Star.
London, England, 1830-03-31 00:00:00

Swallow-street to Park-lane, valued at 2,0471. was let for 5001
The entire sum received for 26 years after the accession of George
111. was 11,6751. by which it appeared that the lands were worth
78,0491. yet the actual receipt was only what he stated, 66,4771
being a loss of about 12.0001. during that period. The honourable
member mentioned the grant of Bowood, in which the borough
of Caine is situated ; the estate of Seaton, in Yorkshire, to the
Earl of Mulgrave, which, though valued at 2,0001. a year, un-
sold for 27,0001. and the fine upon which had never been paid intl.
the Treasury. To show, also, that those connected with the office
of Woods and Forests were responsible for their conduct, he stated
that the commissioners who sold the forfeited estate of the Earl
of Derwentwater. valued at 9,0001. per annum, for 1,0001. two
were expelled this house, and two others reprimanded. He men.
tioncd this, to show how useful it was to keep precedents be-
fore our eyes. (A laugh.) He next came to the grant to the
Duke of Newcastle (then First Lord of the Treasury) of the town
of Newark, for 4821. The fine actually paid upon this bargain,
under the Act of Geo. 111. was only 2001. whereat it ought to
have been 3,7811. Against this transaction the commissioners
emphatically marked " enormous job." It appeared by the reports
of the commissioners, that from 1700 to 1786, the rents paid out
of Wales were only 125,1251. while the cost of collecting that sum
was 124,0001. thus making the sum paid in the Treasury of 6491.
only. He did not know whether the Whigs or Tories were most to
blame in those transactions; but he believed the case was worst
against the Whigs. He wished It to be understood that he did not
wish to disturb any titles, but as the lands were stated in the reports
of the commissioners to be diverted out of the crown, it proved
that they ought to be resumed to the use of the public. Having
made these remarks, he would now come to the woods and fo-
rests, which he would dismiss in a few words ; not because it
was unimportant : on the contrary, it was extremely important,
as this department comprehended property of great value, con.
slating of many thousand acres, which, however, was not so
important In a pecuniary as in a political consideration. Were
he to go into this question at full length, he was well aware
what predudices he must encounter, and what difficulties he had
to surmount, before any thing like a thorough reform could
take place. He should satisfy himself by pointing out the mis-
management generally which prevailed in that portion of the
crown lands. If it were asked what was to be done with the royal
forests, which had been reserved expressly for the growth of timber
for the navy ? he would answer by saying there was no difficulty in
providing for their management. They ought to be transferred to
the Navy Board ; and, if the hands there were too few for ma-
naging the business, government might conveniently find room for
some of their servants who had lately been ousted from their si-
tuations, whether owing to the recommendation of committees or to
votes of that house. It appeared that, in 171.6. a commission had
been appointed to inquire into the crown property in woods and fo-
rests. The commissioners directed their attention to every forest in
the kingdom, and in their report they say that every advantage
might have been expected from the enquiry, but at the same time
state that it would be needless to go on so tong as those who reside
in the forests have such an interest in the existing abuses. They
further state that the management is so defective' and prodigal
that not only the produce is consumed, but great charges are In-
curred for the mere management of the property, and that from
1761 to 1786 no less than 144,8821. had been expended out of
the general fund for the management of his majesty's woods
and forests. AU remonstrances, the commissioners said, were
unavailing ; and so negligent were the officers that they
did not even seem aware that a Commission had been issued for
making inquiry. In some of the forests the greatest possible
abuse and negligence prevailed. In that, for instance, of
Hainault, and Wegner, in the county of Southampton, the amount
received was only 15,0001. while the expenses for the management
was 24,0001. being 9,0001. more than the value received. Another
forest, eoosistiog of 5,424 acres, abounding with timber, had been
ets a hens of 85 years, for not more than 1451. and another estate
cOod ilawmelleid Law, consisting of 394 acres, had been usurped by
(Man reties, among the rest the Earl of Westmoreland, which, at
Int, was Inally given up by the Crown at less than one farthing
par acre. (Hear, hear.) In another estate in Sherwood Forest.
assisting of 96,000 acres, the disbursements from 1760 to 1786
fse management, had exceeded the receipts by 9,0371. and ano-
' thee, which had been valued at 2,4501. had been sold for 8001.
said the expenses of the same amounted to more than the whole
amount received. In another forest, where the Duke of Newcastle
had an interest, it appeared that a wide road had been made through
the wood of the forest, on each side fenced in ; but, though it was
done for the convenience of the parties in the neighbourhood, the
expense, amounting to 1181. was charged to the Crown. The
commissioners, on being appointed, sent round circulars to the
Crown Receivers throughout the country, directing them to make
returns of the incomes received within their respective limits. The
return of the annual revenue of Crown lands, exclusive of the
weeds -and forests and mines, was, in 1786, 102,6.161. and this
y was spread over forty of the fifty-two counties of England.
