INTRODUCTION. 



vii 



all but the most hardened champions of their own 

 interest, to be the best material to form the "buildings" 

 which convey the wealth of commerce from every sea- 

 port to our shores — the best material for the construction 

 of ships which carry our avenging thunder to the home 

 of threatening enemies, and are Britannia's bulwark 

 against " a world in arms." 



There is one planter, and only one whom I except 

 from the general mass ; and the records of the Royal 

 Society corroborate my opinion. Had life been spared 

 the illustrious and highly talented lady to whom 1 

 allude, most probably from the unwearied anxiety with 

 which she sought after practical knowledge, further 

 valuable communications upon the subject would have 

 been made to the society, and other golden medals 

 would have been awarded for them. Long— long will 

 the name of the late Duchess of Rutland shed a 

 lustre on the records of that society. 



A Northamptonshire correspondent to the Gardeners' 

 Gazette complains of the state of the Crown lands ; 

 indeed several other publications have made similar 

 statements, therefore I am not singular in the opinion 

 I have given as to the management of the rural business 

 of the office of woods and forests. I have made use 

 of the name of Mr. Jesse,* as the representative of this 

 department, and as a public servant, he having held 

 the office of itinerant surveyor. When the importance 



* I will own a curiosity to learn whether this is the same gentleman 

 whose name appears in the Court Calendar for 1832, page 101, under the 

 head of Ewry. The service is, I believe, to take care of the Royal table 

 linen, lay the cloth, and serve up water in silver ewers after dinner. 



