with the style of which I was greatly pleased. The variety of simply graceful shapes into which it branched, gave successive entertainment and gratification to the taste: its ramifications forming a series of what might be termed stories, each rising above the last; while its leaves possessed a delicacy, an elegance, and polish, of which it is difficult to convey a just idea; and its fruits were equally salutary and delicious. By merely overshadowing, it had killed a vigorous, but pernicious plant, that had been growing near it; which some considered as a variety of the Atropos Belladonna; but the best informed represented as a species of Delphinium. The Trees, which I have just mentioned, formed a boundary between the Horti Vestiarii and Ferculorii, or Mensales; of which latter the Founder seemed particularly proud. He here shewed me what resembled a melon-frame; beneath which we saw what I conceived to be an uncommon specimen of that fruit; but which proved to be a plumb-pudding, that he had propagated from British cuttings, procured by Captain Gulliver. Under an adjoining frame there were minced pies; raised, as he assured preternatural, than that causes merely natural should combine and complicate themselves so oddly, as, by their fortuitous conjunction, to produce phenomena of so terrific and marvellous a description. It is ludicrously provoking to have been frightened by a wax doll, me, from some very orthodox seed, obtained from England before the Reformation. These he was very urgent with me to taste; but when I assured him that luncheon disagreed with an Irish stomach, he had the politeness to desist from his entreaties. In order to gratify him, however, I cut myself a cheese-cake, from a sort of mushroom-bed, which was adjacent. I had scarcely swallowed it, when my humble host was for pumping me a glass of cyder; which he promised I should not distinguish from Herefordshire, or Cacagee.* I thanked him for his offer which, however, having some gout in my constitution, I thought it prudent to decline; and contented myself with plucking a small bottle of Madeira, from a very flourishing vine which was at hand; and mixing part of it in a glass of water, which he provided. From this part of the garden we passed, by a small door, into what I took for a piggery; but which was the scene of some very curious and interesting experiments. We had scarcely entered, when the Professor turning towards me with an exulting and scientific smile, said he expected soon to have his Hortus Sensorius in such perfection, and to grow animals, and even joints, with so much nicety and * A famous cider, and cider-apple, found in Ireland. But quere as to my orthography? For I only know the title of this King Pippin, by my ear. ease, as to entertain his Laputan Majesty at an Academy dinner, composed of fish, flesh, and all the delicacies of the season,-consisting of two complete courses and a dessert;-and of which every dish should be the produce of the garden; cooked by the warmth of a couple of cucumbers, in a kitchen of Count Rumford: who, as he farther informed me, was an honorary Doctor of schemes, in the University of Lagado; and Grandee of the first order in the Laputan Realm. In this curious nursery, I must confess that he shewed me some Lamb-suckers, which seemed thriving: but his attempt to raise Sir Loins of Beef from cuttings, (which he admitted to be a mere improvement on the Abyssinian hint,*) was in its infancy; and no opinion could yet be hazarded, as to what might be its ultimate success. Little now remained to be seen, but the Horti Signatorius, Toreumatorius, Triclinensis, and Supellectilensis; which, indeed, displayed a most extensive, yet very choice assortment; and to which, for richness or variety of contents, the Phusitechnicon,† in its best days, (and perhaps I might add Rundle's,) could scarcely be compared. Here my friend Lemuel, and * The practice in Abyssinia, as we learn from Peter Pindar, and from Bruce, was to "kill half a cow; and turn the rest to grass." + A shop in Dublin, with this foolish title. myself, supposed for a moment that we had got to Lilliput again. But what we had mistaken for a procession of its pigmy inhabitants, clothed in white, turned out to be a collection of figures for a supper table, elegantly executed (I would say grown) in biscuit. Our generous Conductor (a second Aboulcassem) having requested my acceptance of a pair of candlesticks and some table ornaments, which I admired, together with a watch,* the chains and seals of which had struck my fancy,-in attempting to pluck this latter, I approached too near the hedge; and the skirt of my coat touching the trigger of a young musket, in full bearing, the explosion which ensued put my companions all to flight; and by startling awoke me. I now discovered the fallacy of Addison's position, where he asserts that "it is but opening the eye, and the scene enters." On the contrary, in my case, as the Reader has perceived, the opening of the eye was the closing of the scene. M. P. S. I am determined that no saucy Criticisms which I may hear, shall break my literary rest, or prevent my repaying my gentle Readers nod for nod. Non omnibus dormio, however. I sleep for but a * Sprung up from some seed, that had accidentally fallen here. Spectator, No. 411. chosen few. As far indeed as I can learn, from my publisher Mr. Mahon, the Lords and Ladies of my bedchamber do not exceed a dozen. NUMBER XXXIII. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19th, 1807. Renascentur, quæ jam cecidere. HOR. Slum'bring from Anna's through two Georges' reign, DOMINO R. WHEREAS the Court of Honour has fallen into decay, and it appears expedient to restore so salutary a jurisdiction, we have therefore thought fit, by and with the advice of our privy council, to revive, and accordingly by these presents do revive the same hereby declaring, ordaining, and directing, that the said Court of Honour shall consist of a Chief Justice, and three brethren, honorary Justices of the same. And whereas we are of opinion that * See Tatler, No. 250. |