XVlll PREFACE TO THE 



As to the fact mentioned by him, of my having 

 pointed out a branch as being of three years' 

 growth, which he perceived to be of five ; those 

 who know any thing of the subject are aware, 

 that the annual growth of timber is so regularly 

 and so obviously marked by Nature, that I must 

 have been stark mad to have attempted so futile 

 an imposition on any person who had the blessing 

 of eye-sight. 



In one part of his pamphlet, Mr. Knight has 

 the following observation : 



** That Mr. Forsyth may have trained up a 

 young Shoot from the bottom of an old Tree that 

 was partially hollow, and that such a shoot may 



judges of the subject that could be named in the kingdom ; — if 

 I may so say without offence to the judgment and experience 

 of Mr. Knight. 



His insinuation, however, p. 13, ** that I have supplied my 

 Royal Master's table, by procuring fruits from Covent Garden 

 Market, and sending them as the produce of Kensington,*' I 

 despise for its malignity, and yet must smile at for its absurdi- 

 ty. Not an article of fruit is ever sent to His Majesty's table 

 that has not been previously entered in a book kept for that 

 purpose ; and the simple fact, that 1 must myself have borne 

 the entire expence of such supposed purchases from Covent 

 Garden, or any other market, will not be thought a very strong 

 circumstance in favour of the practice. The truth is, that I 

 have never once, during my servitude at Kensington, made, or 

 had an idea of making, such a purchase as Mr. K. alludes to. 



7 



