he Abbe Schmidt informs us (_Mag. Encyc._) that this monarch, who had
domains in every part of France, gave the greatest encouragement to the
eradication of forests, and the substitution of orchards and vineyards.
He was on terms of friendship with the Saracenic prince Haroun al
Raschid, and by that means procured for France the best sorts of pulse,
melons, peaches, figs, and other fruits."

Francis I. when he built his palace at Fontainbleau, introduced into its
gardens, much of what he had seen in those of Italy, and when he
completed St. Germains, its style of grandeur may be guessed at from its
rocks, cascades, terraces and subterraneous grots.

Henry IV.'s attachment to agriculture and to gardens, is well known. The
magnificent improvements he made at St. Germains, and the attention he
paid to his gardens at la Fleche, Vendome, and the Thuilleries, shew
this. Indeed, his employing Claude Mollet, and Jean Robin, are
sufficient proofs.[10]

Louis XIV. magnificently rewarded La Quintinye, that original writer,
who conducted the fine gardens of Tambourneau, and whose precepts Mons.
de Voltaire tells us were followed by all Europe. The zeal of Louis for
the decorations of gardens, met with an able assistant when he
patronized Le Notre, to do justice to whose name, I can only refer my
reader to the concise but rich review of the grand efforts of this
singular genius, as they are noticed in p. 35 of Mr. Loudon's
Encyclopaedia, and which "dazzled and enchanted every class of
observers."[11]

Madame de Sevigne's delight in gardens pervades many of her letters:
that of July 1677, paints the charms which one in Paris gave her: "I was
invited in the kindest manner possible to sup at Gourville's with Mad.
de Scomberg, Mad. de Frontenac, Mad. de Coulanges, the Duke, M. de la
Rochefoucault, Barillon, Briole, Coulanges, Sevigne, in a garden of the
hotel de Conde; there were water-works, bowers, terraces, six hautboys,
six violins, and the most melodious flutes; a supper which seemed to be
prepared by enchantment, an admirable bass-viol, and a resplendent moon,
which witnessed all our pleasures." Of her own garden, formed by her own
pure taste, M. de Coulanges thus speaks: "I have spent a most delightful
fortnight here. It is impossible sufficiently to praise the gardens of
the _Rocks_; they would have their beauties even at Versailles, which is
saying every thing." And that she delighted in what she well knew how to
describe,