SECT. XII. 



UT tho man had deferted the foreft as 

 a dwelling, and had left it to be in- 

 habited by beafts ; it foon appeared, that he 

 had no intention of giving up his right of 

 dominion over it. In a courfe of ages, as 

 population increafed, he began to find it in 

 his way. In one part, it occupied grounds 

 fit for his plough ; in another, for the pafturage 

 of his domeflic cattle; and in fome parts, it 

 afforded melter for his enemies. He foon 

 (hewed the beafls, they were only tenants at 

 will. He began amain to lay about him with 

 his axe. The foreft groaned ; and receded 

 from it's ancient bounds. It is amazing, 

 what ravages he made in his original habi- 

 tation, through every quarter of the globe. 

 The fable was realized : man begged of the 

 foreft a handle to his hatchet; and when he 

 U 4 had 



