The Times in its issue of Wednesday taunts the Land
Re- formers with being vague in their demands, with indulging in 'tumid phrases," and with silence when asked for a definition of their proposals. The charge is only true because the Reformers, with the usual English moderation, are waiting to see how far their political leaders will consent to go, and what is the mini- mum of disturbance with which their objects can be accom- plished. But most of them would, we believe, agree to express their wishes in two very short Acts. The first would declare that," Henceforward, for all legal purposes, realty shall be per- sonalty ;" and the second would decree that, "Henceforward, the rated owner shall be owner in fee, with full power of sale, and any claim on his land shall be a claim to be satisfied in money only." Expressed in legal phrase, and enlarged to meet ,certain difficulties, those two Acts would extinguish primo- geniture and settlement, revolutionise the mortgage system, and make land as saleable as Consols,—the four improvements intended. So much will not be given at once, but that is the ideal.
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