WIMBLEDON COMMON. 95 



to the public, or of attempting to deprive them, of the 

 use and enjoyment of the Common ; but he was dis- 

 appointed by the action of the Commoners ; lie did not 

 recognise their right to interfere with him in the mode 

 in which he proposed to deal with the land. They, on 

 their part, contended that their rights were such as to 

 place them at least on a par with the lord, and to make 

 their consent necessary to any dealings with the waste in 

 the public interest. They complained that the action of 

 Lord Spencer's steward was such as to ignore and set 

 aside their rights, and if permitted to continue, would 

 have destroyed their claim to a voice in the destiny of 

 the Common. 



It happened that among the residents near the 

 Common were many able lawyers, such as Mr. Charles 

 Pollock, Q.C. (now Baron Pollock), Mr. Joseph Burrell, 

 an eminent conveyancer, Mr. William Williams, 

 Mr. Richard Ducane, and, not the least able among 

 them, Mr. P. H. Lawrence, who played so important a 

 part in the early movement for the preservation of 

 Commons. There was also a wealthy Commoner, Mr. 

 Henry Peek (now Sir Henry), who was determined 

 at all risks to assert his rights, and to claim a voice 

 in the management of the Common. 



As was to be expected, the differences between the 

 Commoners and the Lord of the Manor, turning as they 

 did upon legal points, gravitated to proceedings in the 

 Law Courts. The Committee of Commoners determined 

 to bring a suit in the name of Mr. Peek against Lord 

 Spencer, asking for a declaration of their rights, and 



