ft 26:9 
his refidence wherever it may, either knows of him~ 
felf, whether he pays more for timber now than he 
"did 20, 30; or 40 years ago, and the fame for wood 
for fuel. If he does not poffefs this knowledge of 
himfelf, any of his neighbours can give him {atis- 
factory information; butit muft be obferved, that 
the Royal Dock-yards are not the proper places for 
enquiry; for there the prices rife and fall, not in 
proportion to the increafe or diminution of the 
general ftock in the nation, but to its circumftances 
in regard to peace or war; thus, two or three years 
fince, it is faid to have been 30 per cent. lower (the 
nation being then in profound peace and no war 
apprehended) than it had been during the laft and 
former wars, or than it is or will be during the con- » 
tinuance of the prefent war. But the cafe is quite 
different in timber for domeftic ufes, not only as 
timber of the greateft value for maritime purpofes 
is of the leaft for domeftic ufe, and vice verfa; but 
as for that purpofe, a diminution in quantity, and 
an increafed demand, mutt infallibly advance the 
price, as it does in every article of commerce with- 
out even a fingle exception. I will explain and 
confirm this by facts within my own knowledge. 
It is now nearly, or about half a century fince I 
began to have fome confiderable concern in build- 
ing. I then refided in Berkfhire, on the borders of 
Hampfhire; 1 bought timber at that time of prime 
fize and quality, fawed out in fcantlings to the car- 
penter’s 
