(36) 



- Every other kind of white wood, fuch as beech, 

 chefnut, lime, Sic. fell at fomething more than the 

 price of fire- wood. 



It is a certain truth, and well worthy of the fe- 

 rious conCderation of Government, that the depre- 

 dations committed in the extenfive forefts and chafes 

 in this county, by the deer and cattle, in deftroy- 

 ing the young trees at a very early period, prevent 

 the poffibility of obtaining any conhderable fuccef- 

 fion of oak-timber, as fcarce any faplings or young 

 oaks are to be feen, although there are undoubtedly 

 a great number of feedlings produced by the falling 

 of the acorns ; yet, when the number of deftruftive 

 enemies, to which they are expofed in their in- 

 fancy, is confidered, it is a wonder how any of them 

 efcape their devouring jaws. 



If the forefts in the other patts of the kingdom 

 are under the fame management, there is no man 

 who wifhes well to his country, but muft; be alarmed 

 at the profped: of the deficiency, which, in procefs 

 of time, muft take place in regard to that valuable 

 article, oak-timber, for the fupply of the navy of 

 this kingdom. The evil certainly requires a fpeedy 

 and effectual remedy to be applied. What that may 

 be, the wifdom of the Legifiature can beft deter- 

 mine ; but, as particular attention was paid during 

 the furvey on which this report is founded, to the 

 ft:ate of thefe forefts and chaces, compared with thole 

 woods which are private property, it may be proper 

 to add, that the difference is obvious to the moft cur- 

 fory obferver. In the one, a young thriving oak- 

 tree is fcarcely to be feen, whereas, in the other, 

 a regular fucceflion appears in every quarter. The 

 miferable ftate of the Royal Forefts does not origi- 

 nate from any want of public fpirit in thole who 

 have at prefent the charge of them, but neceftarily 

 arifes fi-om the errors of an ancient fyftem, which 

 had in view more the prefervation of deer than of 



timber > 



