The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-18 00:00:00

BILL FOR THE EXTENSION OP THE
FRANCHISE.

The following is a copy of the bill introduced
into the Home of Commons by Mr. Baines, Mr. Benley, and
Mr. Scholefsekl, to extend the parliamentary franchise in
cities and boroughs is England and Wales :
" Whereas it is expedient to extend the right of toting
for members of pae'ament in cities and boroughs in Eng-
land and Wales : be it en►cted by the Queen's Most Excel-
lent Majesty, by and with the ►dvice and consent of the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present
parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as
follows :

" 1. The occupation of premises within a city or borough
which returns a member or members to serve in parliament,
or within a place abating in the election for such city or
borough, of the deer yearly value of not lees than GI.,
shall confer a right to vote h the election of such member
or members, in I"ce manner se such right is now conferred
in respect of the occupation of premises of the clear
yearly value of not less than 10f. ; and all pro-
visions now in force concerning inch right in respect of ouch
occupation shall, save as herein otherwise provided, be
applicable to the right hereby conferred, as if 64 were men-
tioned in Section 27 of the act of the aeuion holden in the
2nd and 3rd years of Bing William IV., Chapter 45,
and were mentioned or referred to is all other the
provisions concerning inch right instead of 101.
2. No person shall be entitled under this act to vote in an
election in respect of his occupation, jointly with ►ny Lod,
of any building other than • dwelling-house in which he
himself reside*, unless inch building sepsrately be of the
clear yearly value of not lies than 31. This act may be
cited as ' The Borough Franchise Act, 1864: "

Mrs. William Gladstone had an assembly last
evening at the family residence is Carlton•terrace.
His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and the
Counteu Bersstorff entertained a select circle ►t dinner last
evening, at the Prussian Embassy, on Carlton Howie-terrace.
Among their gouts were the Hanoverian Cbarg6 d'A 4ai'es
and Baroness Bloom, Lcrd and Lady Cranworth, Hon. Mr.
and Mrs. Ashley, Sir Charles L. Wyke, Mr. and Mrs. Ham-
mood. Az.

A letter from the Prusaian head-quarters, says :
"Toe have really some strange people in England. Mrs.
Elizabeth Cattle, with whose Peron tr ic communications most
public men at home and abroad have at one time or other
been favoured, has opened a correspondence with Marshal
WrangeL The Marshal has seen a good deal in the course
of the long life which has left him still so fresh and active,
but he did seem puzzled at the receipt of several pages of
print, consisting chiefly of extracts from Revelations, or
something resembling them, interspersed with parenthetical
references to Mrs. Cottle and other distinguished person-
ages. I cannot positively state the conclusion be arrived at,
but there is not much difficulty in divining it."

EXPENSE or PUBLIC Paris.—lC appears from it
parliamentary retarn issued this marning that 15,()11.
90. 31 has been expended in the purchase and forma-
tion of Battersea•park, the expense being defrayed from
balance of former grants of parliameot and receipts derived
from rents. interest on purchase money, and ■ales of old
materials. The sum of 4,13 q. voted by parliament has
been expended in the lea mation of Chelsea Hospital
grounds.

ELEITION PETITION& —A parliamentary return,
issued this morning, contains is variety of particriars re.
spading election petitions presented Moos the session of
1859. It seems that three members were unseated is the
session of 1860, and one in the session of 1863. In the ses-
sion of 1860 seven petitions were presented; twenty-six
presented and tot proceeded on during the session of 18.111,
and seventeen withdrawn. In the session of 1661, one peti.
Urns was presented ; one withdrawn and one presented and
not proceeded on during the session of 140. In the session
of 186'2, three were presented ; three withdrawn, end one
presented and not proceeded on during the session of 1861.
In the session of 1863 four petitions were presented and one
withdraws. Twelve committees sat in the session of 1860,
one in the session of 1862, and casein the session of 1863.
5.,E% F.Eis AT TII6 A UMIRALTI'. —The Duke of
Somerset held a levee at the Admiralty yesterday afternoon.
It was attended by Rear-Admirals Sir Stephen Lushingtoo,
F. Bullock, and Warden ; Captains J. B. Willoughby, G.
, J. Napier, Francis Marten, J. E. Katoo, R. B. Peens, If.
G. Bloomfield, A. D'Horsey, H. J. Luton, J. A. P. Price,
H. Hillyer, T. I'. Thompson, J. C. Ileaslop, Hoe. G. H.
Douglas; Commanders It. Wells, F. Canaan, Thomas
Creaser, F. ti. Stevens, P. H. Dyke. A. P. Arkwright, G.
W. Toweev, W. C. Forsyth, J. B. Scott • Lieutenant,. T.
iF. I'rowse, J. H. Greer, J. Caiwell. Paymaster-
in-Chief ; John Elliott, surgeon; and Ker. G. Jack-
! son. In future the levee-book will be kept in
the First Lord's private office, and officers are requested to
apply by letter to bis private secretary, stating at which of
the levees they desire to be present ; but applications should
not be made until the levees are actually announced. Agents
applying on behalf of a client must semi to the private secre-
tary a memorandum written by the officer himself (to be re-
tained in office). stating the day he wished to be presented ;
and care should be taken that the rank, Christian names, and
seniority of the officer be correctly and clearly given. It is
to be distinctly understood that, if an officer (without good
memo) does not appear upon the day which he has speciilial,
he cannot be received at any subsequent levee during the
7".!'

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-At the monthly general
meeting held yesterday at the society's house, in Hanover-
'spare. G. Sclater Booth, Esq.. M.P., io the chair, the
Marchioness Towesbend. the Earl of Breadalbene,SirCoutts
Lindsay, Hart., Sir Henry Marsh, Hark, Major Walter
Boyd, Professor C. Wheatstone, Dr. J. H. Tanner, Dr. R.
E. Dudgeon, Messrs. H. Leigh Pembertoo, W. Kitchen
Parker, R. Lowndss Garth, W. Leathern Barclay, W. K.
Maurice Wyooe, C. Hill, J. B. Bowes Elliott, I'. Holt,
Markham Spofforth, R. Ramsay Clarke, J. W. Ininoieg,
J. Snowdon Henry, and Mrs. Em. Arabin, were sleeted
fellows, and Mr. Henry Giglioli, of Pisa, • oorreepoodiog
member of the society. Lonl Otho Augustus Fitzgerald,
the Hon. E. F. Leveson Cower, M.P., Captain C. H.
Riley, Captain Augustus Hamilton, Means. G. Lewis
Watson, H. 11. Grenfell, ,J. St. Anhyn, M.P., Jen
voise Smith, J. Dent Dent. M.P., W. J. S. Morritt,
D. Mackinlay, J. Bell, J. Charlton Parr, W. Adam, H.
Nelson, and Mrs. Georgians Dent, were proposedas candi-
dates for the fellowship.