,000,000 acres of common land and common-field land. In 1874
another return made by the inclosure commission made a guess of
2,632,772. These two returns were made from the same materials, viz. the
tithe commutation awards. As less than 700,000 acres had been inclosed
in the intervening period, it is obvious that the two estimates are
mutually destructive. In July 1875 another version was given in the
Return of Landowners (generally known as the Modern Domesday Book),
compiled from the valuation lists made for the purposes of rating. This
return put the commons of the country (not including common fields) at
1,542,648 acres. It is impossible to view any of these returns as
accurate. Those compiled from the tithe commutation awards are based
largely on estimates, since there are many parishes where the tithes had
not been commuted. On the other hand, the valuation lists do not show
waste and unoccupied land (which is not rated), and consequently the
information as to such lands in the Return of Landowners was based on
any materials which might happen to be at the disposal of the clerk of
the guardians. All we can say, therefore, is that the acreage of the
remaining common land of the country is probably somewhere between
1,500,000 and 2,000,000 acres. It is most capriciously distributed. In
the Midlands there is very little to be found, while in a county of poor
soil, like Surrey, nearly every parish has its common, and there are
large tracts of heath and moor. In 1866, returns were made to parliament
by the overseers of the poor of the commons within 15 and within 25 m.
of Charing Cross. The acreage within the larger area was put at 38,450
acres, and within the smaller at 13,301; but owing to the difference of
opinion which sometimes prevails upon the question, whether land is
common or not, and the carelessness of some parish authorities as to the
accuracy of their returns, even these figures cannot be taken as more
than approximately correct. The metropolitan police district, within
which the Metropolitan Commons Acts are in force, approaches in extent
to a circle of 15 miles' radius. Within this district nearly 12,000
acres of common land have been put under local management, either by
means of the Commons Acts or under special legislation. London is
fortunate in having secured so much recreation ground on its borders.
But when the enormous population of the capital and its rapid growth and
expansion are considered, th