HC Deb 19 May 1819 vol 40 cc558-9
The Hon. W. Lyttelton

rose, pursuant to notice, to make a motion to which he apprehended that no objection would be made, as the measure to which it referred was confessedly desirable. It had long been a subject of complaint, that improper persons had become conveyancers; for the only qualification required, according to the existing law, for any person to become a conveyancer, was the payment of about 401.; and such was certainly not the intention of the act of the 44th of the king, chap. 98, which it was therefore his object to amend. The hon. member concluded with moving, that the House should resolve into a committee to consider the act alluded to.—The House having resolved into the committee, the hon. member proceeded to state the nature of the amendment which he proposed in the existing law, namely, that all persons should be subject to a penalty who should draw or settle deeds, or do the business of conveyancing, except serjeants, barristers, conveyancers at the time of passing the act, persons having kept eight terms, and done exercises at an inn of court, attorneys, solicitors, proctors and notaries. The committee would perceive that he did not mean 'the act to be retrospective. Nor did he mean either that this act should extend to prevent any steward of property, being a member of one of the inns of court, from drawing any lease or conveyance of such property: nor to prevent public officers from drawing official instruments, or any individual from drawing wills, gratuitously. The hon. member dwelt upon the sums which attorneys were required to pay before they were qualified to practise; many of them having to pay in London, 1,000l. apprentice fee. Was it then lair that persons should be allowed to practise as conveyancers merely on the payment of 40l., thus taking away from attorneys the main source of their professional emolument; for it was notorious, that the common law practice of an attorney was comparatively very unproductive. The hon. member concluded with moving, That it be an instruction to the chairman to move for leave to bring in a bill for amending the act alluded to.—The motion was agreed to, the House resumed, and leave was given to bring in a bill accordingly.