Duchy of Lancaster Act 1808

XVIIISales and Crown Leases made, not to be defeated for want of proper Stamps; and those to be made to be exempt from Stamp Duties.

And whereas great Uncertainty prevails as to what Stamp Duties ought by Law to be imposed upon Contracts for the Sale of Fee Farm Rents under an [26 G. 3. c. 87.] Act made in the Twenty-sixth Year of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act for appointing Commissioners to enquire into the State and Condition of the Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues belonging to the Crown, and to fell or alienate Fee Farm and other unimproveable Rents ; and under another [30 G. 3. c. 50.] Act made in the Thirtieth Year of His present Majesty, intituled', An Act to continue and amend an Act made in the Twenty-sixth Tear of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, ' An ' Act for appointing Commissioners to enquire into the State and Condition of the Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues belonging to the Crown, and to fell, or alienate Fee Farm and other unimproveable Rents, and under the said recited Act of the Thirty-fourth Year aforesaid, and also upon Leases granted by the Crown under the said recited Act of the Thirty-fourth Year aforesaid, to the great Grievance and Hardship of Purchasers of such Fee Farm Rents and Lessees of the Crown respectively; be it enacted, That no Contracts made under any of the said recited Acts of the Twenty sixth, Thirtieth, or Thirty-fourth Years of His present Majesty, for the Sale of Fee Farm Rents, nor any Leases made under the Great Seal or Seal of the Exchequer, of any Lands or other Hereditaments belonging to the Crown, within the ordering and Survey of the Exchequer, since the said recited Act of the Thirty-fourth Year aforesaid, shall be null and. void on account of the same respectively not being duly stamped, or the Stamp Duty not having been duly paid thereon respectively, and that no Contract which shall be hereafter made for the Enfranchifement of any Copyhold, or for the Sale of any Manerial Rights under this Ad, or the Sale of any Fee Farm "Rents or other Hereditaments belonging to the Crown, within the ordering and Survey of the Exchequer aforesaid, nor any Lease or Grant which "shall be made pursuant to the Regulations of this Act or of the said Act of the Thirty-fourth Year of His Majesty's Reign, which shall be hereafter made of any Lands or other Hereditaments belonging to the Crown, within the ordering and Survey last aforesaid, shall be subject to any Stamp Duty whatever.