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not vindicate the Conservators in their present policy of protecting the
rights of the wealthy at the expense of the legal rights of the poor who
ought to have received their first consideration. Mr. Buxton's fears are
groundless, only a few, beyond the commoners by "grace," who enjoy
their privileges by means of the cunning compromise of the Conservators,
would desire to exercise their rights : the bare idea of poor cottagers being
able to buy a horse, two cows, or a pig, for the, at best, indifferent feed to
be found in the Forest, is too absurd to require any serious refutation. No
doubt poor commoners' cattle are particularly obnoxious to landscape
gardeners and the like, who display their skill by improving a beautiful
Forest into a Cockney's park, but such objections are of small account
when opposed to the ancient rights of the poor. The cottagers have de-
cided rightly, to exhaust every moral force before they resort to legal
force, and whatever may be the outcome of the agitation, their patience
and forbearance through many years of hopeless waiting will always en-
title them to the goodwill and sympathy of every right-thinking man.
Note.—It is well to put on on record the fact that the agitation has the support of
Colonel Lockwood, the member for the Epping Division of Essex, who,
speaking at Loughton on the 21st of December last, referred to the agitation
in these words:—" No agitation could have been conducted in a more
patient, legal, and straightforward way; " that Mr. S. Barclay Howard did
good work for the Cottagers as Liberal candidate for the same division at
the last election; and that Mr. A. C. Morton, M.P., has also rendered
valuable assistance to the Commoners.
The Association earnestly appeals for subscriptions to
enable it to carry the agitation to a successful issue. Par-
ticulars may be obtained from Mr. C. PETTET, Hon. Sec-
retary Commoners' Defence Association, Lopping Hall,
Loughton, Essex.