ae ee 
made of its importance now, when every fea-port 
in Europe is filled with fhips of war, and _veffels 
fitted for commerce? 
If this reprefentation be juft, it fhould feem, that 
the very exiftence of Great-Britain as a fovereign 
independent ftate, and its foreign commerce, which 
furnifhes the riches, and is the pride and glory, and 
at the fame time the admiration and envy of the 
world, depend almoft entirely on the ftrength and 
good condition of the navy. Now, as Englifh oak 
is univerfally allowed to be the beft timber in the 
world for fhip-building, as it is both ftronger and 
beyond all comparifon more durable than any kind | 
of timber yet known; it is not to be wondered at, 
that every one, who has a grain of patriotifm in his 
conftitution, fhould be anxious to learn with cer- 
tainty, whether a material fo neceffary not only to 
our profperity, but to our exiftence as an indepen- 
dent fovereign nation, is in a flourifhing ftate, and 
promifes a fupply which is abundantly fufficient to 
anfwer every demand which in its utmoft exigence 
it can poflibly require. 
It is the general opinion, that not only oak tim- 
ber, but wood of all forts 7s, and long bas been faft 
diminifhing. ‘There are indeed fome (a very few, 
I believe) who treat the notion as chimerical and 
unfounded ; but if we reflect on the amazing increafe 
of the navy, comprehending fhips of war; thofe 
employed by the Eaft-India Company, in the Whale, 
Newfoundland, 
