CONCLUSIOX. 363 



in progress there. Thus it came about that the battle, 

 which was fought so largely in the Law Courts, owed 

 its success in no small degree to efforts in Parliament 

 and in the Press. 



The experience of the past thirty years has also 

 abundantly vindicated the opinion of the Committee of 

 1865, that the Commons within fifteen miles of London 

 are none too large for the health and enjoyment of the 

 ever-growing population of the district, and that the 

 policy of the Metropolitan Board of Works, to sell 

 portions of them in order to obtain full possession 

 of the remainder, was both unwise and unnecessary. 

 Not an acre of Common land has successfully been 

 inclosed during this period. Much that was previously 

 niched from Epping Forest has been restored to the 

 public. So far from selling portions of Commons, the 

 London authorities have found it necessary to add to 

 the areas of several of them. Hampstead Heath, it 

 has been already shown, has been more than doubled in 

 size by the purchase of Parliament Hill ; Bostall Heath 

 has been also doubled by the acquisition of Bostall 

 Wood. By the combined action of the London County 

 Council, the Cambervvell Vestry, and private subscribers, 

 an addition of 4 ( J acres has been made to Peckharn 

 Eye Common at a cost of 50,900. Even that portion 

 of Epping Forest which is nearest to London, namely 

 Wanstead Flats, has been increased by the purchase by 

 the Corporation of London of Wanstead Park, consist- 

 ing of 184 acres, and of Higham Park, of 30 acres. West 

 Ham Park, of 80 acres, has also been purchased by the 



