Lord Campbellsaid, as their Lordships did not seem to be much overburthened with business, he would take the opportunity of putting a question to his noble and learned Friend on the Woolsack, with reference to the Bill for the Transfer of freehold property. The noble and learned Lord introduced a Bill on the subject in the early part of the Session, which was certainly a step in the right direction, but for which he (Lord Campbell) would have introduced his Bill on the subject again; but as no further progress had been made with it, he should like to know what the noble and learned Lord's intentions on the subject were. It was a subject of considerable importance; for one of the great defects of our law was the expense of the conveyance of freehold property. So enormous was that expense, that the cost of the conveyance of a small freehold was greater than the price of the fee simple. To remedy this evil, it was important that some measure should be adopted without delay; he should, therefore, be glad to know if the noble and learned Lord meant to resuscitate his Bill or not.
The Lord Chancellorsaid that he was very glad he had given his noble Friend an opportunity of amusing their Lordships. The measure which he had alluded to was certainly one of great importance, but it was of a very complicated nature, and he (the Lord Chancellor) felt it to be his duty after having laid the Bill on their Lord ships' Table, to circulate copies of it amongst some of the most eminent conveyances in the metropolis, many of whom had returned answers, but there were still six or seven of them who had not done so. If his noble and learned Friend had condescended to have given him notice of his Motion, he would have communicated with those gentlemen who had not yet returned their answers. It was certainly his intention, when he had obtained the opinions of these gentlemen, to proceed with the Bill. It was suggested to him by a noble Friend near him, that the delay in obtaining the answers of the gentlemen to whom he had alluded, might be occasioned by no fee having been 225 put on the Bills sent to them. He was obliged to admit that no fee was marked upon them.
§ House adjourned.