EPPING FOREST, 153 
from the preliminary suit on behalf of this custom by 
Willingale. The utmost I succeeded in effecting for 
the Loughton people was the insertion of a clause 
directing the Arbitrator to inquire into the custom, 
and, if satisfied of its validity, to award compensation 
for it, in such manner as he might think fit. 
Apart from this, the measure passed through Parlia- 
ment with little or no amendment. The duties of the 
arbitrator, Lord Hobhouse, proved to be most laborious ; 
they lasted over four years. On the 24th of July, 1882, 
he signed his final award, including a map of what was 
thenceforward to constitute Epping Forest. During 
the interval he held 114 public and many private 
meetings, and settled innumerable cases of dispute 
as to boundaries and compensation. He directed the 
payment of the sum of £13,000 for the fuel assignments 
in the Manors of Waltham and Sewardstone. 
With reference to the Loughton lopping custom, 
the claims of the inhabitants. were strongly resisted by 
the Corporation. Having regard to the past interest 
taken by the Commons Society in this right or user, 
and to the important effect of the litigation on behalf 
of Willingale, I was determined that every effort should 
be made to maintain it, and to defeat the Corporation 
in what I considered their unworthy attempts to defeat 
the claim. 
When the 10th of November arrived, in the year 
1879, the midnight of which by the Act was to be the 
last occasion on which the old custom of perambulating 
the Forest and lopping the trees would take place, I 
