The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-28 00:00:00

LIMITED LIABILITY.

Mr. POTTER rose and said, that in consequence of
the unanimous resolution passed by the house last even-
ing, relating to the important question of limited liabi-
lity in certain cases of partnership, and inasmuch as the
noble lord the Secretary for the Home Department, and
the Attorney-General for England, in the observations
made by them, did not assure the house that a bill would
be introduced on this important subject, he begged to
give notice that he should, on an early day in the next
session, move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the
act of the 21st and 22d Geo. 111., chap. 46 (Irish),
entitled " An Act to Promote Trade and Manufacture
by Regulating and Encouraging Partnerships." (Hear.)

pose within a specified time, it should revert to the
heirs of the granter.
The committee divided upon the clause as amended,
and the numbers were
For the clause
Against it
Majority —6s
The clause was accordingly added to the bill.
On clause six,
Mr. GOI7LBURN complained that it violated the
provisions of the Mortmain Act, and therefore he ob-
jected to the clause.
Mr. HEADLAM and Mr. ATHERTON argued that it
was a matter of public policy that the mortmain laws
should be amended in the proposed bill by this clause.
Mr. T. EGERTON did not think so. In point
of fact, the clause would go to destroy the whole
foundation of the mortmain laws, as it would
enable undying corporations to purchase and'
hold land in perpetuity. He entertained a decided ob-
jection to such a provision, no matter whether it was
intended for a charitable or any other purpose whatever.
After some further discussion,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, who entered the
house shortly before five o'clock, said he had given a
few minutes' attention to the clause, and it seemed to
him to be surrounded with so much difficulty that he
must suggest its postponement.
Mr. HEADLAM complained of this treatment. The
bill had been several months before the house, and it
was too bad that at the last moment, and after only two
or three minutes' consideration, one of the law officers of
the Crown should pronounce against the most important
clause in the bill. If this was the treatment he had to expect
at the hands of the Government, he thought the sooner he
gave up the measure the better, as it was impossible for
an independent member to carry it under such circum-
stances. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Serjeant SHEE thought the object of the clause
was an exceedingly good one ; it was simply to enable
charitable persons who had money in hand to invest it in
land for charitable purposes, and he was at a loss to un-
derstand how such a provision could infringe on the
Mortmain Act.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL did not object to such
a provision as that, but the language of the clause was
such as to admit of its being applied to purposes that
would be at variance with the conditions of the snort-
main laws.

Mr. HEA.DLAM was at a loss to discover where
there was room for improvement in the language of the
clause, but let the committee pass it as it had been
amended, then see it reprinted, and if it should be found
that the language could be restricted or improved, why
the change could be made on bringing up the report.
After some further discussion of a purely technical
character the committee divided, when there appeared—
For the clause lO6
Against it
Majority —l5

The clause was then agreed to.
The Chairman was then directed to leave the chair,
and the house having resumed, the CHAIRMAN reported
progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Wednesday
next.