4) THE COMMONS SOCIETY. 
wholesale encroachments of the Commons.* Among its 
members were the late Mr. John Stuart Mill (who 
thenceforward, till his death, took a most prominent 
part in the Society, and rarely missed being present 
at its meetings), the late Mr. Charles Buxton, Mr. 
Cowper Temple (afterwards Lord Mount Temple), Sir 
T. Fowell Buxton, Mr. Thomas Hughes, Mr. Burrell, 
an eminent lawyer, Mr. Charles Pollock (now Baron 
Pollock), and others. 
The Society, thus formed, elected me as its Chairman. 
I have acted in that capacity down to the present time, 
with the exception of the periods of 1870 to 1874, and 
1880 to 1885, when Mr. Andrew Johnston, Sir Charles 
Dilke, and Mr. Bryce occupied the position ; but even 
when unable to act as Chairman, on account of official 
work, I have always taken an active part in directing 
and maintaining its policy. Mr. Fawcett, to whom 
the cause owes so much, became a member of the 
Society in 1866, but did not attend its meetings until 
1869, when, at his instance, its work was extended to 
other Commons than those in the neighbourhood of 
London. Thenceforward, till his death, in 1884, he 
was a most active and devoted member. 
Mr. P. H. Lawrence acted as honorary Solicitor to 
the Society, and was professionally engaged in all the 
earlier suits till 1868, when he was appointed Solicitor 
to the Office of Works. He was succeeded by Mr. (now 
Sir Robert) Hunter, who, on being appointed in 1882, by 
* As I have often occasion to refer to this Society, I have, for 
the sake of brevity, called it “The Commons Society.” 
