107 



iieftce the business goes on rather smooth- 

 ly. If men were really as ignorant in 

 these matters, as they are in regard to 

 the others, every sort of timber would 

 be disgraced by turns, the Oak not ex- 

 cepted*; 



* When the press had proceeded thus far, an op- 

 portunity occurred of examining some Larch Spars or 

 Rafters, which had been in a mill about twentv-four 

 years; and, hkewise, an EngHsh-grown Spruce Fir 

 Log, of about fourteen inches square, with some balks 

 or summer-trees, made from the same, or a similar 

 tree, cut down the middle. The former have the 

 bark upon them, and are all sound, except in a few 

 places where wet has fallen. The latter are perfectly 

 so, including the bark ; much of which still remains 

 upon them, as firmly united to the wood as when first 

 used. This circumstance sufficiently provt-s, that my 

 conclusions, respecting several sorts of Firs, are per- 

 fectly correct as to one of them. It is indeed to be 

 lamented, that such proofs are not every where to be 

 met with ; as they would have a direct tendency to 

 remove prejudice, instruct the ignorant, and silence 

 the cavils of self-interest. 



Perhaps, at first sight, a true Briton will scarcely 

 believe any of his countrymen so destitute of patriot- 



