New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-04-04

AND BULLET-THE SHAKESPEARE FOLIO.
fPRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
| LONDON March 17.-In a House Of 342 members .
majority of 10 voted yesterday for the Ballot Tbs
numbers were 226 to 49, and again 30 to liO-juss
two to one The question was not taken directly
for or against the Ballot if it had been.
the majority wOuld have been larger. Nor
did it receive the support of the Govern
ment by whose aid the majority might have
been doubled As has invariably been the case here
tofore it was private member who brought IN the
BILL and moved the second reading Ii has been well
understood that the Government did not nov desire
to oppose the Ballot and would sooner on later give
it their support. What they wanted was ume-ad de-
mand so commonly made by Ministers that wonder
it does not provoke the well known retort OF thu
Indian chief, You have all there is, suppose"
Last year. Mr.. Leatham, who now has the
measure in charge. was induced 10 with
draw his bill without vote: the Govern
ment giving some kind of pledge that they would
deal with the Ballot in connection with Other mat
tiers of electoral reform to he reported upon bya
committed He was sure even then OF so strong "a
vote that thought his yielding to the ministerial
pressure mistake in tactics. No matter how liberal
this Government. or any Government may he, 1t
wants squirting. Since then, spite OF the detection
of Mr.. Mill and the dochipaee opposition Of The
Spectator the process of conversion has gone on
rapidly. Mr.. Leatham showed great energy. lie
even persuaded the Special Committee 10 hold extra
sessions and adopt its report in favor of the Ballot.
and publish il just in advance of the coming on OF
his motion yesterday. As there a kind Of under
standing that a decisive vote should not be taken
before the report had been made the debate of yeste
day must otherwise have been postponed. Once
postponed, nobody say when another chance
might have occurred. hot il the struggle for pre-
| cedence in business which the Government does not
| undertake.
1t happened this time exactly as it did last year.
that Ministers were not ready to proceed. They
thought il subject so important that the bill ought
to be ministerial and not private. But II was not
important enough to induce Mr. Gladstone to be
present when it was known to be coming on The
Cabinet had arrived at decision. The Youngest
member of il, Lord Harrington, was thought equal
to the task of coaxing the resolute advo-
cntes Of the Ballot to wait again the convenience OK
the Government. He was not permitted TO make any
positive pledge in behalf of the Cabinet. nor to ex-
| press anything but his personal approval OF the
| measure But this time. Mr.. Leatham was proof
| against such soft persuasions When it was found
| he would not give way, the Tories showed hight.
As has happened more than once this session.
| they rallied TO the support of the Government
| against its radical friends They complained thar
they hud not had time read the report OF the Com
| mittee They charged sharp practice npon Mr..
Leatham. Young Lord Claud Hamilton. the erJdns
terrible of the Tory party screamed out that tho
moving OF the second reading on prctense that the
cradle sbterfIse MT Sewdsaate mower -vre -'sr'
jorrnment Of the debate in q speech hied with MY
usual declarations of despair. Mr.. Newdeca'e mnso
| have been in Thackeray's mind when 1hacseby ue-
scriboL snpabod,' wearing " the usual Engsh eN.
| preston of subdued agony and intense gloom
| There could not he a stronger contrast than the
| funereal solemnity of Mr.. Nowdegate and the
| rattling hilarity which Lord Claud both
manifests and excites. The angry character
which the debate assumed was relieved by Mr..
Befnal Osborne who made his first speech since his
recent election for Waterford, and whom both par
ties are heartily glad to see again in the Honse
Nothing could be more entertaining than ms aceonpo
of his experiences in Nottingham and Waterford
experiences which had convinced him that without
the ballot the whole election system is farce. Ho
reminded the House of Mr.. loves adventures ab
Kitderminster nearly resulting in the loss of his
life by the outrageous violence of the mob. Read
his account of an Irish election Ii is amusing and
sad, equally and may be said to be summed no IN
his declaration that if you wish to supersede vote by
bullet you must have vote by ballot. And lie fairly
xtinguished the Postma ster General by expressing
his doubt whether Lord Harrington coudfnd time to
prepare Ballot bill while be had so much TO do in set
| ting the telegrapbs right In the epd Mr.. Leatham
consented to an adjournment of the debate 10 fixed
day. May 3. lie seems to have had no other course,
since the Tories determined on factious oppo-
| sltion. As it was Wednesday, and the House never
| sits beyond ON Wednesdays it was quito in their
power to prevent vote the second reading. Tho
| bill would then have become O dropped order, with
little chance of being again reached. As it now
stands the Government can scarcely avoid taking it
| ND, and either this or bill including the ballot
among other electoral reforms is to pass the
| Commons this session. What the Lords will do with
| it is another question. If forced to accept an
! obnoxious Land bill. they may wreak their VEN
geance on the Ballot they did on the University
| Tests bill last year. Let them. Tho oftener they
| throw themselves across the popular WILL the sooner
will come the day when they will lie crushed when
few score Of Querulous gentlemen viii no longer
lie able 10 resist for time, the purpose VI tho
representatives Of the nation
copy of the first Shakespeare folio was sold yes
terday by auction FOR tlO about 81 800 This seems
small price compared with the f.l6 which Mr. Geo.
Danelss copy brought Miss Burdett Contts being the
buyer But the present copy is in way comparable
to Mr.. Daniels's, which considered the finest
known, aud is certainly the finest that has lately
boan offered for sale. The book nevtr oecus in re-
ally fine condition Moderately good copies are by
no means particularly Most OF them arc dcfec-
tive in title leaves at end or the at Begin
ing, a. the one which was sold yesterday the
verses being inlaid. A book can hardly he called
rare which can always be had when wanted and
there is never any difficulty in getting the Shakes
peare first folio you are not too particular about
| condition and don't mind few leaves being supplied
| in facsimile. 1t is common to remark with
surprise that the price at the end OF last century
| nm, mara than Rpt have saen "A y--av very