EPPING FOREST. 149 
wrongfully inclosed by the Lords of Manors, and had been 
sold or given to other persons, the Commission made the 
extraordinary proposal that these persons should be 
quieted in possession of the land thus stolen from the 
Forest, but that they should be required to pay certain 
rent-charges towards the fund for managing the remainder 
of the Forest, which was to be kept open. The effect 
of this proposal would have been to diminish the 
area of the Forest by 700 acres, dispersed about, and 
greatly to interfere with its general aspect and 
beauty. 
This project gave general dissatisfaction, and as there 
was reason to fear that the Government, in framing 
their measure for dealing with the Forest, would act 
upon it, and would not insist upon the abatement of 
these inclosures, the Commons Society took early steps 
to prevent this objectionable part of the scheme being 
carried into effect. They organised a deputation to the 
First Commissioner of Works, introduced by the writer, 
which protested in the strongest manner against the 
proposal. They indicated their intention to oppose the 
whole scheme, if this arrangement should form part of it. 
They also urged the Corporation of London to resist it. 
Their view was further supported by the action of Mr. 
George Burney, an active member of the Society, who 
was also a landowner and Commoner in the Forest. 
He determined, without waiting for the decision of the 
Government, to take matters into his own _ hands. 
With the aid of a large body of men, he forcibly 
removed the fences from many of the inclosures. 
