The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, July 14, the 'lloyal assent
was given by commission to a number of bills which had
passed both Houses.
•

THE FRANCMSE BILL. •
The Earl of Wemyss said: I beg to give notice that
on Thursday next I shall move the following resolution:
"That this House is prepared to proceed now with the
consideration of the Representation of the Peoplelßill,
on the understanding that an humble Address to her
Majesty be proposed before the prorogation of Par-
liament humbly praying her Majesty to summon
Parliament to assemble in the early autumn.;. for
the purpose of considering the Redistribution
Bill which her Majesty's Ministers have under-
taken to present to Parliament on the earliest
date possible." The wording of this, my lords, is some-
what different, though in substance it is the same, as
the resolution which has appeared in the papers. I think
that, perhaps, with your lordship's permission, I may be
allowed to say that I drew up that resolution without
any communication whatever with any member either
of your lordships' House or the other House of Parlia-
ment on either side, and that I at once put it on
Saturday morning in the hands of the clerk of the
Parliament. My, object is simply this—to endeavour
after what passed on Friday last to find some common
ground for agreement for the effectual settlembnt of
the question of the reform of Parliament. And if the
resolution appears to either party of this House or to
both not exactly what it should be, I earnestly hope the
leaders of the parties will be able to come to some com-
mon understanding for the peaceful solution of this
great question.
Lord Salisbury protested, in the first place, against
the inconvenient course taken by Lord Wemyss, in
having allowed their lordships to separate on Friday
night without any intimation of his intended motion,
and in having since then named two different days !or
it. Next, he doubted whether the motion itself was in
order. The House had solemnly recorded that for
certain reasons it would not read the Representation of
the People Bill a second time, and until that resolution
was rescinded, it was not competent to the House to
read the bill a second time. He characterised the
notice as informal and disorderly.
Lord Rosebery, having remarked that there could be
very little doubt of the attitude of Lord Salisbury
towards the proposed motion, put a question to Lord
Granville as to the reception it was likely to meet with
from the Government. _ _

Lord Granville was of opinion that there would be
nothing disorderly in the motion, inasmuch as the
question put to the House on Tuesday night last was
"that the bill be now read a second time ; ' but, apart
from the point of order, Lord Salisbury had taken the
earliest opportunity of putting his foot upon a resolu-
tion having for its object to remove difficulties. The
Government would accept the principle of the motion,
though he did not think they could be prepared with
their Redistribution Bill in the early autumn. They
would accept it on the understanding that the Franchise
Bill should be passed in the present session.
Lord Jersey expressed a hope that this chance of an
arrangement would not be lost, _
_ _ _ .

On the motion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a
Bill for the reconstitution of the Bishopric of Bristol
was read a second time.

The Supreme Court of Judicature Bill went through
committee, after some criticisms by Lord Cairns, Lord
Bramwell? and Lord Milltown. In the course of the
conversation, Lord Bramwell expressed his opinion that
there ought to be continuous sittings in Lancashire by
a judge with the authority of a Judge of the High
Court of Justice.

The other orders on the papers having been disposed
of, their lordships rose at ten minutes to 7.

GENERAL GORDON.

In the Houma OF CoacmoNs, Mr. Gibson asked
whether the Government had yet heard whether
General Gordon had 'received either of the Government
despatches of April 23 or May 18; had the Government
recently made any efforts to communicate with General
Gordon; what was the date of the last despatch sent to
General Gordon, and of the last despatch received from
him; and what was the present position of General
Gordon?

Lord E. Fitzmaurice, in reply, said: No, sir; I have
already on several previous occasions stated in this
House that the last despatch to General Gordon was
dated from London on the 17th of May, while that re-
ceived from him bore date the 10th of April. Her
Majesty's Government have not heard whether General
Gordon has received the despatches to which the right
hon. gentleman refers, and it is impossible to state
exactly what his present position is. Every possible
endeavour by means of messengers has been made to
communicate with him, and I have already informed
the House of the steps which have been taken with that
object. Certainother attempts have also been made to
communicate, but it is not desirable to enter into
details. A report has reached Wady Haifa to the effect
that M. Cuzzi had proceeded to Khartoum after the
fall of Berber, and that General Gordon was making
constant sallies.