130 FORESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



in accordance with what has come under my own observa- 

 tion ; in accordance with what has come within tha 

 experience of my personal friends, both fifty years ago and 

 in later times; in accordance with stories innumerable, 

 current in conversation and reproduced in tales ; and 

 assuming that they may be only founded on fact, and not 

 literally true, the student of forest science with the know- 

 ledge of like malversations which have occurred in France 

 and England, and of the waste and destruction of forests 

 which have thence resulted, will not be surprised if he be 

 told that in such circumstances there has been great devas- 

 tation of forests. He will probably coolly remark — I could 

 have foretold what the issue would be ! 



Like malversation I found presenting other phases. Re- 

 strictions put upon the consumption of wood as fuel 

 employed in the production of steam-power were thus 

 evaded. There were similar restrictions put upon the 

 extravagant consumption of fuel in domestic life ; and 

 residents there have like stories to tell of ways in which 

 these are evaded. 



One of my correspondents, in the correctness of whose 

 statements I have confidence, wrote to me : ' The quantity 

 of firewood to be allowed for heating and cooking seems 

 to have been left to the discretion of the Chief Commis- 

 sioner of the Imperial Forests ; and you have to address and 

 present to him a petition for authorative permission to 

 cut down the quantity allowed to you — he having a list 

 of those persons who have had this privilege granted to 

 them. Moreover, you have to state in your petition how 

 many houses, rooms, and fire-grates you have requiring 

 fuel : he is already provided with a list, not only of 

 yours, but of every dwelling in his district; and there 

 is a certain quantity told off as at your disposal. I forget 

 what it is, but amply sufficient — in fact, there are few that 

 take all they might, and this gives them a margin to work 

 upon, as I shall by-and-by explain. All this seems 

 fair, and above board ; and so it would be if it were fairly 



