The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-15 00:00:00

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11441% 1"14• 1411Viiyitikr, Ann 14.
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I •V/ • PRIVATE RDSMXIS.
The !Alining bills were read a third time and reed I
MAIN:4O2M and St. Jobes-wsted Railway (Cattleaban
Croftlieril and Ribs:also* Extension Beano ;
Road Tenbridge and %Maui Bond; Wigton Water
(with amendment) ; and Worcester, liswenyud, and Leo-
minstw Railway (with einenflailtatcl
:CORRUPT PRACTICES AT SLEcrioNs.
Vinersant SYDNEY (the Lord Chamberlain) brought up
her Majesty's reply to the addresses from their lordships
praying for royal commissions to inquire into the existence
of corrupt practices at the elections for Lancaster, Totnes,
Reigate, and Great Yarmouth. Her Majesty intimated
that the commissions would be issued.
DRAMATISING WORKS OF FICTION.
Load LYTTELTON moved the second reading of the
Rights of DramatieingWorks of Fiction Bill. lie onmplypro:
wwd. that when the copyright of any work of fiction had
been sold or disposed of, the author should have the exclu-
sive eight of dramatising the work, and performing it at
any theatre, or allowing it to be so dealt with.
Lord TAUNTON said he thought the protection to
anthers went far enough already. He objected to this
bill
because dramatising a work was so a term. This
was a sort of petty legislation to wh he thought they
ought not to have recourse. He did not think that authows
should protect themselves in this way. Be moved that
the bill be read a second time that day six months.
Earl STAN HOPE said he hoped to be able to panuade their
lordships to give assoond readmgtothisbill. He eoniddend it
a complement to the bill of 1842, whichlie was instrumental
in bringing into the House of Commons, sad which had
been attributed to Mr. Serjesnt Talfourd, who was not in
the House of Commons at the time. Practical hardships
arose under the present state of the law for which he
thought a remedy ought to be provided. Authors now
suffered in purse and in fame. Authors guttered in
purse because when a work of fiction was profit-
able, a drama founded on it was frequently
profitable also, and that profit ought to belong to the
author and they suffered in fame their works being
badly dramatised. If their lords were prepared to
Altai by the principle of the act of 842, he defied Miens
to state any tangible ground why they should not agree to
this measure. He did not see why they should give pro-
tection in one shape and refuse it in another. He need
not remind their lordships that several conventions had
been entered into with foreign countries, based on the
copyright att, and if this bill pawed, be trustedi her Ma-
jesty's government would endeavour to include drama-
tise(' works in those conventions.
Earl GRANVILLE said it had been laid down by the
noble earl that this bill was a necessary complement of the
act of 1642, and that those who were in favour of the one
must necessarily be in favour of the other. But it
appeared to him that this was not the case. In nine cases
out of ten authors were benefited by their works being
dramatised, inasmuch as • greater desire was thereby
created to read the wake. With regard to the public, be
thought that this bill would create a great hardship, for
there was hardly any play, the plot of which was originai,
and certainly the plots of Shakespeare's plays were not in-
vented by himself. He doubted whether even the reser-
vation to the author of the right of translation had not
sated injuriously. For these reasons he advised his noble
friend to withdraw this bilL
The LORD CHANCELLOR said if this bill passed it
would give rise to interminable litigation.
Lord LYTTELTON said a few words in reply.
Their lordships then divided, and the numbers were :
Contents ll
Non-contents B9-78
The Ecclesiastical Commission Bill was taken in com-
mittee.
Clause 2, providing for the appointment of a third paid
commissioner, with a salary of 1,0001. a year, was rejected
on a division by 26 to 24.
An amendment by the Bishop of Oxford on clause 3,
empowering two commissioners in future to do all that
bad heretofore been the duty of the Estates Committee,
was agreed to.
Clause 4 was negatived by 76 to 34 ; sa was clause 26 by
42 to 18.
The Labouring Classes Dwellings (Ireland) bill and the
Fishery Piers and Harbours (Ireland) Bill passed through
committee.
The Drainage Maintenance (Ireland) Bill was read a
third time and pissed.
The Grand Juries Presentment (Ireland) Bill was read •
second time.
