POSTSCRIPT. SATGRDAY.
The proceedings in Parliament last night were of secondary importance and interest.
In the House of Commons, the Lord-Advocate of Scotland and the Chief Secretary for Ireland obtained leave to bring in the Parliamentary Representation Bills for their respective countries, which Lord John Russell had already explained. In the bill for Scotland, the enfranchising clauses correspond almost ex- actly with those of the English bill ; the occupation qualification for counties is reduced from 501. to 201. and the borough qualification from 101. to 51. ; while new provisions are made against fictitious votes by requiring infeft- ment, and by disqualifying all joint-liferents except those possessed by right of succession or marriage. There is also to be an appeal from the Registra- tion Courts to the Court of Exchequer. The bill for Ireland is founded on some remarkable statistics. The new county franchise given last year has increased the county votes from 27,180 to 135,246, and is therefore satisfactory. But the borough franchise as fixed last year has actually diminished the voters, from 21,863 in counties of cities or towns to 20,255, and in boroughs from 11,993 to 8026. It is proposed to lower the borough franchise from 81. to 51. The principle of extending the smaller boroughs more strikingly requires application in Ireland, than in England. The number of 400 voters is to be the minimum ; and this line of demarcation will embrace nearly every Irish borough except Belfast and Newry.
Some adverse remarks were made on the bill for Scotland, by Mr. CUMMING Bniree ; who declared that it will render more difficult than ever, an answer to the celebrated question, never yet answered, "How is the Queen's Government to be carried on ?" The bill for Ireland was disparaged by Mr. WHITESIDE ; the heat of whose partisanship prompted St contemptuous illustration referring to the Riband conspiracy,—for which Lord Jour; RUSSELL rebuked him.
The other business in the House of Commons was the obtaining of leave for a bill on International Copyright by Mr. LABOUCHEttE ; the re- plies of Lord Jon RUSSELL to a question by Mr. Ammer on the Aus- trian expulsion of British missionaries from Hungary, and Sir GEORGB GREY to a question by Mr. GEORGE SANDAES in reference to the Holm- firth catastrophe ; and a few more words raised by Sir Joins PAKINGTON on the great "lighting of the House" question. The Copyright Bill is to carry out the treaty with France, and also to improve the general law : it will enact an international copyright for five years in foreign transla- tions. The expulsion of the British missionaries from Hungary certainly demands explanation, as the missionaries have transgressed no law, and have lost considerable property. A Government engineer has repaired to Holmfirth to watch the proceedings before the Coroner : Government is not yet prepared to hold out hopes of a grant in aid of the sufferers. The words on the "lighting of the House" question were apropos to a motion for the restoration of wax candles : Lord JOHN RUSSELL declared for wax, other Members for gas ; but it was resolved to abstain from change till Dr. Reid has given clear proposals and estimates.
In the House of Lords, the subject of the disgraceful supply of gun- powder by English merchants to the Caffres was brought again under notice by Earl MALMESEVRY ; and returns were consented to by Earl GREY. The County Courts Extension Bill was read a second time.
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