hij Loans J'ro))i. (ruveriDiient or Public Cunipanies. 1 25 
January, 1841, lie wrote to the writer thus: — "The question 
of amending; my Act has certainly now become more practicable, 
as well by the formation of the \ Orkshire Society as by tlic 
lapse of time, and by your havin<^ obtained from Mr. Bcl- 
lenden Iver positive su<^<.''estions on the subject. All these 
suijg^estions, as far as I understand them, aj)pear to me improve- 
ments, and / should even he disposed to try prioritij for such 
charges over existing mortgages" 
The Bill referred to, having been handed to Mr. Pusey, was 
conducted by him through several stages in the Commons, but 
was dropped, partly in consequence of the grave doubts expressed 
by the Solicitor-General (the present Lord Chancellor*) as to the 
justice of giving the rent-charges to be created under the Act 
the priority which was sought, and partly because an under- 
standing was come to that the late Duke of Richmond should 
introduce the measure in the House of Lords, in the ensuing 
session of 1845,t when the objection raised by the Solicitor- 
General should be more fully considered. It will be remem- 
bered that the noble Duke referi"ed to succeeded in obtaining 
a Committee to take evidence, and to report upon the proposed 
measure, early in the spring of 1845, and that he introduced his 
Bill in the following June in accordance with the understanding 
come to with Mr. Pusey. This measure, to alter and amend 
the Act of the 3rd and 4th of Victoria, became a law in the 
same session (8 and 9 Vic. cap. LVL). In the meantime the 
Government had undertaken to take the matter up on an en- 
larged basis. 
3. It was at this juncture that the Prime Minister, the late Sir 
Robert Peel, considered it due to the agricultural interest that 
an advance of public money should be made for the drainage of 
land. In order that the owners of settled estates might be the 
* Lord Chancellor Chelmsford. 
t The following copy of a letter, written by the late Mr. Pusey to the writer 
will be read with interest : — 
" Deak Sir, " Pusey, August 3, 1844. 
" I am sorry that as the Solicitor-General disapproved of your Bill, it becomes 
hopeless to cai-ry it beyond a second reading. I doubt if we can gain the point 
of priority. If the parties whom you represent thinly it desirable to proceed, 
your best course would be to draw up a statement of existing difficulties and the 
proposed remedies. The Duke of Richmond has expressed his readiness to assist 
us, and I would communicate your representation to him. Possibly, as it relates 
to proceedings in Chancery, it would be best that tlie liill should be originated 
in the House of Lords, where there are so many who have been at the head of 
that court. 
" January next, however, will be soon enough for you to put me in possession 
of your views. 
" Yours very truly, 
" J. Bailey Denton, Esq." " Philip Pdsev, 
