ROADSIDE WASTEN. 293 
to inclose the roadside wastes; but Lord Cowper, with 
very proper spirit, replied that apology was due rather 
to himself by the author of the arbitrary and illegal 
fencings, than by himself for removing them. It is 
satisfactory to know that this encounter between the 
two Hertfordshire magnates did not permanently disturb 
the relations between Hatfield and Panshanger. In 
this case the public were fortunate in finding a great 
landowner, able and willing to vindicate its rights, 
as well as his own. But for that, it may be doubted 
whether any smaller fry in the district would have 
been willing to enter the lists against the Lord of 
Hatfield. 
The other case was one in which I was personally 
concerned. In 1875, I was residing at Ascot, where [ 
own a property adjoining the main road from Windsor 
to Reading. This road is a conspicuous illustration of 
the advantage of roadside wastes. On either side of it 
are broad strips, where horsemen are able to ride on soft 
turf, and which add much to the beauty of the district. 
Returning from the Continent in the autumn of that 
year, after some months of absence, I found that in 
the interval the numerous owners of land and houses, 
for nearly a mile on one side of this road near the 
church, had inclosed the roadside waste, by advancing 
their fences up to fifteen feet of the crown of the 
metalled road, and had planted the land, thus filched 
from the waste, with shrubs and trees. One of these 
owners had erected along this new line, for about 500 
yards, a most solid and expensive wall. In common 
