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the neighbourhood of the Metropolis should be
preserved for the enjoyment of her people, and
promised carefully to consider in what manner effect
could be given to this address.
The result of the consideration given to this subject
by Her Majesty's Ministers, was shown in an unexpect-
ed form. Mr. Ayrton, who had succeeded Mr. Layard
at the Office of Works, brought in a Bill in the course
of the same Session (1870), which proceeded to settle
the Forest question in a very summary manner. Of
the 6,000 acres no less that 5,000 were by this Bill
to be given up to the Lords of Manors, GOO only to
be dedicated to the public use and to be vested in the
Metropolitan Board—that Board to be at liberty, out
of public taxation, to purchase 400 acres more if it
thought fit. As soon as the nature of the Government
proposals became known, Mr. Fawcett, gave notice to
move as an amendment to the second reading of the Bill
" that in the opinion of this House it is inexpedient
" to sanction any scheme which would reduce the
" area of the land to which the public have still
" access in Epping Forest." It became, however,
unnecessary to move this amendment, as the Standing-
Orders Committee fortunately decided that the Bill
could not be proceeded with. Indeed the storm
which the knowledge of its contents created was so
great that Her Majesty's Government introduced no