STATE OF CROWN FORESTS. 245 



repairs of His Majesty's ships in. the year 1788, was above 

 50,000 loads; and that the woods or private estates could 

 not be relied on for any thing like a regular supply to the 

 amount then required. They had been led to conclude that 

 the quantity of large timber on these estates was being 

 annually diminished, and was likely to be totally exhausted ; 

 and they recommended that 100,000 acres should be 

 planted in time to arrest the evil. 



In the twelfth report, dated 25th February 1792, are 

 given (1) an account of the regime of the Crown forests 

 from the time of William the Conqueror to the passing of 

 the 1st of Queen Anne, by which the Crown was restrained 

 from making further grants ; (2) an account of subsequent 

 mismanagement and the results ; (3) a statement of the 

 necessity of some change being made, with suggestions of 

 some things which might be done. 



In the thirteenth report, dated 31st May 1792, is given 

 information obtained in regard to the Forest of Bere, with 

 an appendix. 



The fourteenth report, dated 28th March 1793, supplies 

 information in regard to the Forest of Sherwood. 



The fifteenth report, bearing the same date, does the 

 same in regard to the Forest of Waltham. 



The sixteenth report, under the same date, treats of 

 improvable rents. 



The seventeenth, also bearing the same date, 28th 

 March 1793, gives a concluding report of the changes 

 they deemed necessary, with a defence and justification of 

 the counsel they had given relative to the establishment 

 of a Forest Board. 



