LORD BROUGHAMreminded their Lordships that last Friday he had adverted to the experience of a steward of a manor during thirty years, as showing the infinite advantage that would be derived from a cheap, easy, and expeditious mode of conveyance, accompanied, as it must be to be effectual, with a proper system of registration, and it appeared to him (Lord Brougham) that it would by no means be impossible to extend that advantage from copyhold, and to make it general for all real estate. He was sure it would be a great relief to the people that land would thereby be no longer unmarketable, and that it would be greatly increased in value. The Committee that sat to inquire into the burdens on land had reported that one of the greatest of these burdens was the great expense and difficulty, and oftentimes uncertainty, of title attending the transfer of land. He admitted that it was a difficult subject, yet, in redemption of the pledge which he had given, he had prepared a Bill to amend the law touching the conveyance of estate, and for effecting a convenient system of registration, Perhaps his noble Friend on the woolsack would think that he ought to rest satisfied with the Report of the Commission and the prospect held out by his noble and learned Friend of a Bill on the subject; 1155 but he would adopt the course he had chosen to follow on the subject of the patent law, and would lay his Bill at once on the table with the hope that an Act on this subject might at length pass into law. The noble and learned Lord then presented a Bill touching the Transfer of Real Estate, and for the Registration of Titles thereof.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, the public and their Lordships were greatly indebted to his noble and learned Friend for introducing this Bill, upon which, as his noble Friend had not explained it in detail, he would not enter upon any observations. Even if the Bill did not become law it would, at all events, be considered before next Session in conjunction with the Bill suggested by the Commisioners, with a view to carrying these suggestions into effect.
§ Bill read 1a.
§ House adjourned at a Quarter to Six o'clock till to Morrow, Half past Ten o'clock.