The house adjourned at 5 minutes past 8 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUUBtDAY, Jinni 14.
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following private bill. were read a third time and
passed :—Bedford and Northampton Railway, Bray Im-
provement, Central Cornwall Railway, Devon Valley and
North British Railway Companies (Branches) ; Longton,
Adderley Green, and Bucknall Railway ; Longton Gas;
New Romney Railway ; North British and Leadburn, Lin-
ton and Dolphinton Railway Companies ; North British
Railway (St. Margaret's Diversion), North British Railway
(Stirling, Sc., Brandies), and Stourbridge Railway.
THE BOROUGH FRANCHISE.
Mr. CASK ELL gave notice that in the event of the
motion of the noble lord the member for Galway (Lord
Dunkellin) being adopted, he should move to substitute
the words six pounds for seven pounds. (Hear.)
THE COUNTY FRANCHISE.
Mr. W. B. BEAUMONT gave notioe that in the event
of the motion of the hon, member for Northamptonshire
(Mr. Hunt) being carried, he should move to substitute the
words " twelve pounds" for " fourteen pounds" in the
county franchise. (Hear.)
COMPENSATION TO JAMAICA OFFICIALS.
Major JERVIS asked the Secretary of State for the Co-
lonies whether the officials of the late Legislative Assem-
blies of JamLica would receive either pensions or compensa-
tions for loss of their offices.
Mr. CARDWELL replied that the question of eom-
pnattion was the subject of correspondence between Sir
H. Stork and himself. The cases of those persons who
would not be employed under the new arrangement
would be considered by himself, in connexion with the
commissioners of the Treasury.

REGISTRATION OF DOGS.
Mr. BUTLER asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether it was the intention of her Majesty's
government to introduce (hiring the present session any
measure for the registration of dogs, with • view to the
prevention of hydrovhohia and of other injuries to person
and property for which the owners of dogs were not now
practically responsible.
Sir G. GREY said that a measure to abate the nuisance
complained of would shortly be introduced. (Hear, hear.)
MESSAGE FROM THE CROWN.—BRIBERY
COMMISSIONS.
Lord PROBY appeared at the bar, and read the following
message from her Majesty :—" I have received the joint
address of the two houses of parliament in reference to the
reports made by the select committees appointed to try
the merits of petitions complaining of undue elections and
returns for the boroughs of Totnes, Reigate, Lancaster,
and Great Yarmouth ; and I have given directions accord-
ingly for the appointment of the gentlemen named in the
address to be commissioners for the purpose of making the
inquiries prayed for."
THE FENIAN RAID INTO CANADA.
Mr. J. LOWTHER asked the Secretary of State for the
Colonies whether her Majesty's government had received
any information respecting the rumoured invasion of •
portion of BritishiAmerica by an armed force, which was re-
ported to have entered from the United States.
Mr. CARDWELL said he had received a despatch from
Lord Monck, dated the bit of June, in which he stated that
" a body of about 600 Fenians entered this province this
morning, crossed the river, and established themselves in
the village of Fort Erie. I am now taking measures to
meet the emergency." In a private note Lord Monck gave
him reason to expect that by the next mail he thought he
should be able to give a satisfactory account of the raiders.
(Cheers and laughter.)
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
Mr. ADDERLEY asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether there were material alterations
introduced into the Industrial Schools and Reformatory
Consolidation Mlle in their committal pro forma.
Mr. HITG}NSEN said he thought it would be conve-
nient to the house to have the bill reprinted. He under-
stood that many of the managers of the reformatory
schools would meet in London on Tuesday. It would not,
he thought, be desirable to proceed with the bill until
after that meeting had taken place.
MANIFMTO OF THE EMPEROR OF THE
FRENCH.
Sir W. HUTT—Sir, I wish to ask the Under Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's govern-
ment has received from Lord Cowl • copy of a very sig-
nificant letter said to have been addrweed by the Emperor
of the French to M. Drouyn de Lhuri, and read by M.
Rouher, at the beginning of the week, to the legislative
body ; whether a copy of that letter has been transmitted
by her Majesty's ambassador at Paris; and whether, in
the event of such • document having been received, it
would be laid upon the table of the house.
