The Earl of Lincoln, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to facilitate the drainage of lands in England and Wales, said that he was reminded by the observations of the hon. and learned Member for Cockermouth of an omission of which he had been involuntarily guilty, which was the neglect of paying that high compliment which was so fairly due to the noble Lord who had brought the measure respecting enclosures before the House during the last Session. That noble Lord's only anxiety was to have a good and serviceable measure carried into effect. He had in the most generous manner avowed such to be his sole desire, and he had disclaimed all party or political views in dealing with the subject. The noble Lord (Lord Worsley) had accordingly handed his measure over to the care of the Government, without the slightest expression of jealousy; and he (the Earl of Lincoln) must candidly acknowledge that he felt the principal credit which might be awarded to the measure under consideration was fairly due to the noble Lord. With respect to the particular Bill which he had now to request permission to introduce, he should merely feel it necessary to observe that it was a consequent measure upon the Enclosure Act, and that the Government having determined upon introducing the first, was no less bound to follow it up by proposing a measure for the purpose of more effectually draining waste and unenclosed lands. The Bill was confined to the object of ena bing parties desirous of draining their own lands to carry their drains through othe lands adjacent to their own, upon compensating the proprietors for the damage thereby done. The Bill also would give facilities for the acquisition of plots of land necessary for the erection of steam-engines for the purposes of draining. The present Bill, he was ready to admit, was limited in these objects. In the course of a Session or two he hoped to be able to introduce a more extensive scheme of legislation in this respect, and in the meantime he trusted some good would be effected by the Bill which he then begged permission to introduce.
§ Leave given.
§ House adjourned at nine o'clock.