HL Deb 29 February 1872 vol 209 cc1147-8

Clause 80 (Bishops' registers more than 20 years old to be transferred to the custody of the Master of the Rolls).

THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER

said, this provision would give rise to much inconvenience. The Bishops themselves were the proper custodians of such documents.

LORD ROMILLY

highly approved the clause, and said it would effect a great improvement in respect of these instruments, which were of great importance, but in some dioceses very greatly neglected. There was no question that the proper course would be to collect such documents in the Record Office, where they could be properly indexed and placed within the reach of the public.

EARL BEAUCHAMP

contended that the Bishops' registers were imperatively required to be kept on the spot for diocesan purposes, and that the clause would not touch what the Master of the Rolls desired to appropriate—namely, documents other than the Bishops' registers; but even these possessed their principal interest for local inquirers, and should not be swallowed up in the Record Office.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

advocated the adoption of the clause. These documents were frequently required in proof of titles, and convenience and economy would alike dictate the policy of enabling the solicitor to consult everything he wished to see at one place. As regarded the safety of the documents in their present repositories, two instances had come under his own notice, in one of which a forged will, and in the other a forged certificate of marriage, had been placed among the papers. These forgeries had only incidentally been discovered, and he was astonished to find how many facilities were afforded for the committal of those offences. As far as the safety of those documents was concerned, there was nothing like the Record Office.

EARL BEAUCHAMP

said, the clause under consideration would not effect the object in view, inasmuch as there was nothing in it to entitle the Master of the Rolls to receive other documents than the Bishop's registers.

LORD ROMILLY

said, the question of expense was worth attention. If the clause were agreed to it would not involve the outlay of a single penny, for the officers in the Rolls Office were quite sufficient and competent to carry on the business. As for local antiquarians, they would infinitely prefer to have all these documents in the Rolls Office.

THE BISHOP OF CHICHESTER

vindicated the local registries from the charge that had been made against them. He had had occasion to consult several registries, and in every case he found the documents in perfect order and readily accessible; while the fees paid for inspecting them were most moderate.

THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY

hoped their Lordships would pass the clause, which was essentially necessary for the preservation of these documents. No doubt these documents were better cared for now than they were about 40 years ago; but they still suffered much from dust, damp, fire, and want of ventilation, evils against which abundant protection was afforded at the Record Office.

Clause agreed to.

Clause 81 (Parochial registers upwards of 20 years old to be transferred to the custody of the Master of the Rolls).

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

questioned whether it was worth while to incur the expense the clause involved.

LORD ROMILLY

said, the expense would be very small, and the effect would be to close the door against the perpetration of a great deal of abuse and fraud.

After short conversation,

Clause agreed to.