nts from which the great
spectacle was to be seen to advantage. By the erection of the fence,
therefore, visitors would be debarred and shut off from all that was
best worth seeing in the neighbourhood, until they had passed through
his inn; and it was of course anticipated that most of those so passing
through would spend more or less money on the premises. There was,
however, one rather serious objection to the contemplated change. It
would involve the enclosure of the Government reservation, a proceeding
which was not likely to be permanently tolerated. Forsyth was probably
ill advised by his attorney in the matter, for he seems to have been
really of opinion that the Government's title to the land was at least
open to question, and he had been permitted to occupy a portion of it
without remonstrance for about six years. Sometime during the early
spring of the above-mentioned year--in time to catch the expected influx
of summer visitors--he carried out his design, and constructed the
enclosure. His house was thus converted into a thoroughfare, which
necessarily gave rise to a greatly increased number of visitors, and to
much additional expenditure within its walls. But the public serenity
soon began to show signs of disturbance. There was a rival innkeeper
named Browne, who was not long in discovering that his own losses were
in proportion to Forsyth's gains. He bestirred himself in the matter,
and soon succeeded in arousing a good deal of indignation in the minds
of visitors. No one was allowed to either enter or pass by his door
without being importuned to sign a petition to the Government, praying
for a removal of the objectionable fence. Other persons residing in the
neighbourhood took umbrage at the innovation, and also made appeals to
the Government on the subject. In this way several numerously-signed
petitions were obtained and forwarded to headquarters.

Such proceedings as these were in themselves reasonable and proper
enough. Forsyth had acted in a selfish and unwarrantable manner, and it
would have been nothing more than he had a right to expect if the
Government had instituted immediate action against him. It would have
been an injustice to the public if he had been permitted to enjoy his
monopoly undisturbed. But neither the trespasser himself nor any of
those who protested against his conduct was prepared for such
high-handed measures as were actually resorted to; measures which
effectually proved the