1797, An English Lady, A Residence in France During the Years 1792, 1793, 1794 and 1795,:
In every place where there are half a dozen houses is planted an unthriving tree of liberty, which seems to wither under the baneful influence of the bonnet rouge.
(Can we date this quote?), Joseph Conrad, Under Western Eyes:
He stopped short and looked at the brick wall of the terrace, faced with shallow arches, meagrely clothed by a few unthriving creepers, with an ill-kept narrow flower-bed along its foot.