ST JOHN, John.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Observations on the Land Revenue of the Crown. First edition, combining a history of the revenues of the Crown lands with an assessment of their administration and proposals for reform. The author had served as Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown from 1775 to 1784. In 1760 George III surrendered the revenues of the Crown lands to Parliament in exchange for a fixed Civil List. The lands were widely scattered, and their extent and value remained uncertain. The book followed the 1786 Act appointing a commission to enquire into the condition of the Crown lands and the revenues they produced. St John (1745-1793) advocates enclosure and disafforestation to increase Crown revenues, while recognizing the political sensitivity of extinguishing common rights and challenging vested interests.

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