WOODS AND FORESTS. A con siderable portion of the royal revenue consisted formerly of the rents and profits of the crown lands, which comprised numerous lordships and honours, together with forests and ohaces: from the forests the principal source of profit lay in the fines or amerciaments levied for offences against the Forest Laws. The demesne lands which were retained by the king, or which came to the crown by forfeiture or otherwise, and were farmed out to subjects, were originally very extensive ; but owing to the generosity or the neces sities of different kings, so large a part of them was granted away, that the Houses of Parliament frequently interposed in order to prevent the total alienation of the crown property. William III. had used the power of alienation so profusely, that upon the accession of his successor, it was enacted (1 Anne, st. 1, c. 7) that no grant or lease should be made of any crown lands for a longer term than thirty one years or three lives, except houses, &c, which might be let for fifty years.
By the 26 Geo. III. C. 87, amended by 30 Geo. III. 0. 50, Commissioners were appointed to inquire into the state and condition of the woods, forests, and land revenues belonging to the crown. By the 46 Geo. III. c. 142 (altered by the 50 Geo. III. c. 65), an office of sur veyor-general of his Majesty's works and public buildings was created ; but this and some other offices are now incor porated with that of " the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings" (2 Will. IV. e. 1, s. 1), who are commonly called "the Commissioners of Woods and Forests," which office or board owes its present permanent shape to the statute 10 Geo. IV. c. 50 (amended and extended by 2. Will. IV. c. 1; 2 & 3 Will. IV. c. 112 ; and 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 69).
The Commissioners, who are npt to exceed three in number, are appointed by letters patent (2 Will. IV. c. 1, s. 1). They are to make a declaration (5 & 6 Will. IV. c. 62. s. 2, in lieu of the oath re quired formerly, 2 Will. IV. c. 1, s. 6) that they will faithfully and diligently execute the duties of commissioners.
Their salaries are fixed at 20001. per annum for the chairman or first com missioner, and 12001. for the other two (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 11; 2 Will. IV. c. 1, s. 7). Only one of them is allowed to be a member of the House of Com mons (2 Will. IV. e. 1, s. 11).
Their powers are very large. The whole of the possessions (except advow sons) and land revenues of the crown in England, Ireland (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 8), and Scotland (2 & 3 Will. IV. c. 112 ; 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 69) are under their management ; but the property therein still remains in the crown. (1 Q. B. Rep., 352.) They are required to observe all the orders and directions of the Lords of the Treasury touching the exercise of their powers ( 2 Will. IV. c. 1, s. 3).
The Commissioners have the power of appointing and removing various officers, such as receivers, surveyors, &c., whose salaries however are fixed by the Trea sury (10 Geo. IV. o. 50, s. 12). They may also appoint stewards of the royal hundreds and manors to hold courts, and different manerial and forestal officers to preserve game, fish, &c. ; and they may grant licences to hunt, fish, &c. (Id., s. 14).
They are empowered to grant leases of any part of the crown possessions for thirty-one years (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 22); or, in case of houses, buildings, &c., or building•land, for ninety-nine years (Id., s. 23); but this power of leasing does not extend to the royal forests in England (Id., s. 25), except for the purpose of making railroads (Id., s. 97). The , leases must contain certain specified pro visions, and the lessees are not be made dispunishable for waste, except in leases of mines, and at the option of the Com missioners, in leases for ninety-nine years (Id., s. 27). The leases are to be granted at a rack-rent, and no fine is to be re served (Id., a. 28), except in building leases, in which a nominal rent may be reserved for the first three years (Id., s. 30), and a fine may be taken not ex ceeding one-third of the rent (Id , 8. 31).