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appearance of decay is found in many of 

 the wood-lands of New-foreft, which confift 

 chiefly of beech, and unthriving oak. 



Befldes thefe fources of mifchief, the woods 

 of the foreft are fubjed to another, that of 

 fire. In fultry weather, it's furzy heaths 

 are very combuftible -, and the neighbouring 

 cottagers are fuppofed fometimes to fet them 

 purpofely on fire to make paflurage more 

 plentiful. The danger arifes from the dif- 

 ficulty of flopping thefe fires, which will 

 fometimes continue burning, more or lefs, 

 at the mercy of the wind, during feveral 

 days. In the early part of the fummer 1785, 

 which was remarkably dry, many of thefe 

 fires were lighted, particularly one near Fri- 

 tham, which did great damage*. 



From 



* The following was an advertifement from the lords of the 

 treafury on this occafion. 



♦' Whereas on friday night, the 29th of april laft, fome 

 perfon or perfons, did malicioufly, and audacioufly, fet fire 

 to one of the inclofures near Fritham, in New-foreft, whereby 

 a very large number of young oak and beech trees growing 

 therein, and part of the fence thereof, were dellroyed ; notice 

 is hereby given that any perfon who will give information of 

 the perfon, or perfons who fet fire to the aforefaid inclofure, 

 except the perfon, or perfons who committed the fame, fo as 



D 3 he, 



