8 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



to have been injudicious ; and by no means calculated to produce 

 any advantage (hat could compensate, even in the smallest degree, 

 the manifold evils and vexations that have resulted from it. It is 

 indeed surprising that a privilege so extraordinary, so grossly 

 abused, and so ruinous in its consequences, should have been 

 quietly borne by the inhabitants at large for so many years. 



By the measure of extermination all would benefit. — The 

 owners of goats and sheep would not be losers — if they were 

 to receive from the Company a fair and reasonable price for their 

 goats and sheep. These might speedily be consumed by issuing 

 them to the garrison, without any extra loss being incurred by the 

 Company in thus giving rations of fresh instead of salt meat. 

 The owners might also be repaid the bona fide price they gave 

 for the goat-ranges, which would indeed be the only charge to 

 the Company attending the arrangement I have suggested ; and 

 if it were carried into effect, those ranges, and many other places, 

 might be sown with the seeds of all sorts of indigenous and other 

 trees ; for where trees formerly grew, it may be presumed they 

 would grow again. This was indeed proved, as already noticed, 

 after the destruction of the sheep and goats in 1731. — Should this 

 measure, therefore, be again carried into effect, and the improve- 

 ments of planting and fencing carried on with spirit, there would 

 soon be no want of fuel, nor any impediment to agriculture ; and 

 after a few years, the inhabitants might again have restored to 

 them a privilege of cutting wood on the goat-ranges, similar to 

 that which they enjoyed of cutting fuel from the Great-wood. 

 AVhatever trees are thus planted, should be for the benefit and 

 use of all the inhabitants. 



If the goats and sheep were removed, many valuable orchards 

 and gardens might easily be established in those well watered 

 ravines or vallies which, on account of their depredations, have 



