§ MR. TORRENSsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the Commissioners of Woods and 410 Forests, with the sanction of the Lords of the Treasury, have sold to neighbouring lords of the manor the rights of the Crown in or over any portion of Waltham Forest (including what is known as Epping, Woodford, Wanstead, and Waltham Forests), other than the property and rights which the Act 14&15 Vict., c. 43, authorized the Commissioners to dispose of; if so, had the sanction of Parliament been obtained for such sale; and if so, what has been done with the proceeds; in the event of such sales having been effected, have considerable tracts of the Forest been enclosed, and has the sanction of Parliament been obtained for such enclosure; and if such enclosures have been made, have the rights long exercised by poorer foresters of feeding their cattle in the Forests been preserved, as well as those enjoyed by prescription by the working classes of the metropolis, of resorting with their families for recreation to all parts of the Forests?
MR. PEELsaid, the rights of the Crown over the Forest were merely forest rights. The Crown had no property in the soil or timber, and had no power to devote any portion of it either to the purposes of common or of public recreation. The enclosure had been made by the Enclosure Commissioners under the Enclosure Acts, and not by the authority of the Crown.