CHAPTER VI 



SOME VERDERERS, OLD AND NEW 



DURING these years the newly constituted Ver- 

 derers' Court, having obtained the assistance of 

 an additional Act of Parliament to lighten its re- 

 sponsibilities, was beginning to find its legs and 

 form its policy. 



By the Act of 1877, each of the then existing 

 verderers appointed under the ancient laws was 

 entitled to retain his seat on the new court if 

 he chose to do so. Only two of the number 

 elected to continue to act. The remainder of 

 the court was elected in manner prescribed, and 

 naturally was formed from the ranks of those 

 who had been the bitterest opponents of the 

 Crown and at the same time the keenest sup- 

 porters of the interests of the commoners. The 

 clerk of the court was newly appointed, and had 

 no experience of its work. For Official Verderer 

 Mr. Sclater Booth, a distinguished member of the 

 Conservative Government, was nominated, and he 

 filled the position with complete impartiality and 

 dignity. 



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