for the carriage of timber only; the rights of commoners
were to be discharged by allotting an equitable extent of land suitable
for pasture, and the colliers to pay for all pit timber; the deer were to
be disposed of, as demoralizing the inhabitants and injuring the young
wood; and lastly, the commissioners recommended ejecting the cottagers
who had established themselves in the Forest, as often before, in
defiance of authority, and who numbered upwards of 2,000, occupying 589
cottages, besides 1,798 small enclosures containing 1,385 acres. As to
defraying the cost of executing the above works, the commissioners
recommended the sale of about 440 acres of detached pieces of Crown land
adjoining the Forest, and if necessary dotard and decayed trees, or such
as would never become fit for naval use.

The surveyors, Messrs. A. and W. Driver, calculated the fencing,
planting, and keeping up the contemplated enclosures, for the whole of
the ensuing 100 years, at 564,330 pounds, by which time the timber would
probably be worth 10,680,473 pounds, and yield an annual net revenue of
52,052 pounds. According to the Report of these gentlemen, the Forest
then contained about 24,000 oak-trees averaging one and a half loads
each, and 24,000 oak-trees measuring about half a load each, not
including unsound trees, of which there were many, besides a considerable
number of fine large beech as well as young growing trees. The principal
stock of young timber, from which any expectation could be formed, was in
the Lea Bailey and Lining Woods, which were in general well stocked, and
would produce a considerable quantity of fine timber, if properly fenced
and protected from the depredations of plunderers. As to the names,
extent, and character of the plantations then existing, they report as
follows:--

"_The Great Enclosure_, which contained 743 acres 35 poles, was begun
to be made about twelve years ago, with post and rail; but before the
whole was completed, a great part was taken away, and nothing now
remains but the bank; there are no young trees of any kind."

"_Stonedge Enclosure_ was made about twelve years ago; it contained
125 acres 1 rood 10 poles, and was fenced with a dry stone wall,
which is, for the most part, destroyed; there are a great many thorns
and hollies, with some very fine large oaks, but no young timber of
any kind coming up."

"_Coverham Enclosure_, which contained 350