( i6 ) 



liberty. And the inftitutions which operate for the pur- 

 pofes of controiil, being alfo calculated to compel the 

 crown to adlion whenever it ought to be aflive and would 

 otherwife remain quiefcent, and allowing full fcope to 

 the exertions of individuals for the general benefit, the 

 alert fpirit of a dcmocratical government is united with the 

 folid force of a monarchy. 



The king being the fole reprefentative of the flate, all 

 the land in the country is deemed to have been originally 

 the land of the crown ; that is, of the flate : the land in 

 the a6lual occupation of individuals is deemed to have been 

 granted by the crown to the occupiers, or thofe under 

 whom they claim : and the land not granted to any perfon, 

 but referred for roads or otherpublicpurpofes, is alfo deemed 

 the land of the crown fubjedl to the public ufe. But befide 

 the grants to individuals, and the refervation for general 

 ufe, large tracts of land have been referved for the particu- 

 lar ufe of the crown, to anfwer it's feveral public and 

 private purpofes ; and, among thefe, large tradls of wood- 

 land, which furnidied timber for the navy and public 

 buildings, and for the peculiar buildings of the crown ; 

 which fupplied firing for the public and particular ufe of 

 the crown ; and harbored game for the amufement of the 

 king and his family in hunting. Thefe lands, fubjedl to 

 the demand for public ufe, have been deemed the fole and 

 cxclufive property of the crown. Other lands, alfo, of 

 great extent, formerly remained wafte, merely for want 

 of cultivators ; and of thefe the greatefl part had no owner 

 but the crown. ' 



The large tracts of land, thus varioufly defcribed, with 

 their timber and underwood, being the property of the 

 crown, the beafts and birds to which they gave Ihelter and 

 food were alfo it's property. Some which were deemed 

 delicacies of the table, or were the particular objedts of 



amufement. 



