INTRODUCTION* IJ 



" There are many fallacies which could be de- 

 tected, in the reafoning and theories of thofe who 

 entertain fuch an opinion. It is a miftake, to 

 fuppofe that every addition to the extent of the 

 tillage of the country is productive of a propor- 

 tionate addition to the food of the country. But 

 fuch a difcuflion would open a field too wide for 

 the purpofe of the prefent addrefs. A fimple 

 llatement of the cafe is perfectly fufficient for the 

 illuftration of my fentiments. It is fuppofed, that, 

 exclufive of the Royal Forefts, there are, in Great 

 Britain and Ireland, probably more than eighty 

 millions of acres ; of which, perhaps, no part is 

 yet brought to the highefl ftate of cultivation ; 

 and that, certainly, not lefs than twenty millions 

 are ftill wade. If, therefore, a comparatively 

 very fmali part of the land of the kingdom is 

 thought eflential to be appropriated to the pur- 

 pofe of fecuring the continuance of our naval 

 ftrngth and pride, it would furely be a very 

 fhortfighted policy, which would fuggeft to this 

 maritime country the expediency of trufting to a 

 commerce, for the fupply of our dock-yards with 

 timber , when, without any real riik to the fub- 

 fiftence of the country, and, by a facrifice com- 

 paratively fmall, we can avoid for ever putting to 

 hazard, the fupply of an article on which, con- 

 fefledly, our flrength, our glory, our independ- 

 ence, and even our exiftence as a nation, muft 

 now, and at all times, depend. " 



B This 



