26 ANCIENT WOODS. 



And now let me ask if this be the state of 

 many woods if, neither a crop of timber nor of 

 underwood is found to what is it owing? the 

 reply is not difficult: it is mainly attributable to 

 proprietors themselves, and to their agents : to 

 woodmen in a subordinate degree. In proof of my 

 first position, I would respectfully remark, that if 

 a gentleman chooses to sacrifice every thing to the 

 idea of having good covers; and, supposing that 

 any thing which interferes with the primeval state 

 of his woods, is incompatible with this object, 

 refuses to do any thing at them, the woodman may 

 not bear the blame. Again : if a proprietor hap- 

 pen, unfortunately, to have such an aversion to 

 felling timber and there are many such that he 

 will sooner let it rot down, or allow one tree to 

 destroy another ; or again ; suffer the timber trees 

 to stand so thickly that they not only totally 

 destroy each other, but the underwood below also, 

 the woodman ought not to be censured ; except 

 indeed, he have advised such a course, which I 

 can hardly think any man accustomed to woods 

 could do, in the present day. Once more ; if 

 gentlemen lack the moral courage and I have 



