The Sun. — London, England, 1849-06-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COTkIMONS, June 20. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition BILL. of yesterday.) MARRIAGES On the question for resuming the adjourned debate on this Bill, Mr. NAPIER assured the House that he approached this question with some degree of hesitation, as it was one of difficulty and delicacy. The question had much agitated the public mind, and he thought it due to the importance of the subject and the public that it should be calmly and dispassionately discussed. It was stated its the published report of the Commissioners who had investigated it, that the majority of the people of this country were adverse to the Bill, and the report attempts to explain that feeling by stating that it was in a great measure founded upon a vague and uninformed notion of the in:Tolley of the Bill, but for his part he concurred with the great mass of the petitions presented against the Bill, and believed that it was the conviction that it was opposed to the Scriptures as well as opposed to sound social policy, that had induced the public to oppose it. It was said by the supporters of the Bill that it was not of a compulsory character—that it left the matter to the conscience of each individual so far as existing marriages were concerned; but this was not a question of conscience, it was rather a question of whether a restriction of liberty was required by a due regard to the exigencies and moral wants of society. It was incumbent upon the supporters of the Bill to establish three propositions. First, they were bound to show that the prohibition of these marriages was not required by the Word of "God ; secondly, that it was not warranted by the tenets and principles of Christianity; and they were bound, lastly, to show that the general interest of society would be more advanced by the allowance of these marriages than by their prohi bition. Now those were the three propositions upon which this question must turn, and if he were in a condition to displace all or any one of them, though the e supporters of the Bill were bound to sustain them all, he would have made out a case for the rejection of the measure. Then, with regard to the Levitical law, it was contended that there was no special injunction by which the mar riage reith a deceased wife's sister was forbidden by the law of God. He did not think that an answer was ab solutely required to such an objection, and he was free to confess that he did not think that the opponents of this measure .would be likely to b enefit b y it if it were made.—(Hear.) Now he would observe that the advocates of this measure had invariably relied upon the 18th chapter of Leviticus as an exponent of the laws of relationship as directed by religion. When he said that he did not mean to assert that there were any posi tive injunctions on the subject, but by a faithful and careful investigation into the meaning of this portion of God's Word it would be seen to go to the very founda tion of the interests of society, and that there were abundant reasons for instituting a regulation which bore so wrongly upon the welfare of mankind, and which was so likely to prevent a corruption of the morals of a people. In construing the law which had been imposed upon the world, they were to look rather to the scope of the whole reading than. to the words which conveyed the particular injunction, to the general scope, as it would be understood by the investi gations of an intelligent mind.—(Hear, hear.) It was a matter of the greatest importance to families and to society, and especially was it of importance with respect to marriage.—(Hear, - hear.) Marriage was an in stitution of God's own eppointment; it created a rela tionship new in its character, and superior in its close ness, to the nearest bonds of consanguinity.—(Cheers.) It taught that a man should leave his father anctmother and cleave unto his wife. Was it to be presumed that such a relationship created no degree of affinity?— (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Was is to be presumed then that if this affinity were created that it involved no obligations similar to those of the principle out of which it arose?—(Cheers.) Wherever the new doctrine came from he could net tell, but he supposed it was of American origin. If they looked carefully into this chapter they would see that there was a reference in it to the rules which had been established in the househeld of Abraham, and that it was intended to re• gul ate the law for the intercourse between the sexes—a most imp a•tant law, and, as he had previously said, higely important for the preservation of the national morals.—(Hear, hear.) If he recollected rightly, not one of the five witnesses who had been examined before the Committee had failed to appeal to the 18th verse of the 18 h chapter of Leviticus.— (Hear, hear.) That he allowed was general and vague in its meaning. but the whole of the law was con tained in the 6•11 verse.—(" Hear, hear" from Mr. Goulburn and others.) That verse propounded the law for marriage between kin and kin.—(Hear.) Now taking that verse in its ordinary sense, he thought it would he difficult to say that it did not impose restric tions upon persons brought into degrees of affinity as well as of consanguinity.—(Hear, hear.) Several Mem bers of that House had stated that this rule was to be drawn out of conclusions of common sense, but he must contend that the matter could be settled by a reference to God's Word, and by that word only. By a careful observation it would be ssen that the ttictates of that word were to be drawn as much from its silence as from its exeressions. Thus it was said that a mother should not marry her own sun—perhaps the most un natural connexion that could possibly exist—hut not a word was said about the marriage between a father and his own daughter. Yet this was an alliance equally repugnant to mural feeling and all eur notions of that which was right, and who could for a moment doubt but that it was one totally forbidden by the law of God? --(Cheers.) Toe Hon. Gentleman then went through several degrees of relationship for which marriage was forbidden by Scripture, in order to show formed they were ineempanble with Scriptural injunction. Preveniieg mar:iages within the degrees of affinity was a wise transactien; it was sacred in principle and salu tary in its regulerien, being embodied in the world's laws, and carried into the co e of every Christian com munity.