482
LAW REFORM.
supporters of our civil and our religious establishment. With them were joined all the great jurisconsults and statesmen of that illustrious age. They sat for five years, and proposed a number of the most important and general reforms. I will read the titles of a few Acts, the draughts of which the Commissioners prepared. 1. For taking away fines upon bills, declarations, and original writs. 2. For taking away common recoveries, and the unnecessary charges of fines, and to pass and charge lands entailed as lands in fee-simple. 3. For ascertaining of arbitrary fines upon descent and alienation of copyholds of inheritance. 4. For the more speedy recovery of Rents. 5. For the better regulating of Pleaders and their Fees. 6. For the more speedy and easy recovery of Debts and Damages not exceeding the sum of Four Pounds. 7- For the further declaration and prevention of Fraudulent Contracts and Conveyances. 8. Against the Sale of Offices. 9. For the recovery of Debts owing by Corporations. 10. To make Debts assignable. 11. To prevent solicitation of Judges, Bribery, Extortion, Charge of Motions, and for restriction of Pleaders. 12. An Act for all County Registers, Will, and Administrators; and for preventing Inconvenience, Delay, Charge, and Irregularity, in Chancery and Common Law, (as well in common pleas as criminal causes.) 13. Acts for settling County Judicatures, Guardians of Orphans, Courts of Appeal, County Treasurers, and Workhouses, with Tables of Fees and Short Forms of Declaration.