[46 9 
I conclude, with ardent wifhes for the perpetual 
fuccefs of your fociety; and am, fir, 
Your moft refpectful 
humble fervant, 
JOSEPH WIMPEY. 
Bratton-Clovelly, near Okehampton, Devon. 
Articte IV. 
On the Prefent State of Naval Timber. 
TO THE SECRETARY. 
Sir, 
S an ingenious correfpondent of your’s differs 
widely in opinion with me, refpecting the pre- 
fent ftate of naval timber in the kingdom, and treats 
the apprehended fcarcity of it as a chimera only ; 
pardon me, if | take the liberty of diving deeper into 
the fubject, in proof of the pofitions by me advanced 
in the fixth volume of the Society’s Memoirs. 
In late circuits through countries well known 
before, I could not but obferve that the woods had 
loft their dignity; acres, which within my memory 
were replete with noble oaks, have now {fcarcea 
naval {tick to fhew. Woods, where the foreft lads 
have chaced the bounding f{quirrel from tree to tree 
for 
