EPPING FOREST. 143 
Lords of Manors, and that under it the public would 
secure 600 acres, where now they had no legal rights 
whatever. He also argued against the Government 
expending the general taxpayers’ money for the 
benefit of a purely Metropolitan improvement. He 
enforced this argument by offering to allow the 
Metropolitan Board to make whatever use that body 
might think expedient of the Crown rights, and saying 
that he was at a loss to know in what other way the 
Government could respond to the motion. In spite of 
this speech, the Government was defeated in the division 
by a majority of more than two to one—197 to 96— 
showing how strong was the feeling in the House that 
steps should be taken to save the Forest. 
In consequence of this hostile motion, Mr. Ayrton 
again tried his hand at legislation for Epping Forest. 
He now proposed a measure for the appointment. of 
a Commission of enquiry into the condition of Epping 
Forest, and as to the respective rights of the Crown, 
of the Lords of Manors, and of the Commoners, with 
directions for the preparation of a scheme for the 
preservation of the open land of the Forest. This 
measure passed through Parliament without opposition. 
A week before it received the Royal assent, the Cor- 
poration of London commenced its great suit against the 
Lords of the Manors and other inclosers of the Forest. 
In the following year an attempt was made to get 
rid of the Corporation suit. It was found necessary 
to amend the Epping Forest Act, and it was proposed in 
the Bill for this purpose to stay all the legal proceedings 