Mr. LAYARD—The letter to which my right hon.
friend refers was • letter addressed by the Emperor of the
French to one of his ministers, to be communicated to the
legislative chambers. That letter was subsequently pub-
lished in the official organ of the government, the Mimi-
tear. As • matter of opener • copy of the letter was fur-
nished by the British embassy at Paris to her Majesty's
government, but it would not be proper or consistent
with the usual custom to lay it on the table. (Hear.)
REPORTED DECLARATION OF WAR BY AUSTRIA.
Sir W. HUTT—I wish now to ask another question,
namely, whether her Majesty's government has received
any official intelligence that war has been declared by the
Emperor of Austria against Prussia.

T I. ,rj
'Mr. LA-YARD-44, np •to =e hour I left the Foreign-
glop no such intelligence had beeweereived.
GALWAY. SUCTION.
/4r. FORTIS' ar4erl whether At mas the intention of her
Majesty's government to appoint a moruttimion to inquire
into eorrupt practices at the late election for the borough
of Galwayi
/lir O. OW said the chairman of the committee had
given notice of a motion on the subject, which implied
that he thought it was a ease in which a commission ought
to Issue, but be doubted the policy of issuing a commission
unless it was likely to be followed by the result which he
emballed in the motion. Re understood the other mem-
bers of the committee intended to move fort commission.
LAW OF COURT'S-MARTIAL.
Mr. RAILLE inquired whether it was the intention of
the governmeLnt to bring in a bill to alter the law of courts-
martiaL
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said it was not the in-
tention of the government to do so at present.

THE FEMLLN RAID.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH inquired whether the Secretary for
the Colonies had received any account favourable to the
performance of international obligations by the American
government with regard to the raid of Fenian into Canada.
Mr. CARDWELL said be had already communicated to
the house all the official information be possessed on the
subject. He had not the least reason to doubt that the
accounts that were familiar to everybody were perfectly
true.

THE REFORM BILL.
The house then went into committee on the Reform Bill,
Mr. Dodson in the chair.
The debate on Mr. Hunt's amendment to clause 4 was
resumed by
Colonel L. LINDSAY, who said that the amendment
was in many respects the most desirable that had been
moved in respect to the Reform BM. It enunciated a good
principle, and it bad the additional merit of being • dis-
tinct proposal coming directly from the conservative party.
Mr. DU CANE thought that two distinct issues were
opened by the amendment of the hon. member for North
Northamptonshire ; first, the abstract question of
whether rental or rating should be the basis of the fran-
chise ; and second, whether the house, by accepting rating
as a basis, would take even a abort step towards reversing
its recent dedaion. His belief was that a rating basis was
neither more nor less than an adaptation of the old scot and
lot system as • test for admission to the franchise. This
was his first ground for supporting the amendment ; and
his second was, because he believed that the payment of
rates by the occupier instead of the owner was a great test
of the respectability of the former. Thirdly, he thought
the payment of rates was a guarantee against collusion in
questions of value ; and lastly he thought that by malting
the franchise • rating one they would establishaskij-
acting registration throughout the counties. (Hear.)
Mr. AYRTON said they. were not reconsidering the vote
they arrived at the other night upon the proposition of the
right bon. member for the University of Cambridge ; end
he must protest against this amendment being employed
as a means of reversing the deliberate decision of the
committee. If they thought that the qualification should
be 20/. or 251., it WV Infinitely better that it should
still be based upon the real annual value, and not
upon the rateable value. The government must
have arrived at their concluder' on the subject
almost against some of their own prepare s:miens. Two
or three years ago, when the Piesident of the Poor-law
Board introduced his Union Assessment Act, he she
dewed out an opinion of the government that it might be
desirable to place the elective franchise upon the basis of
rating, end he apprehended therefore that, after careful
examination, the government had found such • scheme
wholly impracticable. (Hear, hear.)
Sir li. XNIGHTLEY candidly admitted that he was
anxious to reverse the decision to which the committee
mine upon the amendment of the right hon. member for
Oambndge University, for since then a very important
return had been laid on the table.
