The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-28 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS.--TounADAT, MAT 27.
TM LoaD CSANCILLOIL took his seat at 6 o'clock.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.
COPTUOLD EN VAANCIIIIIMINT.—By the Duke of
RICHMOND, from Portssecnith, is favour of the enfran-
chisement of eopyholds.
Base SHOPL—By the Dake of RICHMOND, front a
place in SUOMI, against beer shops.
111arsmyrii.—BY the Duke of RICHMOND, from el
plies in flouts, and the Earl of RODEN, from places in
Ireland, against the renewal of the grant to Msyaooth.
THE CASE OF MR. RATHER.

In reply ti.o;—question from Earl FITZWILLIAIio
The Earl of MALMESBURY said that the negotiations
Which had been carried on with considerable anxiety on the
part of Mr. Scarlett, the British Char* d'Affaires at
Florence, with reference to the case of Mr. Mather, had
been brought to a conclusion. With reference to the offence
which had been committed on Mr. Mather, as far as it
affected our national pride and honour, the Austrian
minister had long ago assured her Majesty's government
that there was no national feeling, no anti-English feeling
is the part of the officer who had acted is so cruel a man-
age ; that he greatly regretted what had occurred, which
lee attributed to fortuitous circumstance, and the accident
of the moment. No official communication had taken
place with the Austeian government from the beginning
of this affair. His predecessor in office had thought that
be ought to insist on obtaining reparation from the Tuscan
government, and the communications on the subject had
been carried on with them. The mutt had been, that Mr.
Mather hail obtained pecuniary compensation fur the inju-
ries be had received, equivalent, as far as Mr. Scerlett
eoald judge, to what that gentleman would have received
is an English court of justiee. (Hear, hear.)
LOCAL TAXATION.
Earl FITZWILLIAM gave notice that he valid to-
morrow (this day, call the attention of the house to the sub-
}eel of local taxation.
EXAMINATION OF WELSH WITNESSES IN
THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

A brief conversation took plate on this subject, consequent
upon a question from Earl ruwis, satisfactorily replied to
by the LORI, CIIANCELLOS.
After a few words from Lord CANIMILL and Lord DUI,.
eon, who thought the 'lamination of Welsh witnesses in
that Ism:we would mdse., to the better administration
of justice, the matter dropped.
COMMON LAW FROCEDURE AMENDMENT BILL.
Lord 'flit' ItO, on moving the third reading of this bill,
highly eulogised the report of the commissioners upon
which it was founded, sad stated that the object of the bill
was to facilitate justice and lessen its coot.
Lord PENMAN was exceedingly happy to boar testi-
mony tee the merits of the bill. The noble and learned lord
wished to propose some verbal am.ndnients in oetioss of

troves.
Lord CAM r IiELL expressed his gratification at hear-
ing that his noble and learnedfriend approved of the hill,
and he was RUM that that approhatior would facilitate Its
pawing through the other house of parliament.
After a short conversation,
The bill was read • third time, and two clauses, one
moved by Lord Truro sad the other by Lord Denman,
laving been added, the bill pried.
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND
MARRIAGES BILL.

This hill was read . geed time.
ENFRANCHISEMENT OF COPYUOLDS BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR named the select committee
on this toll.
Lord CAMPBELL was understood to decline to act on
the committee.
After a few swords from the Llstn Cu SNerLLOII,
The names were agreed to, Earl Fitswilliam being sub
substituted tor Lord Campbell.

- -
SCHOOL SITES EXTENSION BILL.
On the order of the day for this bill going into com-
mittee,
Ihe Ili.hop of OXFORD said the noble end learned
lord on the woolsack had painted out to him parts of the
bill which be considered to be objectionable, and with a
view In alter the bill, so as to obviate those objections he
moved that the bill be postponed till the Bth June.

eirooa to.
PROPERTY OP LUNATICS BILL.
This bill pared through comosittee.
STAMP DUTIES (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
PROPERTY TAX CONTINUANCE BILL.
This bill was read a third time, and passed.
TURNPIKE ROADS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
REPRESENTATION OF LEARNED BODIES.
. .

