( 3 ) 



But tho in all countries woods have been 

 difmantled, yet this devaftation of timber hath 

 raged with the greateft ardour in Europe. 

 France is almoft intirely deprived of valuable 

 woods. All timber of fuch a fize belonged to 

 the king. At leaft he might have exercifed the 

 right of pre-emption. The confequence was 

 nobody would fufFer trees to attain that fize. 

 In the internal parts of Spain, and Germany, 

 fome woody tracts ftill remain; but the gran- 

 deur of thofe ancient forefts, which Han- 

 nibal, and Caefar traverfed, is no where to be 

 found. Where fhall we now hear of a foreft, 

 that took a period of fixty days to pafs through 

 it*? But if fome woody fcenery is ftill found 

 in the internal parts of thefe countries, yet 

 along the coa/ts, from the Baltic to the Rhine, 

 and from the Rhine to the ftreights of Gibraltar 

 all is laid wafte. 



In Italy too the fame havoc has been made. 

 In Calabria indeed are ftill fome tracls of 

 wood; but, I believe, in few other parts 



Ruffian tranfaft. viii. 67. Drinkwater's fiege of Gibraltar, 

 page 80. Byron's voyage, p. 37. 



* Hercynia fylva dierum fesaginta iter occupans. 



Pompon. Mela, I. iii. c. 3. 



Thofe 



