EPPIXG FOREST. 159 



from the Forest. It contains some beautiful lakes and a 

 heronry. They also purchased, and added to the Forest, 

 Highams Park, consisting of thirty acres, at a cost of 

 6,000, as well as a few small inclosures essential to the 

 Forest. 



Though I have had occasion to criticise the proceed- 

 ings of the Corporation in some particulars, they cannot 

 be too warmly commended for their spirited action in 

 stepping forward as champions of the rights of the 

 Commoners, and in freely spending the funds entrusted 

 to them by conferring upon London a pleasure ground 

 of exceptional size and beauty, and of rare historic 

 interest. Their conduct stands in striking contrast 

 to that of the late Metropolitan Board of Works, a 

 body which never stirred a finger to fight the battle 

 of the public, but, on the contrary, on many occasions 

 embarrassed the efforts of those engaged in the contest, 

 by offering money to Lords of Manors, and by indicating 

 very plainly that its sympathy was rather with them, 

 than with the Commoners and the public. Amongst 

 those in the ranks of the Corporation who exerted them- 

 selves most actively to preserve the Forest for the 

 public, should be mentioned Mr. Deputy Bedford, who 

 was the first chairman of the Epping Forest Committee ; 

 and the late Sir Thomas Nelson, the City Solicitor, 

 who mainly guided the policy of the Corporation in 

 its later stages. 



It should also be mentioned that the late Mr. 

 Justice Manisty, then at the Bar, powerfully contributed 

 to the complete success of the Commoners in the 



