Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Environmentalism, Politics, Government

Publications cited:

Express

    Laments the fact that efforts are now being made to enclose and appropriate Tooting Common which Punch describes as 'that unprofitable wild, which now pays no rent to anybody, and exhales but little smoke, and not much else at any time but the scent of furze-bloom and other flowers in spring'. Emphasises the natural beauties of the common as if they were simple ornaments that could easily be disposed of. Asserts: 'All who have a proper contempt for the common people, for their pleasures and enjoyments, and for the privileges which they have possessed from time immemorial, but should, for the aggrandisement of individuals, have been deprived of long ago', will relish news that an 'Enclosure Commissioner' has decided, after taking evidence from local residents, in favour of abolishing the common. Laments the fact that a parliamentary act legislating the enclosure will transfer all the profits of the common to 'one man'.