viii Journal of Proceedings.
far more intimately acquainted with the whole subject than I can pre-
tend to be, having, as you well know, drafted the Act of 1878, and having
done his best to carry the Act, which I believe is essentially beneficial to
all dwelling in that part of the country, and especially to the inhabitants
of the East End of London. But I must say that, after listening to the
arguments so ably advanced to-day, I am, like himself, a most willing
convert. I think that our opponents, if I may call them so, will have a
very difficult task to prove to both Houses of the Legislature that they
speak either on behalf of the people of the locality or the people of
London. It has appeared to me, in listening to all that has been said
here to-day, that this is not, to use a very eloquent expression which was
made use of,—a very practical one, and a very good one,—the thin end
but the thick end of the wedge— [laughter],—and if this is once admitted
you will have it used as a precedent for cutting up your beautiful Forest
—not only by railways, but by tramways, and every sort of invention
that is disagreeable. [Laughter.] Our opponents' principal argumentis
that the railway will save the School children who are brought down for
a day of feasting and enjoyment, a certain amount of expense in coming
from Chingford to High Beach ; but when I recollect that the whole dis-
tance at the most is not more than two miles, I cannot conceive that
there will be any difficulty in obtaining sufficient conveyances as now to
carry these poor children, if they cannot walk as much as two miles, to
the place of recreation. If they cannot get as far as that, surely there
are other portions of the Forest which will be equally enjoyable and
equally good for that advantage which is, after all, the great benefit to
poor children who are cribbed, cabined, and confined in close streets—
pure air and beautiful scenery. I therefore only have to add that I shall
use my best endeavours to speak against, if necessary, but certainly to
oppose with my vote, this scheme when it comes on for consideration in
Parliament. [Loud cheers.]
[The second reading of the High Beach Railway Bill came on for dis-
cussion on Monday, March 13th, 1883, when Mr. Bryce's amendment
(set out in App. No. 1, vol. iii., Trans. E. F. C.) was carried by a majority
of 148, and the Bill was consequently rejected.]
Saturday, March 31st, 1883.
The thirty-seventh Ordinary Meeting was held at the head-quarters at
seven o'clock, the President in the chair.
Donations to the Library were announced from Mr. R. Meldola, Mr.
Grut, Mr. D'Oyley, Mr. H. Walker (6 vols.), and Mr. A. R. Wallace. Mr.
Hope sent some specimens of Polyzoa from Harwich, for the Museum.
Messrs. T. J. Mann and A. M. Webb were elected members of the Club.
The President gave a short history of the action of the Club in opposi-
tion to the proposed railway through the Forest, a scheme which had