The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-18 00:00:00

TENURE OF LAND IN OUDE.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE gave notice that to-
morrow he should ask a question of her Majesty's Govern-
ment with respect to the tenure of land in Oude.
REVISAL OF THE LITURGY.

Lord ERURY' gave notice that early after the Easter
recess he should move for the appointment of a commis-
sion to consider the propriety of revising.the Liturgy.
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR BILL.

On the motion that this bill be read a third time,
Lord C RANWORTH rose to move the omission of
clauses 95 to 98, which he said in effect restored the old
system of proceeding in bankruptcy. The effect of the
clauses -he objected to was to place the affairs of
the bankrupt in the hands of a trade assignee, and
revive a system which some years ago was considered so
objectionable that it was thought advisable to appoint offi-
cial assignees in order to prevent the abuse. The smaller
creditors were the persons most affected by the proposed
change, and he thought that the house should see that their ,
interests were properly protected.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said the objections raised
by noble and learned lOrds had been seriously con-
sidered before the clauses were introduced into the
bill. There were very conflicting opinions prevalent
with respect to the point raised by the noble and learned
lord, and a few evenings ago a petition was presented,
signed by 800 bankers and merchants of the City
of London, in favour of his view of the subject.
He (the Lord Chancellor) had, however, presented
a petition, signed by 4,000 persons, with directly
the opposite prayer, and from the facility with which sig-
natures were obtained to petitions, he had no doubt but
that on examination many of the same signatures would be
found on both petitions. The clauses were the result of
mature deliberation, and were approved by large masses of
the commercial community ; he, therefore, could not con.
sent to their being struck out of the bill.
Lord OVERSTONE gave his strong and unqualified
support to his noble and learned friend below him (Lord
Cranworth.)
Tne Earl of DONOUQHMORE defended the retention
of the clauses.
After a few words from Earl GREY their lordships di-
vided, when there apppeared—

For the retention of the clauses 3B
Against
Majority,

The clauses were then agreed to, and ordered to stand
part of the bill.
Lord CRANWORTH had next to move the omission of
clauses 113 to 116, with reference to the disposal of the in-
solvent's reversionary interest. These clauses enacted that
with respect to non-troders who became insolvent, their
reversionary interest in settled estates should not be sold
till it fell into full possession. He did not see why an invi-
dious distinction should be made in this matter between
traders and non-traders. No doubt it was much for the
interest of the debtor that the sale of reversionary property
should be postponed till it fell into possession, and Lord
Derby had said that he deprecated the sale of reversionary
property at all ; but this measure would only prevent its
sale in the case of those persons who were tenants in tail,
for instance, of a son who was to succeed to a settled estate
after h.s father; it was a provision for the benefit of the
eldest sons of landed proprietors, and of no other class, since
if a person was entitled to a reversionary interest in funded
property, in case of his becoming insolvent it would be sold.
The object of these clauses was to give protection to one
particular class only.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said this statement of the
objects of the clauses was not quite correct. It was true
that these clauses only applied to the case of tenants in tail
of settled estates, because in that case there could be no pos-
sible advantage to the creditors in forcing a sale,-
yet the
creditors would have their full rights reserved to them when
the estate fell into possession. There was no powar to deal
with the settled estates without the consent of the protector
of the settlement, so that the reversionary interest was one
which might never come into existence at all, and was,
therefore, of very little value to the credit ors, as the pro-
tector of the settlement had the means of preventing the
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