Out of the pleura Hosannah."

JAMES CORNISH.

Age of Trees—"Essex Broad Oak" (Vol. v., pp. 10. 40.).

—Was not the "Essex Broad Oak" identical with the "Fairlop Oak?" The Fairlop Oak is thus described in Excursions through Essex (Longman, 1818, vol. ii. p. 56.):

"In Hainault Forest, about one mile from Barkingside, stands an oak which has been known through many centuries by the name of Fairlop. For an account of this celebrated tree (which seems to have escaped the attention of the laborious Camden, and his indefatigable continuator, Mr. Gough) we are indebted to the Rev. Mr. Gilpin. 'The tradition of this tree,' says this ingenious writer in his Remarks on Forest Scenery and other Woodland Views, 'traces it half way up the Christian æra. It is still a noble tree, though it has suffered greatly from the depredations of time. About a yard from the ground, where its rough fluted stem is 36 feet in circumference, it divides into eleven vast arms; yet not in the horizontal manner of an oak, but rather in that of a beach. Beneath its shade, which overspreads an area of 300 feet in circuit, an annual fair has long been held on the first Friday in July.' This celebrated tree was for some time fenced round with a close paling about five feet high. Almost all the extremities of its branches have been sawed off, and Mr. Forsyth's composition applied to them, to preserve then from decay; and the injury which the trunk of the tree had sustained from the lighting of fires have been repaired, as much as possible, with the same composition. On one of the branches a board was fixed, with this inscription, 'All good foresters are requested not to hurt this old tree, a plaister having been lately applied to its wounds.'"

If my recollection serves me correctly, a drawing and description of this old tree is contained in one of Hone's publications,—I think his Table Book.[9]

[9] [The drawing and description of this venerable oak is given in the Mirror, vol. ii. p. 81., where it is stated that Mr. Forsyth's precautions were insufficient to protect it from an injurious custom practised by many of its thoughtless visitors, of making a fire within the cavities to cook their provisions; for, in the month of June, 1805, it was set on fire, and continued burning until the following day, by which the trunk was considerably injured. The high winds of February, 1820, at last stretched its massy trunk and limbs on that turf which it had for so many ages overshadowed with its verdant foliage. The wood of which the pulpit and reading-desk of St. Pancras new church are composed was a portion of the Fairlop Oak; and are looked upon as matters of greater curiosity perhaps, on that account, than even the beautiful grained and highly polished material and the splendid carvings.—ED.]

Another large tree is mentioned in the same volume (p. 87.) as being called "Doodle [Query, dole or boundary] Oke."

To conclude (if I have not already trespassed too much upon your space), Is the Fairlop Oak still standing; and, if so, what is its present condition?

J. B. COLMAN.