Mr. GOSCHEN trusted that the committee would reject
the amendment, because the estimated rental, which was
as plainly stated in the rate-book as was the rateable value,
I wee the best means of ascertaining the capacity of the
occupier, and there had been no error in the statistics pre-
seated to the house by the government.
Mr. HENLEY reminded the hon. member for the Tower
Hamlets, who had represented it as being entirely novel
and unconstitutional to ascertain a man's status by the
value of the premises he occupied as stated in the rate-
book, that the Irish franchise was already based upon the
rate-book. The great advantage of adopting the rateable
value as the test was that that value was fixed without
any reference to political squabbles, and that by its adop-
tion they would get rid of all the expense and all the
heartburnings which arose from constant testa in the
registration courts.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL rose to address the home,
but was received with so loud and so continuous shouts of
" Divide, divide," that he was unable to make himself
heard ; and • similar fate befell Sir PLACE Bulimia., who
afterwards attempted to address the committee from the
opposition benches.
The committee divided, and the numbers were—
For the amendment 7/3
Against
The amendment was accordingly lost.
The announcement of the numbers was received with
loud cheers and counter-cheers, which were renewed again
and again.
Mr. B. STANHOPE moved the omission of the third
section of clause 4, which provides that the qualifying
premises must comprise a house, and that where they
conrst of a house and land, the house must be either the
dwelling-house of the voter or must be of a clear annual
value of 61.
After some observations from Mr. N. GREVILLE and Sir
E. COLEBROOKE,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER signified
his readiness to omit the provision if the opposition would
concur in devising some security against abuses by the
multiplication of joint tenancies, something akin to that
in the bill of 1859.
The concession was received with great dissatisfaction
by many of the supporters of the government, particularly
among those " sitting below the ay." Mr. WLaren
said it was a vital blow at the • , and would open the
door to the unlimited creation of faggot votes, intimating
his intention of dividing the committee against it. Mr.
White and Sir F. Crossley took the same view. Mr.
Bright doubted whether it was possible to prevent the
creation of faggot votes, and Mr. Bouverie declared that •
great portion of the liberal party would have preferred no
reduction of the franchise at all if it were not to be ac-
companied by this security.
Mr. B. OSBORNE and Mr. Amos, on the other band,
looked upon the provision as • minor matter, on which the
government ought to be allowed to offer a compromise for
the sake of conciliating the opposition.
The amendment was supported by Sir J. Trollops. who
said it would enfranchise • very valuable class of voters,
and ridiculed the idea of landlords ruining their property
by cutting it up into 141. holdings for the sake of creating
faggot votes ; by Mr. Henley, who, however, declared it
was a matter of no importance whether the provision were
retained or not ; by Lord J. Manners, Sir H. Verney, Sir
L. Palk, Colonel P. Herbert, and many other members.
Mr. DISRAELI pointed out that there was no such
cheek in the Irish Act, but said he should gladly combine
in devising whatever security might be necessary to pre-
vent the creation of faggot votes.
After a long discussion, the omission of the section was
carried on • division by 361 to 74.
Mr. HUNT then moved the omission of the next sec-
tion of the clause which provides that the qualifying pre-
mises shall be held under the same landlord ; but after a
short conversation he allowed it to be negatived without •
division.
Sir B. NORTHCOTE moved to add to the clause
another section providing that when sir occupier has sublet
any part of his premises he shall not be entitled to a vote,
unless that which he retains in his own hands be of the
annual value of 14/. ; but Sir G. Grey objecting he with-
drew it for the present, intimating that he should renew
it at • future stage.
Clause 4, as amended, was then agreed to, and the fur-
ther progress of the coDOGSmmittee
BILL was fixed for Monday.
On the order for the second reading of this bill,
Sir C. LOGHLEN explained that its object was to
render the owners of dogs liable for injury done by those
animals without there being any necessity for proving •
mischievous propensity.
The bill then pared through committee.
TRAMWAYS (IRELAND) ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.
On the motion of Lord Nava, this bill was ordered to
be referred to a select committee.
The house then adjourned, at 25 minutes to 1 o'clock.

PARLLiMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF 0031MONS-Jors 13.
TESTS ABOLITION (OXFORD) BILL.
PAIRS.