The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

The moist interesting proceedings in the House
of Lords last evening were those which referred to
Mr. Gluehtone's Suspensory Bill, which had come
up from the House of Commons. The first reading
of the measure was moved by the Earl of Claren-
don ; and according to the usual practice was
agreed to without opposition. When the: second
reading was fixed for next Thursday Earl Grey
gave uoticc that he should on that occasion move
the rejection of the bill ; and immediately before
their lordships adjourned a similar notice was
given by the Lord Chancellor. Several bills were
advanced a stage, and at half-past six
o'clock Lord Stratheden announced that in
consequence of the lateness of the hour he •
should postpone until a future day a motion of
which he had given notice upon the subject of
the inclusion of Nova Scotia in the new dominion
of Canada. The Earl of Curnarvon expressed
some surprise that half-past six o'clock should be
considered too late an hour at which to commune
the discussion of an important question ; but
other noble lords were lees anxious for the debate,
and shortly afterwards the house adjourned.
That the government do not intend to legislate
upon the subject of the. Irish railways during the
present session ; and that, upon the recommend-
ation of Sir R. Napier, the troops who have
served in Abyssinia are to receive six months
Latta, were the two most important pieces of '
information elicited from the government by
some fifteen or sixteen questions which
were addressed to them in the House of Commons.
As soon as the house got into committee upon
the Irish Reform Bill, Mr. Disraeli stated that the
government had, after consideration, determined
to withdraw from the measure all the clauses
which provided for the redistribution of seats.
Ile admitted that the scheme proposed by the
government would not have materially strength-
ened the representation of Ireland, but assured the
committee that it had not been devised to serve
any party purpose. Indeed he quite ridiculed the
idea of attaining party objects by any such means,
because " the opmions of individuals changed in
so remarkable a manner." This observation pro-
voked a good deal of laughter, and some
ironical Cheers front the occupants of the
opposition ; hut the right honourable gentle-
man promptly elicited a counter-demonstration
from Lis own friends by remarking, while heturned
his glance across the table towards Mr. Gladstone,
that he. had " seen decided conservatives become
vl ry ultra liberals." There was no opposition. to
the oneissiene eef the clauses proposed by the Prime
Minister, but Mr. J. Goldsmid contrasted the
mercy which had been shown to the small
boroughs of Ireland with the severity which had
been exercised towards those of England ; and
Col. Greville-Nugent remarked upon the inconsis-
tency of the members of the present administration
who, after opposing the government of Earl
Russell because they separated the subjects of
enfranchisement and redistribution, were them-
selves adopting a similar course. The discussion
upon the motion of Mr. C. Forteecue was not a
prolonged one, and the division was taken
before dinner-time. The right hon. gentle-
man, in proposing his clause, showed that,
as compared either with the universities of
Oxford or Cambridge, the Scotch universities or
the University of London, Dublin University was
over-represented; and justified the proposal to
unite with it the Queens University for the pur-
pose of electing members to parliament, by refer-
ence to what had been alone in the ease of the
universities of Scotland, to which he asserted that
the University of Dublin assimilated much more
nearly than it approached the model of Oxford or
Cambridge. Lord Mayo opposed the clause,
founding leinisclf upon the circumstance that the
conanittts• had declined to consider the redistribu-
tion of seats, and characterising this proposal as
limited and objectionable. At the same time, he
announced that the authorities of Trinity College
had cemented to place every M.A. upon the list of
voters, and thus greatly to enlarge the consti-
tuency of the University of Dublin. The only
other members who took part in the discussion
were Mr. Gregory, who commented sarcastically
Musa eleservations made by the Prime
Minister in the Hull of the Merchant Taylors'
Company on the previous evening, and the At-
torney-General for Ireland. Upon a division the
clause was rejected by a majority of 10-183 to
A motion by Sir Colman O'Loghlen to
abolish the freemen's franchise led to a discussion
which at one time became rather animated. A
urguneents in support of the clause employed
sharp criticism applied by Mr. Henley to the
by Mr. Sullivan called forth a vigorous
reply from Mr. Gladstone, who denounced
in unsparing terms the evils of the exist-
ing system of allowing freemen to vote.
Even this powerful support availed the member
for Clare but little; and his clause was rejected
by re majority of 46--133 to 109; a result which
was bailed with loud cheers from the ministerial
benches. The question of the representation
of the Queen's University was revived by
Mr. Fawcett, who proposed to disfranchise
the borough of Portarlington, in order to
give the member thus obtained to that
academic body. The division upon this motion
was productive of an incident which ceetweionod a
good deal of amusement. Captain Grosvenor,
having omitted to vote, came to the table before
the numbers were announced, and informed the
Chairmen that he had not heard the question.
Mr. Dodson, the Chairman of the Committee, then
informed him that the question was, "That this
clause stand part of the bill ;" to which the
gallant captain replied that upon a question put
in that form he was afraid he could not vote at all.
Thing informed by the Chairman that he must
vote one way or the other, he declared that he
should support the collective wisdom of the house,
and voted "no." The clause was negatived by
no less than 153 votes- 210 to .53. The clause
proposed by Colonel French with the object of
reducing the county franchise from a 12/. rental to
an et. rating, provoked at first only a rather
languid discussion, which was frequently inter-
rupted by calls for a division. The Earl of Mayo
opposed the clause on the ground that it would
disturb the equality which, as the bill stood, would
exist between the county franchise in England
and Ireland ; Mr. Osborne declared that
the introduction of vote by ballot was
of more importance than the reduc-
tion of the franchise, and Mr. O'Reilly
threatened the re-opening of the question in
another parliament ; while Mr. Synan questioned
the equality for which the noble earl claimed
credit, and Mr. Gregory expressed a confident
opinion that the reduction of the franchise would
lower the character of the constituencies. Lord
John Browne suggested 101. as a corupromise. The
debate was closed by Mr. Gladstone, who in aspereeh
which was listened to with more interest and
deeper attention than had been accorded to the re-
marks of any other speaker, attacked the weak
points of the immure before the committee,
pointed out three instances in which it established
in Ireland a higher franchise than that which now
existed in England, and quoted the authority of
Sir R. Peel and of the House of C.olinnons of 1830
in favour of the 81. limit proposed by the member
for Roscommon. To the loudly expnessed delight
of the gentlemen who occupy the ministerial
benches, the clause was rejected by a majority of
36-241 to 206. After an unsuccessful motion to
report progress, Dr. Brady consented, at the
request of Mr. Disraeli, to postpone until the re-
port is clause of which he had given notice, pro-
viding for the taking of votes by ballot.
This course did not meet the approval
of several honourable members on the
opposition benches, and Sir John Gray moved
the addition of the clause. Dr. Brady, amid great
laughter, protested against the course adopted by
the member fur Kilkenny as most unusual ; but
after some further conversation and a
deal of confusion the committee went to a goal
deal
decided against the clause by a
majority of 99-225 to 126. The schedules having
been agreed to, the bill passed through committee.
The Electric Telegraphs Bill was reed a second
time, and referred to a committee, constituted in
the seine 1.11111111(.4 whiuk hybrid

