726 A. D. 1703. 



Gee was of opinion, that Ruflia exported annually to Britain and othei' 

 nations hemp and flax to the value of one million fterling. How noble, 

 how rational, a profpect is this, of faving great fums annually paid to fo- 

 reign nations, who are frequently, too, in a very oppofite intereft to 

 Great Britain. 



Upon this occafion there were computations laid before the govern- 

 ment of the following quantities of foreign pitch and tar, annually con- 

 fumed in Europe, viz. 



By Britain and Ireland, annually about - - 1000 lafts 



By Holland, as well for their home ule, as for what they 

 export to Spain, Portugal, and up the Mediterranean, 4000 



By France, ______ - 500 



By Hamburgh, Lubeck, and other German ports, - 500 



In all, 6000 lafts 

 Of which four fifth parts confided of tar, and one fifth of pitch *. 



By the act 8 Ann, c. 13, §. 30, the queen was empowered to apply 

 Li 0,000, out of the fupplies granted in that feffion of parliament, for 

 the fubfiftence and employment of a number of ilcilful people, and for 

 furnifliing fit utenfils and materials for eifedually carrying on the good 

 and profitable defigns of raifing fuch naval fl;ores from the growths and 

 produdts of the faid plantations. 



By another act, 9 Ann, c. 17, a penalty of Lioo was inflided on any 

 perfon cutting down white, or other, pine trees, (not private property) 

 in thole plantations, of twenty-four inches diameter, or upwards, twelve 

 inches from the earth. And the queen's furveyor-general of her woods 

 in America was direded to mark all fuch trees as are fit for the navy 

 royal with a broad arrow, for the ufe of the public' 



By another ad, 1 2 Ann, c. 9, the above ad was renewed, and the like 

 bounties are allowed for naval fl;ores brought from Scotland, though to 

 little or no benefit hitherto ; though it be true, as the ftatute remarks, 

 that there is in feveral parts of Scotland great fl;ore of pine and fir trees, 

 fit for mails, and for making pitch, tar, rofin, and other naval ftores. 

 But the ad itfelf alligns the true reafon, why they cannot be eafily or 

 cheaply brought to England, viz. becaufe the lands and woods which 

 may yield fuch naval fi;ores are moflly in parts mountainous and remote 

 from navigable rivers. This the York-buildings company experienced 

 to their cofl fome years after this time, the timber, they felled in fome 

 of thole woods at a great expenfe, being left to rot on the ground, the 

 carriage of it to the neareft places of navigation being found imprac- 



* Tar and pitch are produced in Norway and in Sweden, whence the greateft quantity is brought; 

 :\nd alfo in RnfTia, whence it is (liipped at Archangel. A- 



