206 OUR WOODLAND TREES. 
From anvil and hammer, from counter and pen, 
Too seldom, alas! can we stray, 
We need such a refuge from Babylon’s din,— 
Then save us the Forest, we pray!’ 
The beautiful Forest of Epping at one time 
covered a great tract of country; but it has been 
slowly eaten away, and now but a small remnant 
is left. Within comparatively recent years, the 
diminution of the Forest has been a rapid process. 
In the year 1863 1t was ascertained by par- 
hamentary inquiry that there were 6000 acres 
remaining of open and unenclosed woodland. By 
the year 1871 the area of open forest had 
dwindled—chiefly by the process of illegal en- 
closure—to 3000 acres. In that year it was 
discovered that enclosures and encroachments 
were being carried on so rapidly that unless some 
decided steps were taken to save the Forest, in a 
few short years nothing of it would remain. It 
was not lawful enclosures alone that were devour- 
ing the beautiful woods; unscrupulous encroach- 
ments were constantly taking place. Public 
rights were being unblushingly invaded, and it 
was time for prompt interference. Accordingly, 
