PLUMS TE AD COMMONS. 79 



as they liked with it. la pursuance of this policy, a series 

 of aggressions and encroachments were carried out, by 

 which Plumstead Common was reduced by about one- 

 third of its area, and which culminated, in 1866, in the 

 inclosure, on behalf of the College, of the whole of 

 Bostall Heath and of the Shoulder of Mutton Green. 

 These acts led to a crisis. There was general indi^- 

 nation in the district against the action of the College. 

 The advice of the Commons Society was sought. 

 Inquiries were made. A meeting of the inhabitants of 

 East Wickham was held, and by the advice of the 

 Society a Committee was formed by the Vestry, with 

 Mr. John Warrick as Chairman; and under the 

 authority of this body the fences round the Green were 

 forcibly removed, in vindication of the claims of the 

 inhabitants to use it for games and recreation as a 

 Village Green. 



It was ascertained that among the freeholders of the 

 Manor was Mr. Frederick Goldsmid, then a member of 

 the House of Commons. This gentleman was persuaded 

 to put himself at the head of the movement to preserve 

 the Common. He presided at a public meeting in Plum- 

 stead to enlist popular sympathy against the inclosure, 

 and he put the matter into the hands of Mr. Lawrence. 

 In the following mouth Mr. Goldsmid died suddenly ; 

 but his son, Mr. Julian Goldsmid (now Sir Julian), took 

 up the matter with equal warmth, and in concert with 

 Mr. John Warrick and another gentleman, undertook 

 the litigation, which was necessary to vindicate the rights 

 of the freeholders and of the public to the waste lands 



