[ >S0 ] • . 
proofs, additional to the many that have been for- 
merly produced, of chefnut timber adually em- 
ployed in buildings. The old houfes in the city 
of Gloucefter (as the Reverend Mr. Crawley in- 
forms me that he has often been alfured) are 
conftrudled of chehiut, derived alfuredly from the 
chefnut trees in the foreft of Dean.” In many 
of the oldeff houfes at Feverfliam is much genuine 
chefnut, as well as oak, employed. In the nunnery 
of Davington, near Feverilaam (now entire), the 
timber conhfts of oak intermingled with chefnut. 
And the great chefnut beam which fupported the 
leads of the church tower at Feverfliam, when it 
was lately taken down, was found rotted for many 
feet at the extremity ; and had, as it were, a mere 
fhell of found timber remaining about it. 
Thus have I endeavoured, with all the refpedt due 
to genius and truth, to point out fome of the mif- 
takes into which, I apprehend, Mr. Barrington has 
fallen. I might have dwelt more largely upon the 
antiquarian part of my fubjeeft; but the botanical was 
more immedtately my point. And in the exami- 
nation of this, I have dievvn, that the chefnut tree 
flouriflies greatly in this kingdom; that it appears 
wildly fcattered over the face of the country ; that 
it was adfually fettled among us many centuries ago ; 
and ufed by cur anceftors in buildings; and that it 
was even familiarly known to the Saxons. All thele 
united evidences flrongly co-operate to prove it a na- 
tive of this illand, and mud; abfolutely be allowed 
to prove it, till Mr. Barrington, or fome other per- 
ibn, can produce fuperior evidence to the contrary. 
I beg 
I 
