88 Industrial Experiments in Colonial America. 



superior. While in New England, Bridger had complained of 

 Brenton's neglect, and so had Wallis, one of the contractors 

 who furnished masts for the Navy.^ The charge received fur- 

 ther confirmation from the fact that both Massachusetts- and 

 New Hampshire,^ in trying to maintain their innocence of the 

 waste which had been reported to the Board of Trade as con- 

 stantly practiced in those provinces, insisted that no complaints 

 had ever been heard from Brenton or his deputy. The accused 

 surveyor stoutly defended his reputation, and informed the 

 Board that Wallis had accused him because he wanted the post 

 for himself.* 



However this may have been, the ofBce was of little impor- 

 tance until Mr. Bridger, in 1705, recommended to the Board of 

 Trade that, "to further the importation of stores in accordance 

 with the act of Parliament just passed,^ some fitting person be 

 appointed Surveyor General of the Woods."'' The Board of 

 Trade had become so impressed with the disastrous conse- 

 quences of the waste of the woods which was constantly re- 

 ported to them from all quarters, notably from Governor Bello- 

 mont and from the New England commissioners, that they had 

 taken steps to procure an act of Parliament for the stricter 

 preservation of the " King's woods." The charter of Massa- 

 chusetts granted by William and Mary had specified the size 

 of trees which were to be reserved for the king, but it was 

 thought that too much latitude was given by the charter; and, 

 furthermore, while by ancient custom the reservation of trees 

 for the royal navy had been understood to hold for New 

 Hampshire as well as Massachusetts, there was no express 



^Bridget to the Board of Trade, B. T. New Eng., F: 20, and com- 

 munications from Wallis enclosed in a letter from the Earl of Jersey 

 to the Board. 



^Memorial from Massachusetts Bay Colony to the King, B. T. New 

 Eng.,K: 16. 



^Memorial from New Hampshire, B. T. New Eng., K; 53. 



^Brenton to the Board ofTrade, B. T. New Eng., N: 33. 



"•3 and 4 Anne, Ch. 9. See p. 63. 



''Memorial frorii Bridger, B. T. Plants. Gen., H: 4. 



