47
been the weak and illegal scheme which they have
presented to Parliament.
It is a small matter, but perhaps the climax of all
these recommendations is found in the recommendation
of the Commissioners, that the Lord Warden should
be compensated for his interest in the Forest, al-
though it is due to his acting in entire contravention
of his duties for his own profit that the enclosures
have taken place, and all this litigation and expense
have become necessary.
If no Bill is brought in to give effect to the
Commissioners' Scheme, the Epping Forest question
will settle itself, as it would have settled itself two
years ago if the unfortunate Commission had not been
in existence and kept the question open. 3,500 acres
belong to the Corporation of London, upon a public
trust to keep them open for ever; 1,500 acres more
are open by the Decree of the Master of the Rolls,
and can never be enclosed in the face of the Common
Rights owned by the Corporation and others in respect
of property in the Forest; the 740 acres now un-
lawfully retained enclosed will be thrown open by the
Law Courts before the summer is over. With the owners
of houses and gardens there will be no difficulty
in agreeing upon the payment of some small sum to
quiet their titles, and for this last purpose only will
legislation be hereafter necessary ; but it is clear that
a schedule of those houses, and the sums the owners