l6 INTRODUCTION. 



India, and hints the propriety of building fhips 

 of war of it in that country* He then clofes his 

 mafterly letter in the following words. 



" I nioft fincerely congratulate you, Sir, and 

 my country, on the fupplies to be derived from 

 thefe foreign refources, in the view already al- 

 luded to, of filling up the fpace between the ex- 

 hauflion of our prefent home flock, and the ma- 

 turity of the plans which, I truft, will be adopt- 

 ed for the purpofe of enfuring permanently a 

 fupply of naval timber of Britifh growth. Let it, 

 however, not be forgotten, that all thefe foreign 

 and collateral refources are more or lefs contin- 

 gent and precarious ; and, I confidently hope, 

 that the pofleflion of them will not induce his 

 Mujefty's fervants to delay attending particularly 

 to the meafures recommended by the Commif- 

 fioners of Naval Revifion ; and to every other 

 meafure which may have a tendency to fecure 

 that permanent fupply, which, alone, ought to 

 fatisfy a great nation in a concern of fuch vital 

 importance. 



" Before I conclude, it feems proper to advert 

 to the opinions of thofe few who contend againft 

 the policy of appropriating any part, either of the 

 Royal forefls, or of our other cultivatable lands, 

 to the raifing of timber ; urging, that it would 

 narrow the field which is required for the fub~ 

 fiftence of the country, and is therefore objec* 

 tionable, 



l There 



