§ Sir E. Sugdensaid, that, with regard to the bills which had been introduced by the hon. and learned Gentleman, the Attorney-General, and which stood on the paper for a second reading that night, he had now read those bills, as well as the opportunity which he had had allowed him. To some of them he apprehended there could be no objection, but two of them were of great importance. By one of them the rights of lords of manors were, in many places, taken away, and transferred to the Crown, and the other altered the modes of descent which had prevailed in this country for a long time. He was not giving any opinion on the merits of those measures, but they were of so much importance that he did not think it right or proper that they should be read a second time merely pro formâ, but that a day ought to be appointed for their discussion.
§ The Attorney-Generalwas exceedingly anxious that these bills should come on immediately for discussion. There was nothing he regretted more than that any delay should be interposed, and he had entertained a hope, that the principle of these bills would not have been opposed, however their details might have been disputed. He had thought that no difference would have existed in point of principle, either as to the propriety of ameliorating the law regarding copyhold, or improving the law of escheats, or rendering more uniform the operation of the law of descent. If, however, any hon. Member was desirous of a general discussion upon these questions, he (the Attorney-General) would, of course, assent. But he must observe, that, if these matters were deferred to a subsequent period of the Session, the delay which would thus arise, he (the Attorney-General) should exceedingly deplore. These were questions which had nothing to do with party. He would, however, indulge in no comment upon the delay which was thus interposed, although he greatly regretted it.
§ Sir E. Sugdensaid, that there was no objection to the two bills with regard to Copyhold and the Manorial Boundaries' Bill being immediately proceeded with. These three bills, he (Sir E. Sugden) believed to be right in principle, and he threw no impediment whatever in their way. He had, however, thought, that the hon. and learned Gentleman purposed taking all the Bills together.
§ The Attorney-Generalsaid, that if no 731 other hon. Member was disposed to offer any objection, he would move that these three bills be now read a second time. It was, undoubtedly, true that they formed but one branch of the whole subject; but the public would derive great benefit even from these three bills separately.
The Copyhold Enfranchisement Bill, the Copyhold Improvement Bill, and the Manorial Boundaries' Bill, were read a second time.