( 43 ) 



the very pracflice of following a night-oc- 

 cupation leads to mifchief. The nightly 

 wanderer, unlefs his mind be engaged in 

 fome neceffary bufinefs, will find many temp- 

 tations to take the advantage of the incautious 



fecurity of thofe who are afleep. From all 



thefe confiderations Mr. St. John draws an 

 argument for the fale of foreft-lands. '* Poverty, 

 fays he, will be changed into affluence — the 

 cottager will become a farmer — the wildernefs 

 will be converted into rich paftures, and fertile 

 fields i furniihing provifions for the country, 

 and employment for the poor. The borders, 

 and confines of forefts will ceafe to be nur- 

 feries for county-goals ; the trefpaffer will no 

 longer prey upon the vert ; nor the vagabond, 

 and out-law on the venijon. Nay the very 

 foil itfelf will not then be gradually loft, and 

 ftolen, by purprejiuresy and ajfarts. Thus 

 forefts, which were formerly the haunts of 

 robbers, and the fcenes of violence, and 

 rapine, may be converted into the receptacles 

 of honeft induftry*." 



I had once fome occafional intetcourfe 

 with a foreft-borderer, who had formerly 



* See obfervations on the land-revenue of the crown, p. i68. 



been 



