CHAP, vii S Y L V A 203 



We might, besides all these, instance in many 

 other prudent states ; not to importune you with the 

 express laws which Ancus Martius the nephew of 

 Numa and other princes long before Caesar, did 

 ordain for this very purpose ; since indeed, the care 

 of so publick and honourable an enterprize as is this 

 of planting and improving of woods, is a right noble 

 and royal undertaking ; as that of the Forest of Dean; 

 Gfc. in particular (were it bravely manag'd) an 

 Imperial design ; and I do pronounce it more worthy 

 of a prince, who truly consults his glory in the 

 highest of his subjects, than that of gaining battels, 

 or subduing a province. 



And now after all this, and the directions and 

 encouragements enumerated in this chapter, together 

 with the most important concerns of these dominions, 

 and (next to God's immediate protection) the only 

 and most necessary expedient to preserve them : By 

 whose negligence so little effects appear of these 

 improvements which might by this time have been 

 made in the Royal Magazines ever since the first 

 edition of this treatise (and of so fair a growth of 

 useful timber) I list not to declare ; though the 

 officers then intrusted, and whose duty it was, be 

 now no more : I cannot, however, but call to mind 

 how seemingly solicitous and earnest the commis- 

 sioners were, I should digest and methodize the 

 papers I laid before them on this subject, with a zeal 

 becoming publick spirits (as under their hands I have 

 to shew) whilst the putting it in practice to any 

 laudable degree, was soon cast by as a project scarce 

 worth the while. I again affirm, that had these 

 advantages of forest culture been then vigorously 

 encouraged and promoted, there had now been of 



