The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-THIS EVENING.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Bri tol Port Railway and Pier (Amendments) Bill
was read a third time.

TILE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
'On the motion for the third rending of this bill,
Lord RAVENS 'VORTII said that though it might ap-
pear to their lordships right and proper to alter the deci-
sion which had been come to by the house on the ques-
tion of the lodger franchise, still he must protest
against any such alteration. He considered that the lodger
franchise had nothing to do with the material elements
of the bill, and ultimately he wa3 afraid that it would be
found that the introdsction of it would be accompanied
with a great deal of harm. lie thoroughly ccucurred with
the noble earl (Shaftesbury) who sat on the lower benches,
and who knew better than any ono what was the condi-
tion of the working classes. Ho could safely affirm
that the men to whom the franchise was now
offered were not their own masters, and that
they would in any contested election take advantage of
the power which had been given them. In the face of
the tremendous revelations which the inquiry as to
Trades' Unions had just made public, he could hardly
conceive how such a suggestion as a lodger franchise
could be received by either House of Parliament. The
noble lord then stated that he considered it most unfair
that the University of London should have a member ap-
portioned to it, and that the University of Durham should
have none. That university was every day increasing
in its scope of usefulness, and had oven now a medical
school attached to it. He would trouble their lordships on
one more point only, and that was the clause as to
minorities, or the three cornered franchise, as it was
called. Cf this clause ho fully approved, for it would
nullify the effect of the franchise which they were about
now to give. But he would say something about the
members for the county of Durham. That county no*
returned ton members to Parliament, eight of whom were
Liberals, but it was proposed to give them
three new members, this would give rise to a great pre-
ponderance on the part of one party, and would require the
fullest system of minorities to provide an equality. With
these remarks he would leave the matter in their lodships'
hands.

Lord REDESDALE said that if this question of Reform
was not now finally settled it might at any time give rise
"to a discussion as the means of accomplishing some poli-
tical purpose. In this matter he entirely advocated the
finality principle, and trusted that, although the bill had
been termed too liberal, it would not on any subsequent
occasion be made a party principle. It was a most im-
portant question, and ought to be settled definitely.
Earl FORTESCUE said that he could not understand
any redistribution of seats until the franchise was extended
to every householder in counties as well as towns. Until
this was done there would be no fair distribution of the
franchise.

Lord LYVEDEN said that he was surprised to bear
the sentiments of the noble lord (Redesdalo) with regard
to the leaders of the opposition party of the house.
(LEFT SPEARING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Tins DAT.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 2 o'clock.
THE ALABAMA.

Mr. REARDON asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether the promised correspondence between her
Majesty's Government and the Government of the United
States relating to the Confederate steamship Alabama
would be laid upon the table of that house before the close
of the session ?

Lord STANLEY said it was his intention to lay the
papers on the table before the close of the session.

CANNING'S STATUE.

Mr. BERESFORD-HOPE asked the First Commis-
sioner of Works if it was intended to move the statue of
Canning from its present site, and to reinstate it in its
former position.
Lord J. MANNERS said the present position of Mr.
Canning's statue had been selected by the late Govern-
ment, and he, on coming into office, had seen nothing that
led him to dissent from the arrangement. A strong feel-
ing, however, had sprung up amongst the relatives and
admirers of Mr. Canning against the position it at present
occupied, and, in consequence of that, and the discussion
that had taken place in the other house, the propriety
of changing the site had been again taken into
consideration. Nothing definite had yet been arrived
at, but in the event of its being thought neces-
sary to remove the statue, it would be placed in the centre
of Parliament-square. Ho was informed that whatever
was done some parties would suffer disappointment.