( 3°7 ) 



time. If the woody appendages of thefe fcenes, 

 like thofe of lakes, and mountains, are open 

 to injury, yet a quick vegetation reftores them 

 fpeedily to nature — unlefs indeed the perjerv- 

 ing hand of hnprovcment intervene. 



But the landfcape, which depends chiefly 

 on wood-land fcenery, is always open to in- 

 jury. Every gracelefs hand can fell a tree. 

 The value of timber is it's misfortune. It is 

 rarely fuffered to ftand, when it is fit for ufe ; 

 and in a cultivated country, woods are con- 

 fidered only as large corn-fields ; cut, as foon 

 as ripe : and when they are cut for the ufes, 

 to which they are properly defigned, tho we 

 may lament, we fliould not repine. But w hen 

 they are cut, as they often are, yet imma- 

 ture, to make up a matrimonial purfe, or to 

 carry the profits of them to race-grounds, 

 and gaming-houfes, we cannot help wilhing 

 the profligate polTeflbrs had been placed, like 

 lunatics, and idiots, under the care of guardians, 

 who might have prevented fuch ruinous, and 

 unwarrantable wafte. 



The depredations which we have feen made 

 in every part of New-foreft ; and the vafi: 

 quantities of timber, which are felled, every 

 year, for the navy ; and regularly affigned for 



X 2 various 



