THE LORD CHANCELLOR ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 26, 22 July 1871, Page 6

THE LORD CHANCELLOR ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND.

[Dundee Advertises, May 4] At a meeting of the Judicial Society last night, the Lord Chancellor said he was not one of those who would increase the difficulties whichheset law reformers. The country had gone through two stages in the science of law since they hegan to regard existing anomalies. Lord Coke gravely stated that there was no right in property which might not be endangered by any one, provided he pleaded rightly. There was the rub—thesecases of wrong pleading. The laws of England contrasted favorably with the old Roman laws which had been so highly praised. Although the law of England was not in a satisfactory State, still by the common sense and genius of the judges it had been judiciously interpreted and properly applied. Something must be done to bring it into a more solid and endurable shape. The law of property was in the worst possible state, and it required all the genius of the judges to keep right what Parliament failed to deal with. Lord Mansfield's mercantile code was almost perfect. He had seen 75 persons at the Old Bailey receive sentence of death at one time. He had seen the last glove thrown down in the wager of battle. Such things were all passed, and reforms not less sweeping must be brought into operation regarding the laws relating to real property and joint-stock companies. It was monstrous that a deed of marriage settlement should require from eight to ten skins. If they could not get it into a sheet of note paper let them compress it into one skin. He strongly advocated a registry for executive deeds. This was the only civilised country without such an office, not excepting China.