318 A DISCOURSE 



BOOK nr. however, but call to mind how seemingly solicitous and earnest the 

 ^-""^^"^^ commissioners were I should digest and methodize the papers I laid 

 before them on this subject, with a zeal becoming public spirits, (as un- 

 der their hands I have to shew,) whilst the putting it in practice to any- 

 laudable degree, was soon cast by as a project scarce worth the while. 

 I again affirm, that had these advantages of forest culture been then 

 vigorously encouraged and promoted, there had now been of those ma- 

 terials infinite store, even from the very acorn and seminary, a competent 

 advance of the most useful timber for the building of ships, (as I think 

 is sufficiently made out,) since his late majesty's restoration. The want 

 of timber, and the necessity of being supphed by foreign countries, if 

 not prevented by better and more industrious instruments, may prove, 

 in a short time, a greater mischief to the public than the late diminution 

 of the coin, I wish I prove no prophet, whilst I cannot for my life but 

 often think of what the learned Melancthon above an hundred years 

 since was wont to say, (long before those barbarous wars had made 

 these devastations in Germany,) That the time was coming, when the 

 want of three things would be the ruin of Europe, lignum, probam 

 monetam, prohos amicos ; timber, good money, sincere friends. How 

 far we see this prediction already verified, let others judge : and if what 

 I have here touched with some resentment in behalf of the public and 

 my country, in this rustic Discourse, using the freedom of a plain fo- 

 rester, seems too rude, it is the person I was commanded to put on, and 

 my plea is ready, 



Prasente Quercu, ligna quivis colligit. 



For who could have spoken less upon so ample a subject? and, there- 

 fore, I hope my zeal for it in these papers Avill excuse the prolixity of 

 ^ this digression, and all other the imperfections of my services ; 



Si canimus silvas, silvae sunt consule dignae. 



