28 ANCIENT WOODS. 



downwards, to property which is in the hands of 

 Trustees, or mainly under the control of Solicitors, 

 or Corporate hodies ; or, which is probably worse 

 than all, under the supreme direction of men who 

 having, during the whole of their business life, had 

 too many Stewardships, &c. for any human being 

 to look after and manage well, cannot of course be 

 deemed capable of judging rightly on a subject 

 which requires the closest possible attention, the 

 nicest discrimination, and an extended and varied 

 experience. 



Much mischief has also arisen from the em- 

 ployment by gentlemen, and by their agents, of 

 persons, who, while they may, usefully and credit- 

 ably, fulfil their duties as village carpenters and 

 the like, cannot possibly possess those enlarged, 

 comprehensive views, which are necessary to the 

 proper management of timber generally, and 

 Ancient Woods especially, I must here protest 

 against the conclusion being drawn, that I am 

 doing injustice to any class of men in remarking, 

 as I have done, on their manner of discharging the 

 trust committed to them. As to the professional 

 gentlemen, either their engagements, their position, 



