Ch« XI. Sec. I.] Revenue. — Escheats. 235 The exercise of the right of the Crown by escheat, to the prejudice of the relatives of a party who died without heirs, or attainted, or in the case of purchases by aliens, &c. would in many cases be harsh. It has therefore been the practice for the Crown on a petition disclosing the facts, to grant the lands to parties who might otherwise lose them ; and to direct the execution of trusts, to which the property may be liable, &c^ In furtherance of this liberal practice, it is enacted by the statute 47 G. 3. sess. 2. c. 24. " that in all cases in which his Majesty, his heirs or successors, hath 'or shall, in right of his Crown or of his Duchy of Lancaster, become entitled to any freehold or copyhold manors, messuages, lands, tenements^ or hereditaments, either by escheat for want of heirs, or by reason of any forfeitures, or by reason that the same had been purchased by or for the use of or in trust for any alien or aliens, it shall be lawful for his Majesty, his heirs and succes- sors, by warrant under his or their sign manual, or under the seal of the duchy or county palatine of Lancaster, according to the nature of the title to such manors, messuages, lands, tenements, or hereditaments respectively, to direct the execu- tion of any trusts or purposes to which the same may have been directed to be applied, and to make grants of such manors, messuages, lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or of any rents or profits then due and in arrear to his Majesty in respect thereof respectively, to any trustee or trustees, or otherwise, for the execution of any such trusts or purposes, or to any person or persons for the purpose of restoring the same to any of the family of the person or persons whose estates the same had been, or of carrying into effect any intended grant, con- veyance, or devise of any such person or persons in relation thereto, or of rewarding any person or persons making disco- very of such escheat, or of his Majesty's right and title thereto, as to his Majesty, his heirs or successors respectively, shall seem fit." In a modern case, Lord Eldon said, it is perfectly familiar, that where there is an escheat for want of heirs, and the fact is not communicated, it is usual to petition the King, stating that there is such an interest, and praying some reward upon the ground of the discovery, if it can be made out ; ami the ordi- nary rule upon an escheat is, for the Crown to give a lease, as
