Catalogue description Commissioners for Inquiry into Charities

The duties of the Commissioners for Enquiry into Charities, appointed under the provisions of statutes 58 Geo III C 91 and 59 Geo III C 81, were to examine and investigate the state of charities. They also made suggestions and recommendations on such matters as the correction of irregularities or possible administrative improvements. By the Charity Estates (England) Act 1819 they were also enabled to certify a particular charity to the Attorney General in order that he might commence legal proceedings in equity to remedy abuse, misconduct, etc, in the management of a trust. The commissioners also prepared reports on the results of their investigations and these were printed and published as Parliamentary Papers from 1819 to 1840.