fF 3 ] 
in almoft every part of England, who concurrently 
declare, “ That there is a general and alarming 
‘¢ decreafe in the quantity of naval timber, both in 
“ the forefts and on private eftates.*” To which 
the Commiffioners themfelves, in their report, add, 
« yeral decrease of timber, is too certain to admit 
« That their information as to the realily of the ge- 
“‘ of any doubt.t” 
After fuch certificates as thefe, and the preceding 
evidence of our vaft yearly confumption, it behoves 
us immediately to provide againft future want, by 
a clofe attention to the prefervation of the few thri- 
ving oaks we have left, and to the propagation of a 
{tock of young ones to fucceed them when they 
fall. Not fuffering the 7p/e dixit of any individual, 
however ingenious, however well verfed in timber 
he may be, to lull us into imaginary fecurity, left it 
prove fatal to thefe happy kingdoms; on whofe 
maritime exertions our property, our lives, our 
liberty, and all that is dear to us, depend. 
I am, fir, 
Your humble fervant, 
THO. SOUTH. 
Boffington, Hants. 
* Commiffioner’s Third Report, p. 4. 
+ Ditto, p. 5. 
E 3 Pi BoE 
