The foil of New-foreft, which is in general 

 a fandy loam, is well adapted to the production 

 of oak-timber. This tract of woody country 

 therefore hath long been confidered, as one 

 of the great magazines for the navy. It was 

 formerly thought to be inexhauftible ; but 

 by degrees it was obferved, that it began to 

 fail. So early as in queen Elizabeth's reign, 

 Manwood tells us, that " the flendcr, and 

 negligent execution of the foreft-law hath 

 been the decay, and deftruction (in almoft all 

 places within this realm) of great wood and 

 timber; the want whereof, as well in this 

 prefent time, as in time to come, fhall ap- 

 pear in the navy of this realm*." 



In queen Elizabeth's reign Manwood's 

 remark was fpeculation ; but in the reign 

 of Charles II., it took the air of prediction. 

 The decay of timber; which had long been 

 gradually coming on, began then to be felt. 



foreft has been engraved (by order of the commifiioners,) by 

 William Faden, geographer to the king ; in which the curious 

 may fee the boundaries, and contents of New-foreft, with all 

 the lands granted by the crown, the leafe-holds, and in- 

 croaohments, very accurately afcertained. 



* See Manwood on foreft-law, chap. ii. 6. 



It's 



