Lg Qj 
afflured from authentic documents,* founded on in- 
difputable facts, that the aggregate of oaks fallen in 
England and Wales, for thirty years paft, hath 
amounted to three hundred and twenty thoufand 
loads a year, where is the man of reflection that will 
not be alarmed for the confequences of fuch a de- 
mand, confidering the prefent ftate of the wood- 
lands round him? Whether this amazing quantity 
be confumed in fpokes, in laths, in beer-cafks, or 
what elfe, it matters not. The queftion is, doth 
the progrefs of young timber keep pace with the 
confumption? The obfervations of nine out of ten 
of the beft-informed people with whom I have 
either corref{ponded or converfed, juftify my opinion 
that it does not. 
Take the country throughout, there may poffibly 
be as many oak faplings in Great-Britain, at the pre- 
fent moment, as there were thirty years ago; but 
how long doth it take to form naval timber from a 
fapling? and how can naval timber ever be pro- 
duced of fize, in any fufficient quantity, whilft we 
continue felling half-grown fticks? 
Your correfpondent need not fear the want of 
a demand for oak, that “ weed of the country,” 
even fhould the breweries fail; for navigable ca- 
mals (which may have their ufe in furnifhing our 
ee 
* Such are in my poffeffion ; though I am not at liberty to publith 
them. 
E2 dock-~ 
