18
further Bill on the subject, neither in that nor the
succeeding session, but left matters as they were, where-
upon on the 28th April, 1871, Mr. Cowper-Temple
moved and carried against the Government on a division
by 197 votes to 96, the following motion, " That it is
" expedient that measures be adopted in accordance
" with the humble address presented to Her Majesty
" in February, 1870, for preserving as open spaces
" accessible to Her Majesty's subjects for purposes
" of health and recreation those parts of Epping
" Forest which have not been enclosed with the assent
" of the Crown or by legal authority."
About this time, another important actor ap-
peared upon the scene. The Corporation of London
had long had a traditional connection with Epping
Forest. The citizens of London had claimed to hunt
in that forest, and had hunted there for many centuries.
This ancient body found the Epping Forest question
deserted by every public authority, except the House
of Commons and the Commons Preservation Society.
The Metropolitan Board of Works had from 1864 to
1871 consumed a large quantity of paper, much
ink, and many pens upon the subject, but had taken no
step to rescue what was left of it, or restore what had
been filched from it. The House of Commons had
thrice determined that Epping Forest should be pre-
served for the inhabitants of this immense metropolis.
But the Government would have nothing to do with it,