WIMBLEDON COMMON. 95 
to the public, or of attempting to deprive them of the 
use and enjoyment of the Common; but he was dis- 
appointed by the action of the Commoners; he did not 
recognise their right to interfere with him in the mode 
in which he proposed to deal with the land. They, on 
their part, contended that their rights were such as to 
place them at least on a par with the lord, and to make 
their consent necessary to any dealings with the waste in 
the public interest. They complained that the action of 
Lord Spencer’s steward was such as to ignore and set 
aside their rights, and if permitted to continue, would 
have destroyed their claim to a voice in the destiny of 
the Common. 
It happened that among the residents near the 
Common were many able lawyers, such as Mr. Charles 
Pollock, Q.C. (now Baron Pollock), Mr. Joseph Burrell, 
an eminent conveyancer, Mr. William Willams, 
Mr. Richard Ducane, and, not the least able among 
them, Mr. P. H. Lawrence, who played so important a 
part in the early movement for the preservation of 
Commons. There was also a wealthy Commoner, Mr. 
Henry Peek (now Sir Henry), who was determined 
at all risks to assert his rights, and to claim a voice 
in the management of the Common. 
As was to be expected, the differences between the 
Commoners and the Lord of the Manor, turning as they 
did upon legal points, gravitated to proceedings in the 
Law Courts. The Committee of Commoners determined 
tu bring a suit in the name of Mr. Peek against Lord 
Spencer, asking for a declaration of their rights, and 
