UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 45 



every body is free, and may work or be idle as 

 they like ; but if they prefer idleness, they must 

 of course want the comforts possessed by the 

 industrious ; for industry, as you used to say, 

 brings comfort and happiness. 



. This forest of Deane is very extensive, 

 I find, for it is nearly twenty miles long, and ten 

 broad. Here, at the south-east, it is bordered 

 by the Severn, and on the north-west it stretches 

 to the Wye ; so that it forms the chief part of 

 the western district of Gloucestershire. It was 

 once the chief support of the English navy ; but 

 the timber is much diminished in consequence 

 of the iron works in its neighbourhood, which it 

 supplied a long time with fuel. My uncle says, 

 however, that it has more the appearance of a 

 forest than almost any other in England ; and 

 it still contains many noble old oak and beech 

 trees, besides birch, holly, and underwood. 



Here and there a few acres, surrounding cot- 

 tages, have been cleared and cultivated, which 

 make a beautiful variety. These cottages, and 

 some farm-houses which stand upon the forest 

 land, are free from taxes, and belong to no 

 parish. 



My aunt says, it is quite remarkable for the 

 quantities of primroses and lilac wood-sorrel that 

 are every where found. There are a few deer 



