There certainly seems a very strong case for the passing
of the Scotch Conveyancing Act Amendment Bill. Under the law of Scotland, the greater part of the land is held by feud4 superiors at nominal feu-duties or peppercorn-rents. When the estate passes to the heir-at-law, the feudal superior has a right to levy a double feu-duty; when to a stranger, a whole year's rental. Under the Scotch Conveyancing Act of 1874, the trustees of the heir-at-law are held to be strangers ; and so when a devolution of property held in trust takes place, the feudal superior can claim a year's rent. It is ridiculous that the fact that the draftsman of the Act did not see what its effect would be, should be held to give the feudal superiors a property they did not possess before. It is clear that Parliament should amend the Act of 1874 without delay. It is hard enough for Scotland to have had to endure so long the technicalities of an unreformed and primitive feudalism, without having the burden further increased by blundering legislation.
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