C H5 ] 



A GENERAL AcT OF PARLIAMENT might em- 

 power commiffioners to adjufl: the rights of individuals, 

 and make allotments accordingly, as in common in- 

 clofure bills, the whole management of which might 

 be under the commiffioners of the land revenue, 

 who are fully competent to the fubjeft, having al- 

 ready furveys and reports upon moft, if not all, the 

 crown lands and forefts in the kingdom* As foon 

 as private claims are adjufted, the remainder of 

 courfe will belong to government; and it requires 

 very little argument to prove, that it will produce 

 an immenfe income to the nation, for there is fcarce 

 an acre but will produce fomething confiderable. 

 The richefl: may be applied to agriculture, and the 

 reft; for planting* Land in its prefent ftate not worth 

 a {hilling per acre, will produce good firs, which, if 

 only reckoned at fire-wood price, will yield a won- 

 derful profit ; but they will produce much more, as 

 we can afcertain, from repeated obfervations and ex- 

 periments, that fir of Englifti growth is nearly as 

 good as foreign, for rough ufes, fuch as joifts, raf- 

 ters, girders, &c. which is the grand confumption* 



We do not expeft to produce fine clean deals, 

 but thofe are a very fmall part in comparifon of the 

 whole. Surely, then, if we can fupply ourfelves, 

 from our poorefl land, with a fufficiency of fir timber 

 for home confumption, without being at the enor- 

 mous expence of importing it from abroad, we are 

 guilty of the groffcft negleft in not doing it, and 



VOL. vni. L more 



