THE PUBLIC LANDS BILL.
(To THE EDITOR OF THII "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Your observations on the Public Lands Bill, introduced on Wednesday last by Sir Charles Dilke, were, I presume, due to the misstatements concerning it which would appear to have been made in the House. When it was said that the definition would include "Docks," it ought to have been explained that the 14th Clause excepted all such works, as a more convenient and clear method of expression than any originally qualified definition could have been. So far from depriving testatora of the "temptation to leave lands for public purposes," it actually restored the power of doing so, which the law now takes from them. The means which now exist of endowing the Catholic Church with wealth exceeding that of all the millionaires in the world; if testators chose so to enrich it, were not taken away, and certainly were not given by it. The Bill was discussed and approved by the Land Tenure Reform Association. Its preparation was entrusted to me, and when completed, Sir Charles Die, Mr. P. A. Taylor, and other members, were requested to introduce and support it in Parliament. I believe that, not less from their confidence in the Liberal body from which it emanated, than from its conformity with their own opinions, they frankly accepted the duty. I enclose you printed copies of reasons issued by the Association in favour of the Bill. They are too voluminous for your columns, but will convince you how entirely the principles involved in the measure would appear to have been ignored or evaded by its opponents. The subject is a large one, and I hope to be able to deal with it before long in treating of endowments generally. I now, however, address you, because, after the abuse with which the Bill has been assailed, I should be ashamed to shrink from avowing my responsibility for every word that it contained, except the title, " Commons Protection," which the printer seems without authority to have affixed to it.—I am, Sir, &c.,
THOMAS HARE.
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