vi
Appendix No. 1.
and by the Corporation, The bill was most strenuously opposed by all
classes interested in the Forest. On January 28th, 1881, the Council of
the Essex Field Club passed a resolution emphatically protesting against
the scheme, and this protest was printed and very extensively circulated
amongst scientific societies, the press, and the general public. On
February 4th a deputation called together by our member Mr. F. G.
Heath (who has always taken such a deep and active interest in all
questions affecting open spaces) waited upon the Metropolitan Board of
Works. The deputation (headed by Mr. F. Young, J.P., Chairman of the
Epping Forest Fund) presented a memorial from various societies and
individuals, urgently appealing to the Board for assistance against the
projected mutilation of Epping Forest. At the meeting of the Board on
February 11th it was resolved to petition Parliament, praying that no
part of Epping Forest should be allowed to be taken for the purposes of a
railway. A large number of petitions were presented to Parliament from
metropolitan vestries, and from scientific and other societies, against the
bill, and the press was almost unanimous in opposing it. Ultimately, in
deference to these strong expressions of public opinion, the Great Eastern
Railway Company decided to withdraw the clauses touching Epping
Forest from the bill. But the spirit of spoliation was actively fomented
by interested persons, and but short breathing space was allowed to the
Forest defenders. Vandalism has, hydra-like, many heads, and a new
danger threatened during the winter of 1881—2, taking the form of a
Tramway Company's proposal to occupy the Forest-roads with its rails
and tinkling cars! This precious scheme was, of course, recommended
by the usual specious arguments, but in the opinion of all who took a
really unbiassed interest in our grand open space it was only a degree less
objectionable than the railway by reason of its comparatively temporary
character, the removal of a tramway as a public nuisance being always
possible, and indeed is, we believe, an incident not unknown in recent
suburban local history. A strong resolution against the scheme and
any interference with the natural features of the Forest was unanimously
passed at a meeting of the Essex Field Club held on December 17th, 1881.
Extensive circulation was again given to this resolution amongst societies,
the press, &c., and the proposed tramway was almost universally con-
demned as hurtful and unnecessary. Fortunately the local boards of the
parishes through which the tramways were to run strongly objected, and
ultimately the promoters withdrew from the contest.
In view of these repeated efforts to destroy the quietude of the Forest,
and of some alarming attempts at deep drainage by the governing body,
the Council of the Club resolved on an endeavour to put such matters in
a clear light before the scientific and general public. The discussion
reported on pages ix.—xxi. was accordingly held, and the issue of the
present pamphlet resolved upon. In June a "Conference" with the
Verderers of the Forest also took place at Mr. Buxton's house at Wood-
ford (see ' Proceedings,' vol. iii., page xxviii.). Proof copies of the report
of the discussion were widely circulated, and the various Natural History
Societies in and around London were invited to sign the following
resolution or protest, drawn up by Dr. Cooke. Some of the larger
London Scientific Societies (such as the Linnean, the Zoological, and the
Entomological Societies) did not see their way to passing the resolution
in their corporate capacity, but expressed great sympathy with the objects
in view. Space will not allow us to print more than the names of the
societies by which the resolution was adopted; but the Club holds
signatures representing between five and six thousand students and lovers
of Nature, and it is believed that this number could easily have been
quadrupled had anything like a public canvass been attempted:—