§ The Order of the Day having been read for the House resolving itself into Committee on the Copyright Bill,
73§ Mr. Sergeant Talfourdsaid, that he had conferred with those whose assistance he had received in the conduct of this measure; and they had concurred with him in opinion, that, considering the opposition with which the bill was threatened, and the state of the public business at this late period of the session, however anxious they were to proceed with it, they could not entertain any reasonable hope of carrying the Bill through the House of Commons at such a period, and asking the House of Lords to proceed to legislate upon it. It was, therefore, his (Mr. Sergeant Talfourd's) intention not to subject the House to any further expense of time or labour, with reference to this subject, during the course of the present session. He was at the same time desirous that the position of the promoters of the bill should be distinctly understood—that they were only detained in their advocacy, but not defeated. This was the third Session during which the bill was before the House; and, however, much discussed its provisions had been, there had always been a majority in favour of its main principle. He at the same time entertained no doubt that the opposition which he had met had proceeded from strictly conscientious motives. He should be ready to renew his struggle with the hon. Member for Bridport, at the earliest possible period of the next session. The hon. and learned Gentleman concluded by moving that the further consideration of the Copyright Bill be postponed to that day three months.
§ Mr. Warburtonsaid, that he would appeal to the great example of Lord Camden and of Charles James Fox, who had opposed the principle of perpetual copyright, With the same inflexible spirit with which he (Mr. Warburton) now asserted his determination to oppose the hon. and learned Gentleman's Bill, if it were ever again brought forward.
§ Bill put off for three months.