HC Deb 18 May 1830 vol 24 cc863-4
Lord Lowther

rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to ascertain the boundaries of the forest of Dean, which he said might be made a very valuable property. It contained 23,000 acres of land well calculated to grow forest timber. It contained also coal, lime, and iron stone, in abundance; but these were of little value to the Crown, because the inhabitants of the surrounding districts claimed a right to dig for them, and carried that right so extensively into practice, that the revenue derived by the Crown from this large tract did not exceed 800l. per year. Disputes, too, continually arose, respecting the privileges of these free miners as they called themselves, and it was therefore proper that the rights of the Crown and of these people should be settled. He proposed to accomplish that by bringing in a bill to appoint commissioners to inquire into the rights and tenures of all persons claiming privileges or property there, and whose reports, when laid before Parliament, might enable it to settle the whole matter by legislation. He was desirous of making this property available to the Crown, and therefore had felt himself obliged to bring the subject before Parliament.

Mr. D. W. Harvey

did not mean to oppose the motion, but he would suggest that an ordinary commission of perambu- lation, such as had lately gone the bounds of the Crown property in Greenwich, would be sufficient. That commission made a report, and put some properties in jeopardy, but he had not yet heard that any claim had been made on the part of the Crown.

Mr. Wynn

thought that the bill was a private bill and required notice to be given to all the parties interested.

Mr. Brougham

inquired how many places would be created by the bill, and who was to have the patronage?

The Attorney General

could not answer till the bill came into Parliament, but he would be happy to accept the services of his hon. and learned friend, and of the hon. member for Crick lade, as commissioners. It was, however, a work which ought to be well done, and he could not therefore suppose that it ought to be done for nothing.

Leave given, and Bill brought in.