The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-01 00:00:00

NEWSPAPER COPYRIGHT.

Tun CHANCELLOR of the Exotica= has with-
drawn the Copyright Clause which be proposed to
engraft on his Newspaper Stamp Bill. Hs has done
this, we are told, in deference to the feeling of the
House. The feeling of the House of Commons is,
tberefore, that newspaper writers and publishers
ought to be denied a right conceded to all other
authors and publishers. If the admirable obituary
notice of Gummi Baia., and other equally original
and masterly essays from the same pen, which
have appeared in the Daily News, were pub-
lished together as a book, the author or
publisher would be allowed to have a right
of property ia them. Why is this justice denied
to newspaper proprietors and contributors P And '
yet we are told by the very men who thus place
newspapers beyond the pale of the law's protection
that they love and venerate the newspaper press—
that they regard it as a bulwark of oar national
liberties.

Perhaps, however, the House of Commons is
Namely so much to blame as • majority of the news-
paper interest. The contemplated alterations in the
Stamp Law have been discussed by many even of the
most respectable and influential journals in anything
but a comprehensive and far-mein spirit. In-
stead ,of seeking to have newspaper pro-
perty, and the conditions of publication, placed
upon • broad, equitable, and permanent basis,
they have been scrambling for the attainment of
petty personal advantages. The ground which we
took up from the beginning, and have slang to, still
appears to us unassailable. We deny that Plovern-
ment has any right to impose upon u a special tax
from which other occupations are exempted. We
admit that we have no claim to the services of the
Post-office unless we pay for them. We therefore
supported a measure which appeared tons to relieve
newspapers from any special tax, and at the same time
held out to us the prospect of postal aocusmodation
for a fair remunerative payment to the Post-
Gibe. We further supported the proposal of
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to embrace
the opportunity when the Legislature was dealing
with newspapers at any rate to pleas their proprie-
tary rights upon a secure and equitable footing, by
conferring upon those registered proprietors who are
liable to be sued on account of their partners the
right of suing for them, and assuring to them their
right of property in the article they have purchased
or produced. We have asked neither more nor less
than what the principles of abstract equity and posi-
tive law concur to recognise as due to every man.
We have been denied one important part of our
claims, but we feel convinced that " to this complexio..
it must come at last," when the murmurs and impor-
tunities of a short-sighted selfishness have died away.

In the meantime there is one important part of the
Cnattosuka of the Rtcseconta's measure which
is not yet hopelessly lost. We allude to his pro-
posal to confer upon those registered proprietors
who are now liable to be sned on soconot of the
whole, the right of suing on their behalf. This
clause has indeed been again postponed by the
CHANCELLOR of the Excusciuns, and his infirmity of
purpose renders any postponement on his part well-
sigh equivalent to abandonment. Bat we here
reiterate our just claim to have this clause passed into
a law, whatever quibbling and sophistical lawyers
may say to the contrary.—Deily Nape.

I, TR3 DAILY MSWII.)
LISBON, Aran 21.

II
The ministerial proposal to issue 1,1180 routes al
inscriptions as a guarantee to the company tar a
milway from Bameiro to Vendee Novas has puled,
both chambers. It is rumoured that Count Luoette
has succeeded in obtaining the necessary capital to
carry out the Cintra Railway.
The government has succeeded in wiling its shares
in the &martini Railway to Brazilian capitalists, who
readily parted with some of their superfluous cash in
hopes of being decorated with titles and orders. This
will no doubt give a fresh impulse to the works,
which have hitherto been very languidly executed.
On the completion of these three tines, of which
there seems now to be at least some probability, there
will be about 100 miles of railway in the imme-
diate vicinity of the capital. Some progress has also
been made in macadamisation, and a few years more
would see the country blessed with good roads in
every direction.
The young King and his brothers have had an
attack of measles, which disease Is vary prevalent
here, but it is not at all of a dringeose nature. It is
determined that his Majesty will proceed to Paris to
me the Exhibition, and afterwards visit the courts of
Brussels and Logsdon. He will probably go to Rome,
bat this is not quite decided. The royal party are to
leave on, the 16,h of May.
The exchange on London was effected at 641 at 30
days sight, and 64i at 90 days' date. Shares in the
Bank of Portugal continue to advanos in price, haying
been sold at Rs. 436,000. Inscriptions are quoted at
39 ex div.
Madame Castellan had a splendid benefit last night
ia Omaha de Vergy. Madame Aiboni returns to
Ragland by this steamer, having completed her en-
gagemeet here.

-
Stunt.-06 the 27th sit. the Corte, reject id 61. ••••1
pedthe it the hoiden at cooper by s thajoritY el
186 to b.