The Sul of HARROWBY presented • petition from
member of the learned professions and others praying that is
say changes which may be made in the constitution of the
House of Commons provision may be made for the distinct
and separate repnsentaties of the educated intelligence of
the country. This proposal, he said, might startle by its
novelty, but be thought it deserved some cenaideraties.
He believed the general feeling in their lordships' house
was, that it would be better not to make any further
changes in the Hour of Commons at all. (Hear.) At the
same time, there were circumstances which from time tether
compelled a consideration of the question, and it was pos-
sible that the ecreuption which was alleged to *eke la
boroughs might force a consideration of it. The popsies
feeling was simply that in representation all they should
do was to collect the opinions of the majority of the
yooplo Art., Jett e.,•*.._ :! alloomel to prevail, waned
lead to dangerous consequences. (Hear, hear.) There
was nothing in ancient or modern experience to en-
average such a change. In a neighbouring country
universal suffrage elected two bodies with equal
powers, which became antagonistic, and the result had
been the extinguishment of liberty. Ile said the majority
had no right. It was purely a matter of convention. It
would be the domination of the strong over the weak, and
the object of all governments was to protect the weak
against the strong. They must, therefore, look to other
sources for representation. It was of no use disguising
it from themselves, that the House of Commons
was no longer a mere taxing body, but it
was practically the great instrument of gowlenneent.
A great point to keep in view, la the considers*a of this
question was, that the government of Hielliend wee no
longer a municipal goveneseas—wis no Imam • amity
English government. Is wis now the pessemme tithe
greatest empire the wand kid ever men; gad Mine Mc
viorly, if we sought, in our representative systems sown
then the repeseestura of oar own interne!, porter. wee
oar intimets, pe=adosid holl= we hst stet
mad leek so sere of them mum sot of
tier *Assisi seeneedons. Hs wee est sew milisileg the
' BMWs DM; but it was certain that seder the pewelsee eyo
bun, gmetiosses who were the Winn espoommeedeseof the
colonies, had be
swabbed Webb& mob is pielismiatoebile
wader the mem* system emit pommies well meek be tole
to obtain mimes Is the Hem of Commos. llopmemfm.
ties awl the ammeter of the goetwommat were millhis
oath* Is lb' brads of pipeline siestiesessiss ; owl the
asememey rush it that wee, llmt meiidetr far elssYea
reeimmended tbeemshom to see or Ohm muslin if sea
esselltesesime by peohedeg whet was Monad ahem
ophions ewe way sr lbs ease. Timm sass if imps*
esteem, maimed thseght, no
mesimats
eissly that elass of mei who would osestitids thg":"Nret
representative body were milieelly aimed hem
public life. (Hear, hear.) When i gmedesems west
down to present himself to a rostitaney ke INN&
bly, and, as it were, instinctively, adapted the Isms
errata to recommend him to the crowd be wee about to
mares. He was, for instance, vialeMly wise the May-
noceh endowment ; or, on the otter W. lo wee Is vio-
lently against meddling with that matter. He woe a
furious protectionist ; or be was as furious • has hailer.
Moderation was put on one side ; every conviction was pas-
sioaately expremed, and this or that policy was advocated
in a feverish rage. This was the undoubted character of
the present system ; and the result was, the aeries of a
House of Commons which had less the character of •
deliberative assembly then it was desirable that it ghoul
have. To effect the limited alteration he confessed he believed
to be extremely desirable, so wane could be so adequate
as those indicated in the petition he had presented to
their lordships. It might be answered—thew mew
have votes in their several localities, and they may exercise
their privileges. No doubt. But this vast constituency
was scattered there were but tens and twenties In the va-
rime communities sending members to parliament ; and, in
orrequence, their votes could never invite the candidate
whom they would desire to return, while they were utterly
without influence for or against any of the actual candi-
dates. Why, then, should not this constituency be organised
and brought together, to act together, and be represented
as a whole, as a separate community, so to speak, within
the community. It was often eaten led, even by men of
conservative tendencies, that the drawbacks and deficiencies
on the present system were but temporary; that the system
would work perfectly whew the coestiteeness themselves
were elevated; and that f r the securities of the future, ,
statesmen and patriots must trust to the education of the
people. Now, be thought that this argument proceeded
upon a great fallacy. Undoubtedly the people were
inauffteiently educated ; undoubtedly their education
might be greatly improved. But the mar of the people
would always be those who would earn their bread by the
sweat of their brow—artisans, men whose lives, however
ameliorated and elvenr d, would be pared in manual toil;
sail it was obvious that, however excellent the education
which might be given to or might be acquieed by these
men, it was impossible in the nature of things that that
edscation email be otherwise than extremely imperfect.
(Hear, heat.) The education fitting a man to decide on
the important interests and mighty questions involved in
the government of a great nation could never be acquired
by those who, because they were sample their
daily breed by daily toil, could never poser the
leisure for study or for thought. Therefore, he
altogether denied that the education of the masses
could ever be so raised as to become an adequate test for
the privileges of the franchise. This was not an abstract
arertion. Ile thought that every one must have observed
the illustration of the fallacy to which he referred furnished
try the conduct of the Socitty of Amalgamated Engineers.
Mere was a body consisting of the best educated and the
best paid elms of artisan; and yet them men were found