Appendix No. 1.
xvii
from the Conservators. Then if those papers were brought by the
Secretary into one memorial from the Society, the Conservators would
consider it. Perhaps, also, it would forward their ideas to publish a
paper on the same grounds for the benefit of the keepers, showing them
what was wanted, not only by the Society, but by the larger and
equally interested society represented by London and its neighbourhood.
He also suggested that the memorial to be sent to the Conservators should
be brought before the different scientific societies of London and the
scientific Press, because their influence was much greater upon corporate
bodies than was sometimes supposed. He moved, therefore, that the
Council be requested to prepare a memorial for submission to the next
meeting.
The President said it seemed to him that they were pretty unanimous
in agreeing that the Forest should be interfered with as little as possible.
[Hear, hear.] And in fact it seemed to him that that was really what the
Verderers equally desired. According to the Act of Parliament the Forest
was to be preserved as nearly as possible in its natural condition. It was
not a natural condition for the Forest to be deeply under-drained. [Hear,
hear.] The question, of course, from the point of view of the pure
naturalist, was a very broad one, and many of the speakers had made
remarks with which he cordially agreed. The animals and plants of any
country were there by virtue of adjustments which had taken many ages
to bring them to their present state, and every interference on the part of
man led to a long and endlessly complicated chain of results which no
person could foresee. That seemed to him a very strong argument for
leaving Nature alone as much as possible. He thought the best thing
would be to appoint a sub-committee of specialists who should put into
writing their views as to how the Forest should be dealt with from their
point of view. Of course that would be a work requiring some little time
for preparation. By way of preliminary he thought it would not be
a bad thing if a full report of the discussion were printed and sent
round to the various scientific papers. In that way Natural History
societies throughout London and the country generally would see that
they had taken the initiative in this very important question.
Mr. Wilson seconded Mr. Unwin's proposition, and added that they
should not forget one remark made by Mr. Johnston when he said that
landowners gave orders to their game-keepers ; but whether the game-
keepers obeyed them or not was another matter.
The President thought a circular should be sent officially from the Club
to the landowners, asking them to assist in the experiment.
Mr. Godwin suggested that, if the report of the discussion and the
proposed special statements were printed and sent to the Conservators,
copies should also be sent to the landowners.
Mr. Gould asked whether they might not also include some reference
to the shooting of the deer in the Forest. Mr. Johnston said that no gun
was allowed to be fired in the Forest; but they had read very glowing