t ^i 1 



growth of timber foiefy r^s witli them. 'The 

 prefervation of their own families, the welfare" of 

 the community, nay, the very exiftence of their 

 country, as a maritime ' ffate, depends upon their 

 ipcedy exertions. The devaftation which prevails 

 in our woods, threatens their total deflrudlion.* — 

 Without forbearance, the fmall (lock that is left 

 will prefently be exhaufted. Britifh timber will no 

 longer ride triumphant on the main. The docks 

 muft (land indebted to foreign countries for fdpply. 

 Our fhips will be of fhort duration, and our expences 

 wonderfully enlarged. 



To conclude : — The exigency of the times fo 

 immediately demands attention, that had I the ma- 

 gick power of perfiiafion to reach the heart of every 

 thoughtlefs land-owner, I would never ceafe ex- 

 claiming, O my countiymen ! my countrymen ! 

 let us no longer yawn in indolence, left a fatal le- 

 thargy cnfue. No longer let us truft to chance, to 

 birds, to fquirrels, to be our planters, but beftir 

 ourfelves/ Let us inftantly refrain from felling half- 



• If there be not i-5th part of the naval timber that there was 

 50 years ago now left, and the annual confumption in the dock- 

 yards, be 25,000 loads, exclufive of the (hips built for government 

 in private y?irds, together with the increafing demands for com- 

 merce, Eaft-India (hips as big as men of war, &c. ice. what 

 muft be the confequence ? Unlefs fome check be given to our im- 

 prudence, another twenty years compleats our ruin. 



grown 



