THE COMMONS SOCIETY. 41 
Mr. Faweett, Solicitor to the Post Office, was followed as 
legal adviser to the Society by Mr. Birkett, who has 
retained that position till the present time. These 
three gentlemen have all been enthusiasts for the cause 
of Commons; and to their legal knowledge and their 
skill in conducting the many suits against Lords of 
Manors, who had made inclosures, the success of the policy 
of the Society has been mainly due. 
Among other prominent members—not, however, 
original members—have been Sir Charles Dilke, Mr. 
Bryce, Lord E. Fitzmaurice, Mr. E. N. Buxton, Mr. 
Burney, Mr. Briscoe Eyre, Miss Octavia Hill, Lord 
Thring, and Mr, Walter James (now Lord Northbourne). 
Many other prominent men have been subscribers and 
occasionally attended the meetings of the Society, such 
as tbe late Lord Granville, the late Mr. W. H. Smith, 
Sir William Harcourt, and others. 
The Society soon had plenty of work on its hands. 
What the Committee of 1865 had anticipated came 
to pass. As each Common near London was inclosed 
or threatened, local opposition was aroused, which only 
needed the advice and assistance of the central Society 
to organise active resistance to the inclosure. In most 
eases the resident owners of villas adjoining the 
Commons formed committees, and raised funds to 
oppose the aggressors in the Law Courts, or public- 
spirited men took upon them the burden of resistance. 
Inquiry soon established the fact that common rights 
existed in every case sufficient to prevent inclosure, 
if enforced in the Courts. Although these rights had 
