INTRODUCTION. 9 



pofes of the country When we reflect upon the 

 very extenfive and rapid demands, which muft 

 neceflarily have been occafioned by the numerous 

 canals and wet docks, which the fpirit and induf- 

 try of private entcrprife have formed within thefe 

 few years upon the more general ufe of machin- 

 ery, now, than at the time thofe Commiflioners 

 wrote upon the incrcafed confumplion of oak 

 timber in rnill-work, engines, lighters, barges, 

 and all the other purpofes before enumerated, 

 which depend upon the population, manufactures, 

 commerce, agriculture and wealth of the coun- 

 try, all of which, it cannot be denied, have, fmce 

 the year 1792, when the Commiflioners of Land 

 Revenue made their Eleventh Report, increafed 

 to a degree that cannot fail to excite our admira- 

 tion and aftonifhment ; and when, in addition 

 to all thefe facts, we advert to the circumftance of 

 the great advance in the price of fir timber, fmce 

 the northern mores of Europe have been under 

 the dominion of France (being in many parts of 

 the country as dear as oak), we furefy cannot but 

 be convinced, that a very great increafe in the 

 confumption of oak timber, for the internal pur- 

 poles of the country, muft have taken place be- 

 jtween the year 1792 and the prefent time. 



" It muft be equally obvious, that a very con- 

 fiderable increafe has alfo taken place in the con- 

 fumption of timber for the merchant (hipping of 

 this kingdom, fmce the period I am alluding to. 



" The 



