The Ministry received something like a memento mori yesterday week,
on occasion of the Epping Forest debate, when Mr. Cowper Temple, seconded by Mr. Holms, carried by a majority of 101 (197 to 96) a resolution calling on Government, in accordance- with the address sent to the Crown last year, to take measures. for preserving as an open space for purposes of health and recrea- tion so much of Epping Forest as has not been legally enclose& and as the Crown has still rights over ;—and this though the Prime- Minister, after speaking against the resolution, rose again to ex- plain just before the division that even if the resolution was- carried, the Government really could not understand and could hardly accept the responsibility of interpreting it. On this second occasion Mr. Gladstone was received with impatient cries of 'Order,' and had even to solicit a hearing in tones which sounded almost pathetic. This cavalier manner assumed by the House towards the Minister, and the largeness of the majority, were no doubt. due to general political cauges, but a good deal of irritation was- also felt at Mr. Lowe's contemptuous manner in dealing with the special Epping Forest question. The Government had proposed to keep only 600 acres of Epping Forest as a pleasure-ground for- East London, though there are some 3,500 acres over which. it has still uuextinguished forestal rights. The House contended,. —quite rightly, we think,—that Money should be paid, partly by Government, partly by the City, partly by the Board of Works, to secure the whole of this space, with its fine trees quite uninjured, for the benefit of London ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's- scornful mode of saying that six hundred acres, or at most a, thousand, are quite enough for East London, and that the rest of the country ought not to be heavily taxed in behalf of London, excited in the House a not unjust displeasure, and brought upon. the Government the most serious reprimand it has yet received. Even the First Lord of the Admiralty (who represents the City) absented himself, rather than support his colleagues on this vote..
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