They may exAanse or purchase lands, &c. (Id., as. 42, 52, 9S).
They are declared to be exempt from all personal responsibility as to any covenants or eoutracts they may cuter into in their official cha racter (Id., a. 17).
All deeds relating to lands, &c., leased, &e., by the authority of the commissioners are required to be enrolled in the office of Land Records and Inrolinents (10 Geo. IV., e. 50, s. 63; 2 Will. IV., c. 1, as. 16, 18, 21), and to be certified by the commissioners to parliament (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, s. 125); and all conveyances and mica respecting such lands are to be free from stamp and auction duty (10 Geo. 1V., c. 50, ss. 67, 68).
The commissioners are also empowered to give certain notices mid claims, and to authorise entries on land for breech of covenant, fie. (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 Gee. Ill., c. 52 (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, s. 19).
The receivers appointed by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests must be land-surveyors (Id., is 80). They are required to account at stated periods to the commissioners (Id., s. 81), and to transmit all stuns received monthly (s. 84) ; and they are empowered to distrait' for rent (s. 90).
Notwithstanding time management of the crown lands is thus vested in the commissioners, and the general power of alienation has been taken from the sovereign, a power is reserved to the crown to grant sites fur churches, chapels, and burial grounds, not exceeding five acres in extent, or 100(11. in value (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, a. 45); and by 1 & 2 Will. 1V., c. 59, s. I, churchwardens and overseers 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 time 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 referable to 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., c. 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., a. 96).
The rerderers of the royal forests arc also required to make inquiry as to all unlawful inclosures, encroachments, &c., in their courts of attachment, and may impose fines upon the offenders (Id., s. 100), who may however be proceeded against by the ordinary course of law (s. 103). The verderera may appoint regarders, under-foresters and other officers of the forests and courts (a 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 (a. 104) • and all such fines and penalties are to be applied to the expenses to the forests (s. 105).
As to the general revenue arising from the letting, &c., of the crown lands, the commissioners are directed to pay in the moneys received by them, to a proper account with the Bank of Englaud and Ireland re spectively (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, as. 117, 118) and the chartered banks of Scotland (3 & 4 Will. IV., c. 69, a. 17); and the annual income (after certain deductions) is to be carried to the consolidated fund (10 Geo. IV., c. 50, a. 113; 3 & 4 Will. IV., c. 69, s. 16). The transfer of the revenue arising from the crown lands to the consolidated fund is how ever the subject of a special arrangement between the crown and the subjects, terminating with the life of the sovereign in whose reign it is made.
The 10 Geo. 1V., c. 50, contains some provisions peculiar to Ireland. Leases, grants, &c., of any of the small branches of the royal revenue (s. 128), and the powers appertaining to the chancellor and council of the Duchy of Lancaster (s. 130), are exempted from its operation.