MY WORK, STAFF, AND CHIEFS 53 



possessed any thick boots ! and this always 

 caused me regrets whenever it was necessary 

 for him to go on foot through any wet wood- 

 lands where work was going on which he 

 wanted to inspect. But he went there just the 

 same, in spite of all I could say. 



Mr. Culley was succeeded as Commissioner of 

 Woods by Sir Edward Stafford Howard, K.C.B., 

 though he had not then attained to his present 

 rank and titles. Sir Stafford is fortunately still 

 amongst us, so I cannot recount our transactions, 

 or relate anecdotes which might occur to me, 

 actually as it were to his face. Mr. Howard, 

 like his two predecessors, encountered at the 

 outset a tempestuous time. The verderers had 

 actually formulated their position as they desired 

 to establish it, with regard to what was practi- 

 cally the ownership of the Forest. The lawsuit 

 they were promoting was already in the list, 

 and Mr. Howard had to take charge of the 

 proceedings connected with that suit when he 

 was comparatively new to office. 



Whatever could be done by conciliation and 

 kindly feeling, coupled with the most indefatig- 

 able pains, to bring about a better state of 

 things between the Crown and the verderers 

 (claiming to represent the commoners), was done 

 without sparing of himself by Mr. Howard. And 



