Mr. Ayrton has found a new and formidable antagonist. Those
"children of this world," the Common Council, are at least as wise in their generation as those " children of light," the Metropolitan Board of Works, and foreseeing reform in the distance, are inclined to make to themselves friends of that "mammon of unrighteousness," London public opinion. The Board has bought Hampstead Heath, so the Council proposes to buy Epping Forest, and every other open space it can afford. Its idea, according to Mr. Nelson, City Solicitor, is to surrender its right of metage on corn, which pro- duces £15,000 a year, to make motage voluntary, and to abolish deputy-meters, who cost the trade 125,000 more, and replace both by a tax of a farthing a cwt. on corn, yielding only 17,000 a year, with which it will buy the parks. Surrender £15,000 to get £7,0001 At first sight this beats Ballan tine ; but we rather suspect voluntary rnetage will be found to be involuntary, being a convenience, and will be dearer than before, the plan thus adding at once to the City revenue and the City popularity. We do not object, though Mr. Ayr ton, it would seem, does. If the City makes itself popular by making London healthy and happy, may the City grow 'fat ! Let us give it Bethual Green, just to begin with, and see *what it will do with that present!
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