Hear, hear, )tear) The commissioned, in order :to ascertain
whether this rent was at all equal to the value of the property
directed surveys to be made on ten different estates, lying in
Worcestershire, Lancashire, Essex, Nottingham, Wilts, and Lin-
coln, and it appeared that the value of these estates, which, by
the returns, were rented at 3,2421. were actually worth 8,3941
so that, if this proportion were applied to the whole of these es-
tates, the annual income, instead of being 102,6261, would amount
to 300,0001- This he should therefore take as a standard of
the value of the property.. The commissioners did not recom-
mend the sale of the property at that period--namely, 1786, but
thought it would be advisable as soon as the leases had elapsed.
Peehaps there never was a more convenient time than the present
for the disposal of this part of the crown property, because it never
was less incumbered, and the leases (with the exception of a few, to
the amount of 26,0001, which would expire in 1836) had all now
expired. There was another subject to which he wished to call
the attention of the noble lord--that was the inadequate mode of
letting the property ; and in no instance was this more remark-
able than in the way in which houses were let in Piccadilly.
It appeared front a return made to the house that several
of these houses were let for 301. 501. and 701. while they were
worth at a moderate estimate five or six times the amount. The
vey inadequate and imperfect description of property was 'also
amsebee great defect. From the present description of crown pro-
perty, no one could form any idea of the magnitude or value of it.
and he had no hesitation in saying that the property in the hands of
the commissioners of woods and forests was sufficient to corrupt
Parliament. It was only necessary to cite one or two instances. In
1784 two estates bad been let to Sir Sampson Gilead for 371. and the
yearly value was now 5001. In the manor of Newark, too, a lease
had been granted in 1730 for 30 years to the prime minister of the
day, for 1441. per annum. In 1770 a plan of property was made
out, from which it appeared that it consisted of 95K) acres, and had
on it 50 houses. The value at that time, which formerly was rated
at 1441. was now let foe 2,0001. and he had reason to believe that it
was worth altogether 200,0001. At least, if he might judge from
information received from a gentleman in that quarter, the pro.
petty held at Newark by the Duke of Newcastle was worth that
amount. The Duke paid for it 2,0001. a-year, he let it at
4,0001. for political purposes, and it was worth, altogether, not
less than 6,0001. a-year. The next estate to which he would
call dish attention was that of Rosedale, in Yorkshire, and, if
he was to fix on any, hrwould say this was the most remarkable
foe nt. It was certainly singular that the noble lord
bed to take advantage of the recommendations of the
C 01786. They stated that no dealings could be en.
tered loM chest the estates till all the leases had expired, and till
the farms were better regulated; but when these are accomplished
they somminiended a total change of the system. (Hear, hear, hear)
Time Liss expired in 1816, yet no steps had been taken in
the recommendation of the Commission, and
=ilittege flume were allowed to remain from year to year
is Ills Made of the tenants • at last, on the 30th of September
Mk they were put up for sale, and the only description of the pro.
was, that it consisted of 5,000 acres, though, for aught that
wptuawa, 2,000 of these might be good arable. He wrote to the
filrneilissen of Woods and Forests, and had a reply. Whether
his interference was the cause of the result he did not know,
but the sale was deferred, and a new description of the pro.
sky was given. They were at last put up for sale, at York.
ita the 21st of December, when the country was covered with
snow, and when little or nothing could be known of their value.—
It appeared that the commissioners, in cases of this kind, always
received a ---lees bid, which they mid prefer to all the rest
Wept ohs Salim Wddig_ pospolly was 37,0001. anti what
was the seem od big? MOM Mindy double the amount offered
lithese ttbi WWI Oa Mee soittred with the property. He
*wows. dwell have sold in lots. It had been di-
lls'', 411 ibume. Sessets of which were owners of the tithe--
Old as it was vela peculiarly valuabledesoription, they were
desirous a bellsdig.parcli of their several tenements He
bed had a keit demi by forty of them to that erect. He thought
de real raise 4 dis land to the Crown had been much deprect.
std, by Its met having been disposed of in parcels. The next
property of she Crown to which he should call the attention
of the House was blown by the name of Sunk Island.—
It was situated at the mew* of the Humber, and bad been reeds.
mod hew the sea. Shit paperty had been early estimated to
how law wade NAM T the repot! the Coe.
beeti assib.7 lee:Lumber. Tbis aentioeed sii:wrrhad
1011111! Rev. Jam Sallaiale and others on keens one of
.11be allePone Pialibr was dated in 1771, and the rent re-
served ON Wall Only OIL Is the year 1798, a new valuation bad
been mode, by which the value of the island had been estimated
st 0011. elan (Hear.) In UN a new kiwi bad been girls
the Rev. J. Lonsdals, at an ire sesed rest of 1001. s-Var'•
awl a line ef 8,4091. of which a considerable sent remained unpaid.
One year after the date of this lean, the lionised J. lemarlaie
having expended 10,0001. on 'Nissen. r'os'ary for 2,000 lib*