116 A HISTORY OF 



but abi the marshes along the mouth of the Thames, for sevei fi 

 miles. The meeting with these trees at such depths, he ascribes tc 

 the sediment of the river, and the tides, which constantly washing 

 over them, have always left some part of their substance behind, so 

 as, by repeated alluvions, to work a bed of vegetable earth over them, 

 to the height at which he found it. 



The levels of Hatfield-Chace, in Yorkshire, a tract above eighteen 

 thousand acres, which was yearly overflown, was reduced to arable 

 and pasture-land, by one sir Cornelius Vermusden, a Dutchman. At 

 the bottom of this wide extent, are found millions of the roots and 

 bodies of trees, of such as this island either formerly did, or does at 

 present produce. The roots of all stand in their proper postures ; 

 and by them, as thick as ever they could grow, the respective trunks 

 of each, some above thirty yards long. The oaks, some of which have 

 been sold for fifteen pounds a piece, are as black as ebony, very last- 

 ing, and close grained. The ash-trees are as soft as earth, and are 

 commonly cut in pieces by the workmen's spades, and as soon as flung 

 up into the open air, turn to dust. But all the rest, even the willows 

 themselves, which are softer than the ash, preserve their substance 

 and texture to this very day. Some of the firs appear to have vege- 

 tated, even after they were fallen, and to have, from their branches, 

 struck up large trees, as great as the parent trunk. It is observable, 

 that many of these trees have been burnt, some quite through, some 

 on one side, some have been found chopped and squared, others riven 

 with great wooden wedges, all sufficiently manifesting, that the coun 

 try which was deluged had formerly been inhabited. Near a great 

 root of one tree, were found eight coins of the Roman emperors ; and, 

 in some places, the marks of the ridge and furrow were plainly per- 

 ceivable, which testified that the ground had formerly been patient of 

 cultivation. 



The learned naturalist who has given this description,* has pretty 

 plainly evinced, that this forest, in particular, must have been thus 

 levelled by the Romans ; and that the falling of the trees must have 

 contributed to the accumulation of the waters. " The Romans," says 

 he, " when the Britons fled, always pursued them into the fortresses 

 of low woods, and miry forests : in these the wild natives found shel- 

 ter; and, when opportunity offered, issued out, and fell upon their 

 invaders without mercy. In this manner the Romans were at length 

 so harassed, that orders were issued out for cutting down all the woods 

 and forests in Britain. In order to effect this, and destroy the enemy 

 the easier, they set fire to the woods, composed of pines, and other 

 inflammable timber, which spreading, the conflagration destroyed not 

 only the forest, but infinite numbers of the wretched inhabitants who 

 had taken shelter therein. When the pine-trees had thus done what 

 mischief they could, the Romans then brought their army nearer, and, 

 with whole legions of the captive Britons, cut down most of the trees 

 that were yet left standing ; leaving only here and there some trees 

 untouched, as monuments of their fury. These, unneedful of their la- 

 bour, being destitute of the support of the underwood, and of theii 



Phil. Trans, vol. iv. part ii. p. 214. 



