188 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
among us that had gardens and fruit-trees in any perfection 
within the wall of their abbeys’ and priories. The barons 
neglected every pursuit that did not lead to war or tend to 
the pleasure of the chase. 
It was not till gentlemen took up the study of horticulture 
themselves that the knowledge of gardening made such hasty 
advances. Lord Cobham, Lord Ila, and Mr. Waller, of Bea- 
consfield, were some of the first people of rank that promoted 
the elegant science of ornamenting without despising the 
superintendence of the kitchen quarters and fruit walls. 
A remark made by the excellent Mr. Ray, in his Zour of 
Europe, at once surprises us, and corroborates what has been 
advanced above; for we find him observing so late as his days, 
that, ‘‘the Italians use several herbs for sallets, which are not 
yet, or have not been but lately, used in England, viz., celery, 
which is nothing else but the sweet smallage; the young 
shoots whereof, with a little of the head of the root cut off, 
they eat raw with oil and pepper.” And further adds: “ Curled 
endive blanched is much used beyond seas; and for a raw sal- 
let, seemed to excel lettuce itself.” Now this journey was 
undertaken no longer ago than in the year 1663. 
LETTER XXXIV. 
SELBORNE, Fed. rath, 1778. 
“ By chance, the youth, being separated from the trusty company 
of his attendants, cries out, ‘Is there any one here?’ and Echo 
answers ‘Here!’ He is amazed; and when he has cast his eyes on 
every side, he cries out with a loud voice, ‘Come!’ Whereon she 
calls the youth who calls.” 
1 “Tn monasteries the lamp of knowledge continued to burn, however 
dimly. In them men of business were formed for the state: the art of writing © 
was cultivated by the monks; they were the only proficients in mechanics, 
gardening, and architecture.” DALRYMPLE’s Annals of Scotland.— W. 
