Another of that series of bills by which Lord Brougham
is gradually but surely laying the foundations of a better system of conveyancing, was last night read a first time in the House of Lords. It extends to mort- gages and farmers' leases the principles of the two acts passed last session to simplify and abridge leases of household property and sales of land. The acts of last session left the adoption of the abridged forms optional: the present bill does not make them compulsory, but it contains a provision, that in taxing costs the taxing officer shall be at liberty not to allow for the long form of conveyance if he shall be of opinion that the short form might have been used. This ingenious approach towards making the adoption of the short form compulsory, is perhaps quite as important as the extended application of the principle. Lord Campbell expressed his hearty approbation of the bill.
Previous page
