Ixxxvi TO THE READER 



the Past y it justifies , and does honour to the Present Indus- 

 try of our <dge y and of which there cannot be a greater 

 and more emulous Instance, than the Passion of His ^Ma- 

 jesty to encourage his Subjects, and of the tyyal Society, 

 (His ^Majesty's Foundation} who receive and promote His 

 ^Dictates, in all that is laudable and truly emolumental of this 

 Nature. 



It is not therefore that I here presume to instruct Him in 

 the management of that great and august Enterprise of resol- 

 ving to Plant and repair His ample Forests, and other 

 ^Magazines of Timber, for the benefit of His l^oyal 3{avy, 

 and the glory of His Kingdoms ; but to present to His 

 Sacred ^Majesty, and to the World, what Advices I have re- 

 ceived from others, observed my self, and most industriously 

 collected from a studious Propensity to serve as one of the 

 least Intelligences in the ampler Orb of our Illustrious Society, 

 and in a Work so necessary and important. 



And now since I mention'd the Society, give me leave 

 (Worthy Reader) as a Member of that Body, which has been 

 the chief Promoter of this ensuing Work, (and, as I stand 

 oblig'd) to vindicate that Assembly, and consequently, the 

 Honour of his Majesty and the Nation, in a Particular which 

 concerns it, though (in appearance) a little forreign to the 

 present Subject. 



I will not say that all which I have written in the several 

 Paragraphs of this Treatise, is New ; but that there are very 

 many New, and useful things, and Observations (without 

 insisting on the Methods only) not hitherto deliver'd by any 

 Author, and so freely communicated, I hope will sufficiently 

 appear : It is not therefore in behalf of any Particular which 

 concerns my self, that I have been induced to enlarge this 

 Preface ; but, by taking this Occasion, to encounter the unsuf- 

 ferable Boldness, or Ambition of some Persons (as well Strangers, 

 as others) arrogating to themselves the being Inventors of 



