286

A DISCOURSE

Honourable the Principal Officers and Commifsioners of the Navy , I am ad-vised by such as are every way judicious, and of long experience in thofeparts, that to inclose would be an excellent way: But it is to be considered*that the people, viz. Foresters, and Bordurers, are not generally so civil andreasonable .as might be wished ; and therefore to design a. solid improve-ment in such places, his Majesty mustafsert his power, with a firm andhigh resolution to reduce these men to their due obedience, and to a neces-sity of submitting to their own and the public utility, though they pre-served their industry this way, at a .very tolerable rate, upon that condi-tion ; while some person of trust and integrity did regulate and supervisethe mounds and fences, and destine some portions, frequently set apart, forthe raising and propagating of wood, till the whole nation were furnishedfor posterity.

Which work, if his Majesty shall resolve to accomplish, he will leavesuch an everlasting obligation on his people, and raise such- a monumentto his fame, as the ages for a thousand years to come shall have cause tocelebrate his precious memory, and his Royal Successors to emulate hisvirtue. For thus- (besides the future expe&ations) it would in present beno deduction from: his Majesty’s treasure, but some increase, and fall intime to be a fair and worthy accefsion to it; whiles this kind of proprietywould be the most likely expedient to civilize those wild and poor Bor-durers, and to secure the vast and spreading heart of the forest, which,with all this indulgence, would be ample enough for a princely demesne:And if the difficulty be to find out who kuozvs or acknozvledges what arethe Bordures, this article were worthy and. becoming of as serious .air in-quisition as the legislative power of the whole nation can contrive.

The sum of all' is, get the Bordures well tenanted, by long terms andeasy rents, and this will invite and encourage takers ; whilst the middle,most secure, and interior parts would be a Royal Portion. Let his Ma-jesty therefore admit of any willing adventurers in this vast circle for suchinclosures in the precinct; and" rather of'more, than of few, though anhundred or two should join together for any inclosure of five hundred,acres, more or lefs; that multitudes being thus engaged, the considerationmight procure and facilitate a full discovery of latter encroachments, andfortify the recovery by favourable rents, improvements,,and reversions by