Dugdale relates in his Monasticon, p. 860, that “under this grant, and by ancient custom, the heirs of Dutton claim and exercise authority over all the common fiddlers and minstrels in Chester and Cheshire; and in memory of it, keep a yearly court at Chester on Mid-summer-day, being Chester Fair, and in a solemn manner ride attended through the city to St. John the Baptist’s Church, with all the fiddlers of the county playing before the Lord of Dutton, and then at the court renew their licenses yearly; and that none ought to use the trade or employment of a minstrel, or fiddler, either within the city or county, but by an order and license of that court.”  I find too that this privilege has received the sanction of the legislature; for by the Act of 17 George II., cap. 5., commonly called the Vagrant Act, which includes “minstrels” under that amiable class of independents, the rights of the family of Dutton in the county of Chester are expressly reserved.  Perhaps some of your numerous Correspondents may be able to say whether this very singular Court of Concert is still kept up.

ANTIQUARIUS.

* * * * *

ON GARDENS.[2]

(For the Mirror.)

    [2] We would suggest “Gleanings on Gardens.” were not that title
    forestalled by an interesting little work, lately published by
    Mr. S. Felton.—­ED.

The hanging gardens, in antiquity called Pensiles Horti, were raised on arches by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, in order to gratify his wife, Amyctis, daughter of Astyages, King of Media.  These gardens are supposed by Quintus Curtius to have been equal in height to the city, viz. 50 feet.  They contained a square of 400 feet on every side, and were carried up into the air in several terraces laid one above another, and the ascent from terrace to terrace was by stairs 10 feet wide.

Among the Mexicans there are floating gardens, which are described by the Abbe Clavigero, as highly curious and interesting, so as to form a place of recreation and amusement.  The abundant produce of these prolific gardens, are brought daily by the canal in numerous small vessels, at sun-rise, to the market-place of the capital to be sold.  The plants thrive in these situations in an astonishing manner, the mud of the lake being extremely fertile and productive, without the aid of rain.  Whenever the owners of these gardens are inclined to change their situations, they get into their little vessels, and by their own strength alone, or where that is not sufficient, by the assistance of others, they get them afloat, and tow them after them wherever they please.

Gardening was introduced into England from the Netherlands, from whence vegetables were imported till 1509.  Fruits and flowers of sundry sorts before unknown, were brought into England in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. from about 1500 to 1578.  Grapes were first planted at Blaxhall, in Suffolk, 1552.  The ingenuity and fostering care of the people of England, have brought under their tribute all the vegetable creation.