62 PLANTATIONS. 



ought that I can tell, but it is quite certain that, 

 even with the then imperfect knowledge which 

 was possessed of the value of larch, a very great 

 mistake was committed, in planting nearly a 

 thousand acres of land,, which was well adapted 

 both for oak and larch, with profitless rubbish like 

 that which is now seen upon it. A work of that 

 magnitude ought not to have been intrusted to any 

 one who, either from mercenary motives, or from 

 limited views, was capable of falling into such a 

 gross error, as to the interests of his employers. 

 It is no exaggeration to say, that if the Skelling- 

 thorpe Plantation had been planted, as it ought to 

 have been, with oak and larch, together with a 

 few spruce firs, and if Pontey had left suitable 

 instructions with those who had to take care of it, 

 after his superintendence had ceased, it would 

 now have been, at the most moderate compu- 

 tation, fifteen hundred per cent, more valuable 

 than it is! 



If it were private property, I should not pre- 

 sume to add what I now feel myself at perfect 

 liberty to do, with reference to its present con- 

 dition, and the future prospect respecting it. 



