Punch: Punch (70.1876)

MORE COMPLIMENTARY THAN IT SEEMS.

Papa, {concluding the fascinating Tale). " 'And he was turned into a beautiful Prince, and married Beauty' " !
Minnie (after a pause). " Papa, were tou a Beast before you married Mamma?"

THE DEFENCE OF HACKNEY DOWNS.

Certain marking's and carvings on the face of Nature are
popularly ascribed to the Evil One. A dell in a certain Down is
named " The Devil's Punchbowl." On Hackney Downs, also, there
is an excavation which will, perhaps, one day bear the same title.
Possibly it may likewise be called Amhurst's Hollow. A Circular,
bearing the signature of Mr. John De Morgan, alleges that, not-
withstanding the Metropolitan Commons Acts of 1866 and 1872,
forbidding enclosure of or encroachment on any Metropolitan
Common,—

"Mr. Tyssen Amhurst, the Lord, or one of the Lords, of the Manor, in
1874, enclosed two pieces of Commons Land on Hackney Downs and North
Mill Field ; and at the same time opened a large pit (now measuring 190 feet
by 90 feet, and a depth of about eight feet), from which gravel has been taken
and sold, to the great injury of the pasturage of the Common."

Now the enclosure and excavation of public land may be regarded
as the work of a public enemy, so nearly resembling the Enemy of
Man as to make any hole he might illegally dig alike and equally fit
to be called the devil's or his own. Mr. De Morgan contends that
the pit above-mentioned was dug, and that the fences wer* erected
on Hackney Common against the Law. Accordingly, he says,—

"I, at the invitation of the Commoners, after careful study, advised the
removal of the fences erected on Hackney Downs. In the presence of 50,000
people, the Commoners asserted their right, on December 11th."

For which exploit the bold Commoners and their dauntless
Champion have been immortalised; modesty alone prevents Mr.
Punch saying how—besides, everybody knows. Of course Mr. De
Morgan was prepared for the consequences. He thus relates
them:—

" Immediately an action was commenced against me, at the instance of the
Lord of the Manor, for damages, and for an injunction to restrain from further
proceedings."

A Committee of Commoners on the part of Mr. De Morgan have
instituted a cross action against the Lord of the Manor. The case

has come before the Master of the Rolls ; litigation is still pending ;
the parties on either side having^ mutually undertaken in the mean-
while to hold their handsj the Lord of the Manor from setting up
any more fences, or digging any other holes, and the Commoners
from removing any extant fences, until the case shall have been
heard. But encroaching Lords of Manors are not to be fought
without money. Subscriptions can be sent either directly to Mr. De
Morgan, or to his Solicitor, Mr. E. Ejmber, 22, Q.ueen Street,
Cheapside. He and.his valiant Commoners want them to carry on the
war. A Public , that Values its own Open Spaces will doubtless
respond liberally to the following appeal :—

" For the sake of the health of the poor living in overcrowded houses, for
the sake of preserving the natural powers of your children, by providing for
them a playground, I appeal for funds. A balance-sheet will be published at
the close of the fight."

What fight short of battle against a foreign invader concerns a,
nation more than warfare with a domestic enemy, who, for his
private aggrandisement, is invading public land ? Success to the
resolute combatants and their determined Leader in their fight for
the defence and rescue of Hackney Downs.

A Tender Subject.

{For the Admiralty.)

The Government ask for a " tender "
For raising the Vanguard. Enough

Of sand now o'erlies her to render
The job most uncommonly tough!

Sors Virgiliana.

{For Mr. Banner Oakley.)
" Hi nostri reditus, exspectatique triumphi ?"—JEn. xi. 54.
Are these my grand returns, and expected triumphs ?