great a bulk raised and preserved, by
Omnipotent Power, from so small a body."

[53] The thought of planting the sides of public roads, was first
suggested by the great _Sully_.

[54] Mr. Weston, in his introduction to these Tracts, seems to have
pleasure in recording the following anecdote of La Quintinye, from
Harte's Essay. "The famous La Quintinie, director of the royal gardens
in France, obtained from Louis XIV. an abbacy for his son, in one of the
remote provinces; and going soon afterwards to make the abbot a visit,
(who was not then settled in his apartments) he was entertained and
lodged by a neighbouring gentleman with great friendliness and
hospitality. La Quintinie, as was natural, soon examined the gardens of
his host; he found the situation beautiful, and the soil excellent; but
every thing was rude, savage, and neglected: nature had done much, art
nothing. The guest, delighted with his friendly reception, took leave
with regret, and some months after, sent one of the king's gardeners,
and four under-gardeners, to the gentleman, with strict command to
accept of no gratuity. They took possession of his little inclosure the
moment they arrived, and having digged it many times over, they manured,
replanted it, and left one of their number behind them, as a settled
servant in the family. This young man was soon solicited to assist the
neighbourhood, and filled their kitchen gardens and fruit gardens with
the _best_ productions of every kind, which are preserved and propagated
to this very hour."

It is pleasing to enquire who Mons. de la Quintinye was. _Perrault_, in
his _Hommes Illustres_, has given his Life, and Portrait. Dr. Gibson, in
his Fruit Gardener, calls him "truly an original author;" and further
pays him high compliments.

The Noveau Dict. Hist. thus speaks of him:--"Il vint a Paris se faire
recevoir avocat. Une eloquence naturelle, cultivee avec soin, le fit
briller dans le Barreau, et lui consila l'estime des premiers
magistrais. Quoi qu'il eut peu de temps dont il put disposer, il en
trouvoit neanmoins suffisament pour satisfaire la passion qu'il avoit
pour l'agriculture. Il augmenta ses connoissances sur le jardinage, dans
un voyage qu'il fit en Italie. De retour a Paris, il se livra tout
entier a l'agriculture, et fit un grand nombre d'experiences curieuses
et utiles. Le grand Prince de _Conde_, qui aimoit l'agriculture, prenoit
une extreme plaisir a s'entretenir avec lui; et Charles II. R