Mr. Lockhartmoved for leave to bring in a Bill for the registering and securing of Charitable Donations for the benefit of poor persons in England. A Bill for this purpose had been brought in last session, but dropped on account of the pressure of business at the close. The inquiries that had been formerly made, had proved that there were great abuses in many charitable establishments, and that there was reason to believe many of them had been lost. Altogether they amounted to a great sum, and the object was, by the publicity of registering, that such donations should be preserved and applied to the proper purpose.
§ Mr. Wilberforceseconded the motion, and expressed his conviction that great good would result from the measure. He had no doubt the Bill would pass, if gentlemen would only consider the importance of the subject.
Sir S. Romillywas a warm friend to the 516 object of the Bill, but doubted whether it went far enough to do much good. The great cause of abuses in charities, it ought not to be concealed, was the expence of the remedy. The only remedy was by information in Chancery, in the name of the Attorney General, at the instance of any person who chose to become a relator. Unless he succeeded, he had the costs to pay for his pains; and if he did succeed, he might, to be sure, be reimbursed out of the charity, but that, however, at the distance perhaps of several years. Few, under these circumstances, would become relators, and when they did, the trustees frequently designedly protracted the cause, they having the funds of the charity out of which to pay their expences. The best remedy would be to enable the Chancellor to interfere in a summary way on petition. Most of the abuses would soon be reformed by this simple regulation.
Mr. Wynnsaid a few words in favour of the object of the measure.—Leave was given to bring in the Bill.