128 The Landed Interest. 



Number Acts of the Legislature. Since 1841 upwards 



completed. 



of twelve thousand enfranchisements have been 

 completed under the Copyhold Acts, and they 

 are now proceeding, through the instrumentality 

 of the Copyhold Commission, at an average rate 

 of 600 a year. Besides these, a very large num- 

 ber have been effected throughout the different 

 parts of the country, without the intervention of 

 the office, owing to the stimulus to voluntary 

 enfranchisement given by the Copyhold Acts. 

 But though the number seems large, it repre- 

 sents probably but a moderate proportion of the 

 whole, as wherever there is a manor there are 

 many copyhold properties ; and much yet 

 remains to be accomplished before this injurious 

 and obstructive kind of tenure shall altogether 

 cease to exist. The Copyhold Commission was 

 formed with the intention gradually to abolish 

 copyhold tenure, beginning by offering facilities 

 for voluntary enfranchisement, after which it 

 should proceed to its object of extinction on the 

 compulsory principle. Accordingly, after ten 

 years' trial of facilities under the voluntary 

 system, compulsory powers were given to either 



