The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-28 00:00:00

ture, and actual capture, which, by being dealt with in too

strict a sense, led to erroneous practical conc!usions.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE expressed his consent :o the sub-
ject being referred to the High Court of Admiralty.

REGISTERING TITLES TO LAND IN IRELAND.
Mc. SCULLY moved that an humble address be pre-
sented to her Majesty, praying that sh would be gra-
ciously pleased to issue a commission to inquire and re-
port as to the best system for registering titles to land in
Ireland, and to frame a measure for that purpose ; also to
consider and report as to the creation of transferable deben•
tures upon land in Ireland.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND said
there was no controversy whatever about the principle
enunciated by Mr. Scully, and the advantage of carrying
out his views for freedom of trade in land by means of a
free and cheep system of transfer would be one of the
greatest boons to Ireland. For affecting this object the
Landed Estates Courts afforded peculiar facilities, but it
was necessary to see that tho principle was carried out
safely, cautiously, and without injury to the interests of the
country, and that the machinery of the court was sufficient
far the purpose without introducing a new and expensive
machinery. He thought, however, it was quite possible
to frame a measure that would be satisfactory to the house
and the country, and that it would be more becoming and
accordant with precedent and principle that a measure
affecting such large interests and involving such great con-
sequences to the community should be brought in upon
the responsibility of the Government. Having regard to
all the circumstances of the case he was prepared to state
that the matter was now under the consideration of the
executive, and that a measure was in preparation which he
truved would be worthy the consideration of the house,
and which it was his intention to introduce before the end
of the present or at the beginning of the neat session.

After some remarks from Mr. MONSELL, Mr. HASSARD,
and other members, the motion was withdrawn.
Mr. LONGFIELD called attention to the purchase by
the Law Life Assurance Company of large estates in Mayo
and Galway, and the results attending their acquisition
and management of the property. The evictions on the
estates, the hon. member said, were numerous ; no encou-
ragement was given to the tenants, and the possession of the
estates by the company was, he believed, a curse to that part
of the country. They had evaded the statute under which
they were acting, and he contended that the Legislature
ought to deal with them, and that the Crown ought, in its
discretion, to seize on the whole of the land and confiscate
it, as having been acquired contrary to the provisions of the
law.

Lord J. BROWNE defended the company for having in-
terposed, during the famine years, at the sale of the pro •
perty in the Encumbered Estates Court. The sale having I
been promoted, not by them, but the second encumbrance,
the land would not have realised more than one-fourth of
their claim upon it, and since it had come into their hands
it had been managed as well as, nay, better than, the pro-
perty of any other absentee landlords.
Mr. MURRAY (one of the directors of the Law Life
Assurance Company) said that the company bad never
heard any complaints of their management, and assured the
house that their efforts had been sedulously directed to make
the tenants prosperous and contented. Moreover, if any
landed gentleman in Ireland would come forward and pur-
chase the estates, the company would be happy to sell them
upon the valuation of any respectable land valuer.
Mr. GREGORY observed that he had received several
letters from owners of property in both Mayo and Galway,
confirming to its full extent the statement made by Mr.
Loagfield.

Sir R, PEEL deprecated the discussion as calculated to

create unjust and angry feelings against the Law Life As-

surance Company, who held the estates against their own
will in consequence of advances made by them to a man who
had bean unable to repay them. At first he was disposed to
agree in the opinions expressed:by Mr Gregory, but, upon a
full and fair investigation of the whole case, he honestly
believed that the company had not otherwise administered
the property than in a manner conducive to the interests of
the tenants,

Sir T. BURK E was of opinion that the company had
well managed the property, though owing to the miserable
condition in which it was when it first came into their hands
some evictions had undoubtedly been enforced.
Mr MAGUIRE remarked that the tenants were afraid to
improve their holdings lest their rents should be raised or
themselves turned out of their occupations.
After a few words from Mr SC 0 LLY, the motion was
withdrawn.

Mr WHALLEY directed attention to the instructions I
issued by the Police Commissioner as to the suppression of
public meetings in the parks, and the power assumed by
subordinate officers of the police force, pursuant to those
instructions, in suppressing a recent meeting at Primrose-
hill, and in doing so indulged in some severe strictures on
the administration of the police and the arbitrary measures
resorted to by Sir Richard Mayne.
Sir G. GREY said that the parks were the properly of
the Crown, and were dedicated to the public use, subject to
certain conditions and restrictions, which were essential to
the object for which they were handed over to the public,
With regard to the Garibaldian meeting lately suppressed
at Primrose-hill, he regretted that the police had exceeded
their duty on the occasion, and the inspector who interfered
had since Len reprimanded.
The house then wont into committee of supply proforma.
The Publ:c and Refreshment Houses (Metropolis) Bill
was read a second time.
The Union Assessment Committee Act Amendment Bill,
the Army (Prize of Deceased) Bill, and the Chain Cables
and Anchors Bill were read a third time and passed.
Leave was given to bring in several bills, and the other
business on the paper having been disposed of, the house
adjourned at 10 minutes to 1 o'clock.