bills, but instructed to make certain special in-
quiries ; and, after going through tho other orders,
the Scotch Reform Bill was passed, and the house
adjourned.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE JOCKEY CLUB AND DEFAULTERS.

(From the Raney, Calendar.)
A general metting of the Jockey Club was held
at Muere. Weatlicaby's office, Old Burlington-street, on
Monday, Juno 15. Present--Hon. Admiral Roux,
steward ; Lord Annesley, Mr. Berne, Count Baithynny,
Lord Bradford, Sir R. W. Bulkeley, Mr. Chaplin, Lord
Coventry, Lord Falmouth, Mr. 0. W. Fitzwilliam,
Colonel Forester, Sir Joseph Hawley, Captain Douglas
Lane, Lord (leorge Manner% Colonel Pearson, General
Peel, Duke of Richmond, Mr. Savile, Prince D. Soltykoff,
Lord Strudbroke, and Lord Zetland.
The following resolution, proposed by the stewards,
was paseedoulanimously
hereas it is expedient that the rules of racing which
prohibit defaulters for stakes and forfeits from entering or
running horses should extend to defaulters for beta, and
to all persona guilty of malpractices on the Turf, it is re-
solve that—
" No pertwn convicted of any frauduleat wartime oa
the To 4 and no person that has bean reporte by d the
Committee of the Subscription-ronnie at Newmarket or at
Means. Tattered's' as being a defaulter in beta, 'hall be
permitted to name, enter, or run, either in his own name
or TT that of any other person, any horse of which he is
either wholly or in part owner, for anyy race whatever."
The role proposed by the to be added to the
rules of the Jockey Club was, after some discussion and
the suggestion of some amendments, finally passed as
under:
If any member of the Jockey Club or of the New-
rooms or Coffee-room at Newmarket should appear iu the
published forfeit list me a defaulter for stakes or forfeits,
or be reported by the Committee of the Subscription-
rooms at Newmarket or at Mesons. Tattersall's as bang •
defaulter for bets lost on horse-racing, the stewards shall
cause notice to be sent to him that if his default be not
cleared by a time to be stated in the said notice (not to ex-
ceed three months) his name will be erased from the list
of members, and if • member of any of these clubs
should be convicted of fraudulent practices on the turf, or
should compound with his creditors, he shall cease to be a
member."
The proposal to alter role 10 of the Jockey Club was
withdrawn.