They may also sell any part of the crown possessions, except the forests (Id., 5. 34), according to a mode pointed out (s. 35); and they may also sell rents, or manerial or forestal rights, to corpora tions, or trustees of incapacitated persons, who have estates subject thereto (ss. 39, 40).
They may exchange or purchase lands, &c. (Id., ss. 42, 52, 98).
They are declared to be exempt from all personal responsibility as to any cove. nants or contracts which they may enter into in their official character (Id., s. I 7).
All deeds relating to lands, &c. leased, &c. by the authority of the commissioners are required to be inrolled in the office of Land Revenue Records and Inrolments (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 63 ; 2 Will. IV. C. 1, ss. 16, 18, 21), and to be certified by the commissioners to parliament (10 Geo. IV. C. 50, s. 125); and all con veyances and sales respecting such lands are to be free from stamp and auction duty (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, ss. 67, 68.) The Commissioners are also empowered to give certain notices and claims, and to authorize entries on land for breach of covenant, &c. (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 92), and to compound, in certain cases, for rent (Id., a. 93).
Their accounts are to be audited by the commissioners for auditing public accounts, under the 25 Geo. III. c. 52 (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 19).
The receivers appointed by the Com missioners of Woods and Forests must be land-surveyors (1d., s. 80). They are required to account at stated periods to the Commissioners (Id., s. 81), and to transmit all sums received monthly (s. 84); and they are empowered to distrain for rent (s. 90).
Notwithstanding the management of the crown lands is thus vested in the Commissioners, and the general power of alienation has been taken from the crown, a power is reserved to the crown to grant sites for churches, chapels, and burial grounds, not exceeding five acres in extent, or 10001. in value (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 45); and by 1 & 2 Will. IV. c. 59, s. 1, churchwardens and over seers are empowered, with the consent of the Lords of the Treasury, to inclose a portion not exceeding fifty acres of any forest or waste lands belonging to the crown, lying in or near their parish, for the purpose of cultivating the same for the use of the poor.
Besides this general control over the crown lands, certain powers are given to the Commissioners which are connected with the execution of the Forest Laws. The powers and authorities belonging to the offices of wardens, chief-justice and justices in eyre (which were abolished upon the termination of the then existing interests by 57 Geo. III. a. 61), are vested in the First Commissioner (10 Geo. IV. c.50, s. 95) ; and the commissioners are also empowered to make compensation to parties for old encroachments made upon the royal forests where they have been in uninterrupted possession for ten years (Id., s. 96).
The verderers of the royal forests are also required to make inquiry as to all unlawful inclosures, encroachments, &c. in their courts of attachment, and may impose flues upon the offenders (Id., s. 100), who may however be proceeded against by the ordinary coarse of law (s. 103). The verderers may appoint re garders, under-foresters, and other officers of the forests and courts (s. 101), and may inquire into their conduct, and fine them for neglect of duty (s. 102). Other penalties may be recovered before a justice of the peace (s. 104) ; and all such fines and penalties are to be applied to the expenses relating to the forests (s. 105).
As to the general revenue arising from the letting, &c. of the crown lauds, the commissioners are directed to pay in the moneys received by them, to a proper account with the Bank of England and Ireland respectively (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 117, 118) and the chartered banks of Scotland (3 and 4 Will. IV. e. 69, s. 17); And the annual income (after certain de ductions) is to be carried to the consoli dated fund (10 Geo. IV. c. 50, s. 113; 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 69, s. 16). The trans fer of the revenue arising from the crown lands to the consolidated fund is however the subject of a special arrangement be tween the crown and the subjects, termi nating with the life of the king or queen regnant in whose reign it is made.