§ Viscount Mahonsaid, that on moving the second reading of the Copyright bill, he had conceived that it would have been his duty to state the main arguments in favour of it, and also to reply to the main objections which had been taken against it; but since he had come into the House, the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley), who had formerly taken so active a part in the discussions on this subject, had told him that, in his opinion, it would be far more convenient to the House if the discussion were postponed till they came to the third clause in committee, as it was that clause which involved the principle of the measure, and as probably only one discussion on that principle would be required. In that opinion, he (Lord Mahon) had found, that his right hon. Friend, the Member for Edinburgh (Mr. Macaulay), also concurred. He should, therefore, reserve himself for the next stage of the bill, and merely more that it now be read a second time.
§ Mr. Wakleywas very glad that the noble Lord had consulted the wishes of several hon. Members on that side of the House. He believed that the general wish was, that authors should receive adequate protection for the great services which they rendered; the only difference was as to the mode of securing that protection.
§ Mr. Macaulaysaid, that last year he should not have divided the House on the second reading, if language had not been used which rendered the step, as he considered, imperative upon him. The measure as it now stood was a great improvement on that of last year, though there were still a great many defects of detail which he would wish to see altered. Upon the whole, however, he was not without hopes that they might be enabled to arrive at a satisfactory measure.
§ Bill read a second time; to be committed.