368 Obfervations on the Advantages 
or £5 per acre annually. But to detail proofs 
of advantages of this kind, eftablifhed on un- 
exceptionable authority, would require a vo- 
lume. One circumftance, however, I cannot 
avoid mentioning. It is on the authority of 
Evelyn. He fays, ‘‘ It is fuppofed there may 
** be twenty-fix millions of fquare acres in 
** the kingdom (exclufive of fens, highways, 
‘* rivers, Q&c. &c. not eftimated). Now, 
** value but the annual growth of timber at 
** four-pence each acre; and it will amount to 
‘ nearly half a million fterling, exclufive of 
** the maft and loppings.” But if I eftimate 
right, that, out of thefe twenty-fix millions of 
acres, one eighth part is deftitute of any profits 
whatever, and yet capable of being improved 
(as I truft has been fhewn): allowing the annual 
growth of each acre to be no more than ten 
fhillings on the average, the benefit to the 
country is upwards of one million five hundred 
thoufand pounds each year, exclufive of the 
timber growing on the remaining twenty-three 
millions of acres. And, when we confider the 
large fums paid to foreign countries for timber, 
and its increafing fcarcity in this, it will furely 
be worth the confideration of every true friend 
to his country, and every benevolent and patrio- 
tic mind, to refle€t but a moment on the eftimate 
thus moderately calculated. Let him then draw 
; the 
