The Sun.
London, England, 1836-07-19 00:00:00

take place in the law, that the Right Hon. Gentleman
would take care to protect the copyright of the proprietors of
newspapers. The circumstances of newspapers were now
about to be changed. Almost a revolution was about to take
place in the conduct of newspapers. They were about to
destroy that which some called a monopoly, and other parties
declared to be the cause of the high character of the Eng-
lish Press, in this respect at least, the pre-eminence of its
intelligence.—( Hear, hear, hear.) When they were about
to mako so great a change as was then going to take
place, they ought to give to the proprietors of newspapers
the security of their copyright for a limited period, and
that by an easy remedy ; for unless it could be secured
by a summary process it would be entirely useless. Of
all the phenomenon of civil society he doubted whether
they could remark one so great as this—the mode in which
the public was supplied with intelligence through the means
of newspapers.—( Hear.) It was one of the most wonderful
instances of what could be done, without the intervention of
Government, by private exertions and great expense, this
which they daily witnessed—the manner in which the public
was supplied with intelligence—and the possession of which
was a source alike of instruction and amusement.—( Cheers.)
Some might say that there was less intelligence in the Press
of this than of other countries. He did not entertain that
opinion. Free discussion must be conducted—he knew it
could not be avoided—with acrimony, and frequently with
personalities ; but comparing, upon the whole, the Press of
this country with that of France, or of the United States, or
with any Press that now exists, or ever did exist, they could
not find such a remarkable instance, as in England, of ability
and intelligence. Putting aside other considerations, let
them look to the intelligence obtained by the public through
private means; there was in it the most remarkable instance
of the superiority of that Press. Unless, then, they did secure
the copyright of that intelligence for a few hours—and that
was the only mode in which a reward could be obtained for it
it was the only inducement that could be held out to the
parties to continue their exertions in supplying it. Now that
there was an end to be put to what was called a monopoly, if
they did not make some regulation to prevent those who made
no exertions to deprive others of the results of those exertions—
if they did not do this, then they would soon deprive the public
of all the advantages of such exertions being made._( Hear,
hear.) In the course of the session he hoped the Hon. Gen-
tleman would devise means to prevent the pirating of the title
of a newspaper for the purpose of imposing upen the public.
Also, that the'copyright should be secured with certain limits
to those who go to the expense of many thousands to obtain in-
telligence, so that they might be encouraged to persevere.
This could only be done, first, by securing the copyright, and
next,giving in its aid some summary process.--( Hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was glad
to find this subject introduced by the Right Honourable
Baronet. He considered that the change imposed upon
them the obligation of protecting the property vested in those
concerns. Nothing could be more unfair than to allow that
property to be taken from them. Applying to the proceed-
ings of this
_House, he should say that it was not strictly
regular to refer to them. There was no part of the ma-
chinery of the press more wonderful than this, that they
should at their breakfast table find a record printed of what
they were then saying, and what would be stated there up to
three and four o'clock in the morning, and this, too, done
with singular accuracy--considering the difficulties under
which they were often taken, with exceeding accuracy and
general fairness. —(Hear.) All this was procured at an ex-
pense for which the proprietors of newspapers must have to
pay dearly. Now, the rapidity of printing would enable per-
sons to take advantage of the capital and labour of others.
It was not fair that those who had not laboured-nor expended
capital should thus despoil those who expended both. He
was, therefore, most anxious and willing to devise some
scheme to put a stop to such practices. He was most
anxious to devise some effectual plan for protecting such pro-
perty. As to the protection of the title of newspapers, that
could be undoubtedly given. It would be the more easy to do
this, for, according to the plan of the Member for the City of
London, there would be a distinct die for each paper, which
would mark that particular paper. Then as to the leading
articles, it was easy to protect them. But when they came to
that which was not an original, but a copy, they could not say
how many copies were taken from the same original. It
would be exceedingly difficult to prove this in a court of jus-
tice. Two persons might say they had taken measures to have
the same report—that they had persons reporting as well as
the others. Now how was this to be met, unless by givit,g evi-
dence of the notes from which the report was taken ?—( Hear.)
In the case of foreign intelligence, also, which was procured
at a great sacrifice both of labour and capital, undoubtedly it
was a matter of great interest and importance to receive dis-
patches of this kind from Spain or Russia, and other parts in
which events of great public moment were going forward ; but
at the same time he must add, that great difficulty would be
found in coming to any arrangement whereby to identify intel-
ligence of this kind with the paper it might happen to have
been originally printed in. Now, with regard to the remedy.
Undoubtedly, to be effectual, it should be summary.—( Hear,
hear.) But here, also, it would be no easy matter for courts
to decide in a summary manner upon questions of piracy of
this description. Ile alluded to these particulars, not with
any view to relieve, himself from the obligation under which he
felt that both he and the House laid, of coming to some ar-
rangement on this subject. As he had before stated in the
course of the evening, he had received a sketch of a proposed
Bill, from parties connected with the London press, and they
might rest assured that he would leave no effort untried to
meet the question at the earliest opportunity, and he trusted
he should do so in a way to give satisfaction to all.—(Hear.)

