§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ MR. AYRTONexplained that its object was to repeal Acts which had been passed in very troubled times, and the necessity for which had entirely passed away. For instance, the first Act recited that as the country was at war with France, it was necessary to restrain dangerous and seditious publications, at the instance of the public enemy, and, therefore, very stringent provisions 1417 were enacted to prevent the French from making use of the public Press of this country for their own purposes. They might now repeal that Act. Another of the Acts was passed for levying taxes upon newspapers. They had ceased to levy the tax, and therefore that provision ought no longer to be enforced against persons who desired to carry on the business of publishing newspapers. Two of the Acts mentioned in the Schedule of the Bill had been already repealed. The matter had been previously under the consideration of the House, and the House was of opinion that they ought not to maintain those statutes.
MR. WALPOLEsaid, he thought it desirable that some steps should be taken for the preservation of newspapers in the British Museum, as they were most useful for the purposes of reference on the events of the day. As he understood that the Secretary for the Treasury intended to bring in a measure for that purpose he would give his assent to the present Bill.
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, that it was his intention to introduce a Bill on the subject.
§ House resumed.
§ Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.