244 THE FORESTS OP ENGLAND. 



In the seventli report, dated 13th December 1790, it is 

 stated in the preamble that there are two distinct classes 

 of Crown forests : one in which the principal share of the 

 property belongs to the Crown, and which, from their 

 extent and their proximity to the dockyard, it is an object 

 of importance to the nation to keep and improve : another 

 in which the greater part has been alienated in grants, and 

 in which it would perhaps be upon the whole better to 

 make grants, on satisfactory .terms, of what remains. To 

 the former class belong all the forests to which the previous 

 reports refer. To the latter class belongs, amongst others, 

 the Forest of Salcey ; and in regard to this a report is made 

 similar to the others, and a similar appendix is given. 



The eighth report, dated 12 th January 1791 and 6th 

 February 1792, gives information in regard to the Forest 

 of Whittlewood. 



The ninth, dated 6th July 1792, information in regard 

 to Rockingham. 



The tenth, bearing the same date, 6th July 1792, is in 

 regard to Wichwood. All of these are mutatis mutandis, 

 similar to that given in regard to the Forest of Salcey. 



The eleventh report, bearing the same date, 6th July 

 1792, takes a wide range, embracing the whole subject, 

 treating in several parts : — 



1. Of the state of the country in regard to the supply 

 of timber in former times ; 



2. Of laws relative to timber as private property, and 

 in Crown forests ; 



3. On the consumption of oak, . particularly for naval 

 purposes ; 



4. On the supply of timber and other advantages to be 

 expected from the forests ; • 



5. On various means of lessening waste in the consumption 

 of naval timber, and providing substitutes in the event of 

 a scarcity of oak ; and to this a valuable appendix is added. 



From this report of the Parliamentary Commissioners, 

 issued 6th February 1792, it appears that the average 

 annual consumption of oak timber in the construction and 



