the purveyor, and is appointed by the com- 

 miffioner of the dock at Portfmouth. His 

 bufmefs is to affign timber for the ufe of the 

 navy. The origin of the purveyor is not 

 earlier than the reign of Charles II. in whofe 

 time five hundred oaks, and fifty beeches were 

 annually afligned for the king's yards j and this 

 officer was appointed to aflign them. But 

 it being found, that the foreft could ill fupply 

 fo large a quantity of oakj inftead of five 

 hundred, the number was afterwards reduced 

 to fixty; which together with fifty beeches, 

 are ftill annually afligned*. The purveyor 

 has a falary of fifty pounds a year ; and fix and 

 eight-pence a day, when on duty. 



I fhall conclude this account of the officers 

 of the foreft with the fingular character of one 

 of them, who lived in the times of James, 

 and Charles I. It is preferved in Hutchin's 

 hiftory of Dorfetfhire -f-. 



The name of this memorable fportfman, 

 for in that character alone he was confpicuous, 

 was Henry Haftings, He was fecond fon to 

 the earl of Huntingdon j and inherited a good 



* Mr. Samber's MS. f See vol. ii. p. 63. 



eftate 