Sir R. PE EL merely rose to add to what he had already
stated, that he recollected many instances in which the first
intelligence of important occurrences—particularly during the
war—were received by Government through the means of
newspaper establishments; and often of those papers which
were at the time in opposition to the Government.

The remaining elaii.?:es of the Bill were then gone through,
and agreed to.
Mr. BAINES inquired of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer whether there was any thing in the Bill of a nature to
,prevent provincial newspaper printers receiving their stamps,
as they.ldid at present, through the agency of a London sta-
tioner ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied,
that he believed there was nothing in the Bill inconsistent with
t;at mode of proceeding.
The House then resumed, and the CHAIRMAN reported
the Bill to the House.

Mr. WA KLE Y moved, " That the Bill, as amended, be
printed before it was again considered."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, be
had no objection to the reprinting of the Bill; but he was
anxious, if possible, to avoid the delay which that proceeding
would occasion.

Mr. WAKL E Y could see no reason for such excessive
haste with regard to this measure. He thought if the third
reading took place by the end of the week, or in the beginning
of the next week, it would be quiet time enough.
Mr. BAINES also thought it would be more satisfactory
to reprint the Bill.
Mr. HUME was also in favour of reprinting the Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was un-
derstood to say, that "he would make arrangements for it."
ESTABLISHED CHURCH BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the order of the day for
the third reading of the Established Church Bill be read, and
re-appointed to-morrow.
Mr. HUME thought that as there were so many other mea-
sures of importance before the House, the Noble Lord ought
not to hurry through the various Church Bills, which gad been
brought in comparatively at a recent period, but defer them
all, till next year.

Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not consent to postpone
this measure, and trusted it would be allowed to be read a third
time to-morrow.—The motion was then agreed to.

PAPER DUTIES BILL.

On the proposal that this Bill be read a third time.
Mr. T. D UNCO MBE objected to the 16th clause, as be-
in*. a violation of a patent held by Messrs. Stanbridge and
protecting Marshall, them in the manufacture of a peculiar
papier mache. They had laid their case before the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, and if a case of grievance was ever
made out theirs was. On taking out their patent they applied
to know whether it would come within the provisions of the
excise laws, and they were told by the Solicitor of the Excise
dial it would not: Thu patent was purchased by a Mr. Wil-
liams in 1833, at an expense of 5001. From him it passed to
others, and in both cases application was made to know if the
article came within the excise regulations, and the answer
was as before in the negative. Samples of the article were
given to the excise, and duplicates were kept, and now that it
was proposed to bring this article within the excise laws the
samples which had been given to the excise were not pro-
duced. Under circumstances like these he might be per-
mitted to ask, whether it was fair, through the jealousy of
papermakers, to invalidate a patent which had already been
a matter of traffic, and to introduce a clause affecting indivi-
duals into an Act of Parliament, giving them instead of the
full license of the patent only two years of the enjoyment of
the same ? He should move as an amendment to the 16th
clause that for the words two years" there should be sub-
stituted the words, " until the patent has expired."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, said it
would be inferred from the speech of the Hon. Gentleman
that the clause was introduced fur the purpose of injuriously
affecting the persons to whom allusion had been made, whilst,
in reality, its object was to give them a qualified protection for
two years from the taxation expressed by the Bill. He ad-
mitted that a communication had been had with the Board of
Excise before the patent was taken out, and certain specimens
were shown which they were told were not liable to Excise
duties; but they were at the same time informed that if they
applied their invention to the production of a new material the
nature of that material must decide whether it was, or whether it
would or would not, be liable to the excise duty. 'He would
only again repeat that the object of the clause was to afford
these parties protection to a certain extent.
Mr. DUNCONIBE pressed his amendment:
The House divided, when there appeared—
For the clause
For the amendment
Majority
The clause was then agreed to.
COUNTY POLLS ELECTION BILL.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the third reading of this
Bill.

Colonel SIBTHORP contended that so important a Bill
as this should not be read at that late hour of the night, and
at that late period of the Session. He was himself opposed to
the principle of the Bill, as it went to disqualify a large class
of electors. The merits of the Bill were already fully discussed,
and he thought there was not left a peg to hang an argument
in favour of it upon, It was strange that so mischievous a
=nitre could be countenanced by any Ministry; but he could
not, on reflection, look on anything strange as coming from the