§ The DUKE of RICHMONDmoved for the reappointment of the Select Committee of 1845, to inquire into the expediency of a legislative enactment being introduced, to allow the possessors of entailed estates to charge such estates with a sum to be limited, for the purpose of draining and otherwise permanently improving the same. Many noble Lords connected with Ireland had begged that this Act might be extended to that country. This had been done, but the difficulty was to induce the occupiers at will to consent to the powers given by it. In England, if any occupier refused his consent, the proprietor might give him notice to quit; but in Ireland notices might be given, but they were not very effectually obeyed. The Act, consequently, had not worked well there. The masters in Chancery required each occupier to mate an affidavit that he had given his consent. Under these circumstances, he thought it would be better to refer the subject back to the Committee that prepared the Bill, with the view of seeing what amendments could be made in it. He was afraid, from having a cold, that he was misrepresented in what he stated last night in giving this notice. He saw that it was stated that he intended to call the attention of the House to this subject, for the purpose of getting rid of the law of entail. He said nothing of the kind, for his object was to enable the possessors of landed property to do that which would make the law of entail no grievance to the people of the country at large.
LORD BROUGHAMsaid, that he hoped his noble Friend would press for a report as speedily as possible, because he thought it would throw much light on the state of Ireland, and because he thought the measure was one of the most unexceptionable measures of relief that could be given to that country.
§ The DUKE of RICHMONDsaid, that he would do his utmost that the report 692 should be laid as speedily as possible on the Table of their Lordships. He would mention that there were many Irish landlords who were desirous of taking advantage of this Act.
§ The Motion was then agreed to, and the Committee reappointed.