§ MR. AGLIONBYsaid, that he had the permission of the right hon. Baronet at the head of the Home Department (Sir G. Grey) to put a question to him on a matter of great consequence. A Committee was appointed many years ago to inquire into 767 the enfranchisement of copyholds. That Committee laid on the table a recommendation that the enfranchisement which was then voluntary should be made compulsory, and that a Bill should be brought in to authorise the Commissioners to proceed to the compulsory enfranchisemeut of copyholds. From that day to this he had repeatedly brought the question before the House, and had applied to Government to promote that measure. Last Session a Bill was introduced into the other House for effecting that object. Towards the end of the Session the Bill was withdrawn. He now asked whether it was the intention of the Government to bring forward a measure for the compulsory enfranchisement of tenures; whether they would bring it forward on an early day, and whether it would be brought forward in the other House of Parliament?
§ SIR G. GREYsaid, that a Bill had been brought in founded on the report of the Copyhold Commissioners, who recommended a provision for compulsory enfranchisement. The Bill underwent considerable discussion and consideration in the House of Lords, the result of which was, that very great difficulty appeared to exist in carrying into effect the provisions of the Bill. He had since very fully considered the subject, and had thought he was not justified in proposing, during the present Session, a Bill for the compulsory enfranchisement of copyholds, but thought it desirable that a Bill should be introduced for giving increased facilities for their enfranchisement.