At this time, Mr. Driver said he was going to seize the other part of the land comprized in the lease of Miss Ladbrook, and held by Mr. Hall, for dilapidations. Mr. Driver subsequently _made this seizure_; and then _requested Mr. Elsee to take Mr. Hall’s farm into his hands_, until the final decision of the commissioners respecting the disposal of the land was made known, it being then uncertain whether it would be let or sold. Mr. Elsee declined this proposal, being every year a considerable loser by the part he held, and only retaining it in the expectation of having _his rent reduced_, and obtaining a lease _on such terms as might warrant him in the outlay necessary to afford a prospect of an adequate return_; and in the intention of becoming a purchaser, if the commissioners should decide upon the sale of the land. Besides this, Mr. Elsee felt that he had strong personal claims to fair dealing, if not to liberal treatment, from the commissioners; as, at their request, he had exerted himself in the protection of crown rights in the forest, which were grossly infringed by their own servants. He had assisted to detect and bring to justice the _under-keeper_, the _king’s woodward_, and others, _for stealing timber from the forest_, a practice then carried on to a great extent. {15} Under all the circumstances, therefore, Mr. Elsee had a right to expect something like _justice_, if not liberality, on the part of the commissioners; and if he had been in their hands, instead of _the hands of their servants_, he probably might have obtained it. While in this state of suspense respecting a new lease, Mr. Driver repeatedly informed Mr. Elsee, that he had received offers for the farm previously occupied by Mr. Hall, at three times the rent which Mr. Elsee considered it to be worth, and three times as much as it was afterwards let for to a Mr. Ellis. This statement, whether true, or otherwise, had the effect of preventing Mr. Elsee from making any further offers, _particularly as his previous application for a lease remained unanswered_; and he urged Mr. Driver to get the amount of the rent fixed which he was to pay to the crown, for the time after the expiration of Miss Ladbrook’s lease, _and to name any period when the crown wished to take possession of the land_. Mr. Driver replied, that _if Mr. Elsee would continue to hold the farm until Michaelmas_, 1819, (that was another year) _he trusted that all would be settled by that period_, and he would very shortly let Mr. Elsee know the amount of rent that he was to pay, _but which was never done_.