8 INTRODUCTION. 



very diftant period, furnifh an ample demand for 

 all that could be expected to be produced on pri- 

 vate property in this kingdom ; and that, fuch 

 was the exifling ftate of the growing timber, and 

 the profpeft of future fupply, that this country 

 would, in all probability, experience a fatal want 

 of great oak timber, and become dependent on 

 other powers for the means of fupporting her 

 Navy, if care mould not be taken to provide a 

 fupply in future, by the improvement and better 

 management of the Royal Forefts ; and to reduce 

 the confumption of it, by the utrnqft care and 

 frugality in the expenditure. " 



His Lordfhip then proceeds thus. " The Com- 

 miffioners then enter very fully into reafons for 

 believing, that, if no delay were allowed to take 

 place, in the adoption of the meafure recom- 

 mended for the prefervation and improvement of 

 the Royal Forefts, that refource alone would be 

 found fufficient to afford an annual fupply of tim- 

 ber, to the extent then required for the Navy, 

 namely, 50,000 loads per annum. But none of 

 thofe plans having, in any material degree, been 

 acted upon, I fhall now proceed to contrafl the 

 amount of the confumption of timber at the pre- 

 fent time, with the extent of confumption as given 

 by the Commiflioners of Land Revenue, and be- 

 fore detailed. 



u As to the confumption for the internal pur- 



pofes 



