( 22 ) 



the purveyor, and is appointed by the com- 

 miffioner of the dock at Portfmouth. His 

 bufinefs is to affign timber for the ufe of the 

 navy. The origin of the purveyor is not 

 earher than the reign of Charles II. in whofe 

 time five hundred oaks, and fifty beeches were 

 annually afligned for the king's yards ; and this 

 ofiicer was appointed to alTign them. But 

 it being found, that the foreffc could ill fupply 

 fo large a quantity of oak ; inflead of five 

 hundred, the number was afterwards reduced 

 to fixty; which together with fifty beeches, 

 are ftill annually afiigned*. The purveyor 

 has a falary of fifty pounds a year ; and fix and 

 eight-pence a day, when on duty. 



I (hall conclude this account of the ofiicers 

 of the foreft with the fingular chara(fter of one 

 of them, who lived in the times of James, 

 and Charles I. It is preferved in Hutchin's 

 hiftory of Dorfetlliire-f*. 



The name of this memorable fportfman, 

 for in that charadler alone he was confpicuous, 

 was Henry Haftings. He was fecond Ion to 

 to the earl of Huntingdon ; and inherited a good 



* Mr. Samber's MS. f See vol. ii. p. 63. 



efi:ate 



