( 479 ) 
The Trees were all, as far I could perceive, of one 
fort, except only one, which was manifeftly a large Oak, 
with the greateft part of its Bark on 5 and fome of its 
Head and Roots. The reft of the Trees the Country 
People (Carpenters and others) take to be Tew : And fo 
did I myfelf imagine them to be, from the bardnefs, 
toughnels, and weight of the Wood, notwithftanding 
we have no Tew growing any where thereabouts, and 
it feem'd ftrange to me, that Tew fhould grow, in fuch 
vaft quantities, in fuch a Soil, and fo near the brackifh 
Waters. But a very Ingenious Neighbour of mine, and 
a Member of the Royal Society , D’ Acre Barret Efq^ con- 
vinced me they might more probably be fome other 
Wood, as Alder which grows plentifully by our frefti 
Water Brooks. And lately he told me, he had the O- 
pinion of an ingenious and good Judge of Wood, who 
takes it to be Hortt-be.m, which grows plentifully alio 
with us in the higher Lands (but I do not remember. to 
have feen it in watery Places near us) but I rather in- 
cline to the Opinion of its being ‘Alder 5 the Grain of 
the Wood, and manner in which the Boughs grow, &c ... 
much refembling that of Alder , more than Horn-beam y 
as the Specimens herewith fent will manifeft. 
By lying fo long under ground, the Trees are become 
black and hard, and their Fibres arc fo tough, that one 
may as eafily break a Wire of the fame fize, as any of 
thofe Fibres. This toughnefe they maintain, if the 
Wood be kept dry, as I find by two of the Trees I- 
have now by me. But by drying, thofe Trees are be^ 
come cracked, and very flawy within, but look found, 
outwardly, and with difficulty yield to Wedges. But 
for the Trees lying in the Marfhes, which are covered 
by every Floud, and laid bare by every Ebb, in a. fhort 
time they became very rotten. 
There is no doubt but thofe Trees- grew in the Place 
where they now. lye 5 and that in vaft multitudes, they 
