WOODS AND FORESTS. A considerable portion of the royal revenue consisted formerly of the rents and of the crown lands, which comprised numerous bodships and honours, together with forests end chimes : from the forests the prinepal source of profit lay in the fines or smereisments levied for offences against the Forest Laws. [FonssTs ) The demesne lands which were retained by the kiog, 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 time necessities of different kings, so large a part of them was granted away, that the lisgisLsture was fre quently compelled to Interposes its authority in order to prevent time total alienation of the crown property. William III. had used the power of alienation so profusely, that upon the accession of his suc cessor, 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, but permitting houses, fic., to be let for fifty yeas.
By the 26 Geo. III., e. 87, amended by 30 deo. I1 f., c. 50, commis sioners were appointed to inquire into the state and condition of the woods, forests, and land revenues belonging to the crown. By the 46 Ceo. Ill., o. 142 (altered by the 50 Geo. Ill., c. 65), an office of surveyor-general of his Majesty's works and public buildings was created ; but this and some other offices were incorporated with that of " the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings" (2 WilL IV. c. 1, s. 1), who were eallel " the Commissioners of Woods and Forests," which office or board owed its shape to the statute 10 Ceo. IV., c. 50 (amended and extended by 2 Will. IV., c. 1; 2 & 3 Will. IV., c. 112; and 3 & 4 Will. IV., c. 60). The commissioners, who were not to exceed three in number, are appointed by letters patent (2 WihL IV., c. 1, s. 1). They are to make a declaration (5 & 6 Will. IV., c. 62, a. 2, in lieu of the oath required formerly, 2 Will. IV., c. 1, a. 6) that they will faithfully and diligently execute the duties of commissioners.
Their powers arc very large. The whole of the possessions (except advowsons) and land revenues of the crown in England, Ireland (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, a. 8), and Scotland (2 & 3 Will. IV., c. 112 ; 3 & 4 Will. IV., c. 69) are tinder their management; but the property therein still remains in time crown. (1 Q. B. Rep.,' 352.) They are required, however, to observe all the orders and directions of time 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 how ever are fixed by the Treasury (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, 6. 12). They may also appoint stewards of the royal hundreds and manors to hold courts, and different nianerial and forestal officers to preserve game, fish, &e.; and they may grant licences to hunt, fish, &e. (Id., s. 14).
They are empowered to grant leases of any part of the crown posses sions for thirty-one years (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, s. 22); or, in ease of houses, buildings, &e., or building-land, for ninety-nine years (Id., a. 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., a. 07). The leases are required to contain certain specified provisions, and the lessees are not to be made dispunishable for waste, except in leases of mince, and at the option of the commissioners, in leases fur ninety-nino years (Id., s. 27). The leases are to be granted at a rack rent, and no fine is to be reserved (Id., a. 28), except in building leases, in which a nominal rent may be reserved fur the first three years (Id.. s. 30), and a fine may be taken not exceeding one-third of the rent (hi., s. 31).
They may also sell any part of the crown possessions, except the forests (Id., a. 34), according to a mode pointed out (s. 35) ; and they may also sell rents, or manorial or forestal rights, to corporations, or trustees of incapacitated persons, who have estates subject thereto (ss. 39, 40).