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the same is to be paid (s. 30), the form of the contract, whether in money or stock, being according to the form set forth in the schedule to the act (s. 31). If the commissioners for redemption have in their possession certified copies of the assessments of the land tax intended to be redeemed, they may enter into the contract without requiring any further certificate, upon being furnished with a similar schedule or description in writing of the property upon which the land tax proposed to be redeemed is charged, as is required to be produced to the commissioners of land tax or supply (s. 32). Copies of the assessments, and any alterations in them, are to be furnished by the clerks to the commissioners for redemption within six days after demand, under a penalty of 501., the clerks being allowed fourpence per chancery sheet for their trouble in making such copies (ss. 33, 34). Should any difficulty arise in effecting the redemption in consequence of any tithes, fee-farm rents, or other hereditaments not having been assessed, or distinctly assessed, or because the land tax has been deducted out of such rents by the owners or occupiers of land charged therewith, the commissioners of land tax or supply, or the commissioners for redemption, may settle and adjust the proportions of land tax which ought to be borne, and then enter into the contracts (ss. 35, 36).

By 38 Geo. 3, c. 60, s. 18, where land tax is contracted for under the preference given by that act by persons not having the fee simple of the lands, any reversioner, &c., on his estate vesting in possession, is entitled to demand from the original contractors, their executors, administrators or assigns, an assignment of their interest in such contract, upon transferring to them the same quantity of three per cents. as such contractor paid for the redemption of the tax; and so in all cases the reversioner, &c. coming into possession may call for such assignment from

the proprietor, who will be compelled to make the same by order of the Court of Chancery in England or the Court of Session in Scotland, although an infant, or under other legal disability; and on such assignment being completed, the land will be exonerated from the tax, unless the assignee declares a like option with the original contractor that the same shall continue a charge. The right given by this enactment is recognised by the act 42 Geo. 3, c. 116, and it is further declared, that persons redeeming land tax by any other means than by sale, mortgage or grant, who are entitled, under any of the provisions of the previous acts for redemption, to demand an assignment of any land tax upon the determination of any precedent estate, or who shall agree under the provisions of the 42 Geo. 3, c. 116, with the executors or administrators of any person having contracted for redemption to take an assignment of the contract, may raise money in the same way they could have done in the first instance, as also to pay off money borrowed on mortgage or grant (s. 91).

Where the whole of the land tax was not redeemed before the 24th of June, 1803, by the persons having the right of preference, the commissioners for redemption may contract with any other persons for sale of the part remaining unredeemed, taking as the consideration for the purchase so much stock in the 3 per cents as the consideration for the redemption of land tax by persons having benefit of preference, or where the tax shall not exceed 251. per annum, so much stock or so much money as is directed by the act to be paid as the consideration for redemption, according to the tables contained in Schedule (L) annexed to the act, the consideration to be transferred, or paid at once, or within one year, by not more than four instalments.

The course prescribed by the act for persons desirous of purchasing land tax is as follows: They must produce a statement of the land tax proposed to be purchased to the

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commissioners of land tax, if in England, or if in Scotland to the commissioners of supply, or the chief magistrate, who will ascertain and certify the amount according to the Schedule marked (A) annexed to the act, upon the production of which to the commissioners for redemption, who may amend the same, they will cause notice of the offer to purchase to be fixed on the church door, and if within fourteen days no offer higher by 17. per cent. shall be made, will contract for the sale; but if such higher offer shall be made, the commissioners will contract with the party making it; and upon production of the contract at the Bank, where the consideration is in stock, and transferring the stock; or where the consideration is in money, then upon production of such contract to the receiver-general (e) in England, or the collector in Scotland; and on payment of the consideration, the party is entitled to a certificate in the form set forth in Schedule (D) annexed to the act; and on registry of the contract and certificate, the lands will be exonerated from the land tax, and the purchaser entitled to a fee-farm rent out of the lands equal to the land tax redeemed, free of all charges, and will have a prior charge in respect thereof (s. 154).

The person beneficially interested in the lands may, however, if he desire it, obtain from the commissioners an order that the whole of the land tax purchased as a fee-farm rent shall be paid out of part of the lands subject to the tax, provided the annual value to be let of the part made exclusively subject be not less in amount than three times the amount of such fee-farm rent at the least, and provided the lands discharged and the lands made exclusively subject be separately described in the contract (s. 155).

Contracts for the redemption or purchase of land tax must be registered with the proper officer, who will make

(e) Now the inspector of taxes, see p. 39, ante.

three duplicates of the land tax redeemed, purchased or exonerated, distinguishing the several parishes and places where the same have been assessed, and deliver one to the receiver-general of the county or place, another to the commissioners of the land tax of the division, and another to the king's remembrancer (s. 164). And copies of the register will be deemed good evidence of contracts (s. 165).

If a purchaser should die before completing his contract, without having made provision for payment of future instalments, such instalments are payable out of his assets; and if they are deficient, the contract may be sold; but if the person having the next beneficial estate or interest in possession should be desirous of taking the contract, it may be assigned to him whether there are assets or not, he being bound to complete on the original terms, except as to the time for payment of instalments, which may be enlarged (s. 166).

But should default be made in fulfilling contracts, they will immediately after default become void, and the land tax will revive and be again assessed, or sold, and the defaulter will be subject to a penalty not exceeding one-sixteenth of the consideration (s. 167), the amount of which penalty, if no prosecution for it have been brought, may be retained out of the amount paid on account of the consideration (s. 170); but forfeited contracts may be relieved against by the Court of Exchequer, and in cases where the penalty does not exceed 50l., by the commissioners of taxes (s. 169).

Where land tax revives, the commissioners of land tax, or supply, or chief magistrate, must within six months deliver to the receiver-general (e) a schedule, and transmit a duplicate to the king's remembrancer, if in England, or to the barons

(e) Now the inspector of taxes, except for the London district, see p. 39,

ante.

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of the exchequer if in Scotland, specifying the amount of the land tax revived, and the period from which the same shall have been revived (s. 168).

Where in any contract for redemption an option has been declared to consider the party redeeming as a party not interested in the lands comprised in such contracts, by reason whereof they remain chargeable, and such party should afterwards wish to exonerate the lands from land tax, the commissioners for redemption may contract with him for the redemption thereof, upon production of a certificate of two of the commissioners of the land tax of the amount of the tax charged thereon, and of the contract of redemption, and may amend the contract already entered into, by striking out the parts relating to the option, or may enter into a new one without any declaration of an option. But if the land tax have increased since the original contract, no contract for exoneration will be entered into, unless the party contract to transfer so much additional stock, or to pay such additional sums of money as shall be necessary to make up the proper consideration; and if the land tax have been decreased, the party contracting for the exoneration will be entitled to have the difference in stock or money transferred or paid to him (s. 40).

The whole of the land tax charged upon any place is to be inserted in the certificate of assessment so long as any part remains payable either to his majesty, or any persons who shall have redeemed any land tax, and declared an option to be considered as persons not interested, and all lands not exonerated continue subject to a yearly assessment not exceeding four shillings in the pound, which will be raised as directed by the act 38 Geo. 3, c. 5. Should any assessment exceed four shillings in the pound, it will be subject to an abatement as directed by that act; but duplicates of the assessment specifying such abatement must be trans