The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 29, 1867.

Commons of that day was the creature of
indirect influences, royal, aristocratic, and borough-
mongering, with which the public had nothing to
do. It let in the daylight upon transactions malted
to the dark. Now, when Ministers and Opposition,
and individual members, depend on public opinion
and are strong only as they guide or follow it, the
grudging and scanty accommodation afforded to its
representatives in the Strangers', and still more
in the Reporters' Gallery, is an absurdity. We
cannot agree with one of the witnesses before
the Select Committee that the reporters ought to
be regarded as officials of the House. Reporters are
and must remain the newspaper employes, a position
to which they owe that discretion as to the promi-
nence to be given to particular topics and speakers
which is perfectly compatible with strict fidelity,
and without the exercise of which the printed de-
bates would be unreadable. The demand of the
same witness that Parliament should furnish the
reporters' room with gazetteers and atlases, and a
Delphin edition of the classics, is, perhaps, a little
unreasonable. If the Delphin classics, why not
the British poets ? and if gazetteers and atlases,
why not a library of history and biography ? The
principle has no limit. What may reasonably be
asked is that space and the physical conditions
for discharging with comfort very arduous duties
should be provided : a suitable refreshment
room, but not gratuitous refreshments ; a room
for books, but not the books as a gift. The
suggestion that the reporters' gallery should
be removed from the control of the Sergeant-
at-Arms and placed under that of the House
itself has little to recommend it. The House
would be compelled to exercise its authority
through an official, and there is no reason to think
that misunderstandings with him would be
fewer than those which arise now with
the present officers. Lord CHARLES RUSSELL,
so far as the evidence enables us to judge, does
his best with the space at his command, and under
the conditions which the Parliamentary regulations
allow. The fact is that the present arrangement
of the House does not afford convenient accommoda-
tion for the representatives of the Press, including
both reporters and leader-writers under that desig-
nation. They are there, it is true, on their own
business, but the satisfactory discharge of their
own business coincides with the interest of the
House of Commons that a full and trustworthy
record of its proceedings should be placed day by
day before the public with a simultaneous criticism
or commentary. The Press needs more space and
worthier accommodation, and the necessities of

the Press are the interests of the public and those
of the House of Commons, but once removed.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

conclusion that little will be done to cheapen residence in
Oxford and Cambridge unless parliament interferes. The
quality of the electoral body at Oxford in particular is such
as toforkdd the bopeof thenniversityeffecting the necessary
alterations itself. On Thursday week the congregation of
Oxford will be invited to consider a statute to the effect
that, if a college or hall should see It to educate students
gratuitously, such students may board and lodge in pri-
vate houses ; and another statute extending, under cer-
tain conditions, to other than the sons of noblemen and
the eldest sons of knights the privileges of graduating
after two years' residence and three yearn' standing. The
first of these, inoffering gratuitous instruction, is needlessly
offensive. It is a cheap education which is wanted, and
not one which is given in charity. The other proposal is
intended to enlarge the monopoly of the colleges, at the
expense of time hitherto devoted to academical training
within the university. The object of academical reformers
is not to shorten the time of residence in Oxford, but to
make residence cheaper while it lasts.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

BANQUET TO THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA.

PARIS, Ocr. 29.

A grand banquet was given at the Hotel de Ville
yesterday in honour of the Emperor of Austria.
Besides the illustrious guest the Emperor Napo-
leon, the Impress, several Princes and Princesses,
the members of the Corps Diplomatique, and many
high dignitaries were present.
The Emperor Napoleon proposed a toast to the
Emperor and Empress of Austria as the expression
of the profound sympathy towards the person and
family of the Emperor and Austria.
The Emperor of Austria, in returning thanks,
expressed his desire that all discord which had pre-
viously separated two countries, called to march
forward together in the paths of progress and civi-
lisation, should be buried in oblivion.
His Majesty concluded by proposing a toast to
the Emperor and Empress of the French, the
Prince Imperial, France, and the City of Paris.
The toast was most warmly applauded.
Upon leaving the Hotel de Ville their Majesties
were cheered by an immense crowd.