 
that they are short & spreading. Tho Oaks also are part tall & 
part pollards &c. Although i walk in it most days, yet i am never 
weary of it ; but when alone can look, & admire the different 
beauties of y° different shapes of y e Trees. One Beech already 
extends its Branches ten yards from the trunk. I have a Ling- 
stack in it for rest & shelter, (not half so pretty as your Hermit- 
age) but it takes the Cathedral of Norwich, & 2 Country Churches 
into view.— Mar. 5. i have just heard a Ringdove coo, & seen a 
Hawthorn 1. my first Crocus F. was Feb. 10. 
[This letter is endorsed by White. “ Did you see any beeches in Italy l 
Lombardy Poplars ? Chestnuts. Clapham Common.” — Memoranda of liis 
answer, which is missing, as will be seen by Marsham’s reply.— T.S.] 
* The statement is made by Ducarel (Phil. Trans, lxi. p.137 for 1771) but, 
as appears by Marsham’s next letter ; he had not seen it there. — A.N. 
P 
