moved, must
needs have exceedingly contributed to the purifying of the air; as I am
persuaded would appear upon a political observation in the bills of
mortality: But what I yet cannot but deplore, is, that, (when that
spacious area, was so long a _rasa tabula_) the church-yards had not
been banish'd to the North-walls of the city, where a grated inclosure
of competent breadth (for a mile in length) might have served for an
universal coemetery, to all the parishes, distinguish'd by the like
separations, and with ample walks of trees; the walks adorn'd with
monuments, inscriptions and titles apt for contemplation and memory of
the defunct; and that wise, and ancient law of the XII Tables restor'd
and reviv'd: But concerning this, and hortulan buryings upon this and
other weighty reasons, see cap. I. book IV. Happy in the mean time, had
it been for the further purgation of this august metropolis, had they
there, (or did they yet) banish and proscribe those hellish vulcanos,
disgorging from the brew-houses, sope and salt-boilers, chandlers,
hat-makers, glass-houses, forges, lime-kilns, and other trades, using
such quantities of sea-coals, one of whose funnels vomits more smoak
than all the culinary and chamber-fires of a whole parish, as I have
(with no small indignation) observed, at what time they usually put out
their fires, on Saturday evening, and re-kindle on Sunday night, or
Monday morning; perniciously infecting the ambient air, with a black
melancholy canopy, to the detriment of the most valuable moveables and
furniture of the inhabitants, and the whole countrey about it. A bar of
iron shall be more exeded and consum'd with rust in one year in this
city, than in thrice-seven in the countrey: Why might it not therefore
be worth a severe and publick edict, to remove these vulcanos and
infernal houses of smoak to competent distance; some down the river,
others (which require conveniency of fresh-water) up the Thames, among
the streams about Wandsworth, &c? Their commodities and manufactures
brought up to capacious wharfs, on the bank, or London side, to the
increase of a thousand water-men and other labourers, of which we cannot
have too many?

Now to demonstrate that not only the amoval of these unsufferable
nuisances would infinitely clarifie the air, and render it more
wholsome, and to return to my subject of trees and plants; the
reputation they have had for contributing to the health of whole
countries and citi