§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
THE EARL OF MORLEY, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said, that at present the registration of lands situated where several counties met was very defective. A long description was usually given of the lands, which were stated to be in two or three different counties, but it was not said in which county each portion of land was situated. The consequence was that very great confusion had arisen. The object of the Bill was to enable registration to be refused, unless the particular county in which each portion of land was situated should be specified. He had received that morning a communication from certain Writers to the Signet suggesting two modifications: first, that the time for the Bill coming into operation should be postponed to the commencement of next year; and, secondly, that an alternative should be given to those who were anxious to register their writs in the Sasines—that they should specify in what county each portion of land was situate, or if that was impossible, that they should state that after due inquiry they did not find it possible to do so.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Earl of Morley.)
§ LORD COLONSAYsaid, he would not oppose the second reading, on the understanding that he reserved to himself the right of stating objections to it at another stage. The Bill had been hurried through the House of Commons, and full opportunity had not been given to the parties interested to consider its provisions. He hoped his noble Friend (the Earl of Morley) would give those who were interested time to understand the true nature of the Bill.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.