—(Bear, hear.) The translation of the 18sh verse was somewhat disputed; but it was a remarkable fact that, in thirty-four instances, the particular words which had been referred to were translated in the ordi nary sense of " one to another." In other instances, however, they had been applied to inanimate things. He would not occupy the time of the House longer upon the construction to be put upon Leviticus, leaving further comment to those more conver sant with the details of the subject, and he would now merely select a few of the theories which had been put forward by those who had taken the most prominent part in those discussions. He came now to the strong point of the question, he meant in reference to the man ner in which they were to consider it under the light of Christianity.—(dear.) The advance of human society was very gradual. Christianity advanced civilization, by taking up each individual man by a system of disci pline, and forming in him habits of virtue, and Actin , on the atr.etions and feelings ; it provided for moral purity ; for in the words. of the Sacred Scriptures, " in it is a fountain open- for sin and uncleanness." Having regard to the prohibition, how much more respect our: ht we to have to the principles of Chris tianity than to the prohibition of the Jewish law.— (Hear, hear.) Ti take an. instance, the unchaste look was adultery under the Christian dispensation. The purpose of Christianity was not to degraie the higher classes down to the level of the nemo , sities of the lower classes—(Hear)—but by acting on all by its wholesome and genial infleences to endeaveur to draw up those whin might be suck in spiotuelity, and to place them on the cemman level of purity and harmony. —(Hear and cheers.) He believed in his conscience the tendency of this Bill was to lower the character of the institution of marriage from that mystical union into which Christianity had lifted it, and to destroy that character which it was one of the objects of Christianity to elevate and purify.—(Hear.) He ,hought they were bound, with this view of the Christian character of marriasee, as Christian men, to give their votes against this all.—(Cheers.) Society, as he con ceived, had b-en brought forward to a certain point of civilizition by the legitimate developement of the prin ciples of Christianity, and the House eats asked now to recede from that point to which society had advanced. Certainly the Church of Rome had not relied upon the word of God in her prohibitions of these marriages. The cause of this was to be found in the dispensations which were required to be sought from her to render these marriages valid. A dispensation was always ne cessary, but what did this ten-d to show? That pro hibition was the rule, and that a dispensation from that prohibition was the exception. With regard to the Irish Church, in • a canon of 790—and he would just remark that the Irish Church was always a pule Church, it always repudiated the erroneous doctrines of the Papal Church, and often supplied many parts of Europe with the means of obtaining gthe truth—he he had found that a man who had married in thin affinity bad been excommunicate d. But how didthe case stand with reference to the Chnrchee of England and Scotland. It was providential that the true limits of this question had been settled at the tike of the Reformation, when so many great men had been engaged in the investigation of the truth. What did the Commissioners mean by saying that Creamer and others had given uninformed opinions on this point. He would call to the minds of the House that those were great times, that there were giants in those days, that things were not done is secret ; Cranmer himself challenged the Roman disputants to a controversy ; the Universities were rceused, the Bible was opened, and distributed through the country. The name of Jeremy Taylor had been mentioned; he (Mr. Napier) had in a volume of the library of the University which he had the honour to represent (Dublin), found a letter addressed to a Fellow of Trinity College, in which Jeremy Taylor, recommending different works to be studied for the obtaining of a knowledge of doctrine, especially refers to the canons of 1603, one of which canons expressly states that marriage in this degree of affinity was prohibited. In the marriage cere mony, too, the minister was obliged distinctly to warn the parties that if they were within the prohibited degree of affinity the merriege would be illegal. Publ c opinion was decidedly against this Bill, and it was of the highest importance that the Legisla ture of the country should not make that legal which the religious feelings of the would great mass of the peopl e wou ld at once repudiate. npass ßi to the Church o f without a Scotland, which was, single ll excepti on , unani mous in condemning this It presented one unbroken front against it. Certai h n e lT i , some members of the legal professiontwith whom he conversed ic seemed to doubt, wha t would be the issu e of a andeusteon cn the subject, but every clergyman, almost say every native with whom he had spoken, had ex pressed pressed themselves strongly and determinedly a Then came the Confession of Faith, which was inst it. at Westminster, in which it was clearly laid down drawn up such marriages a s th ose c ontemplated by his Right Hun. Friend were incest uous . Th e y might as well attemp t to remove rocks, or prevent tee waves beating again st them, as to attempt to remove the impression enter tained by the Ch u r c h of Scotland on this subject, by their puny legislation. Scotchmeu and Irishmen were alike against this Bill, believing it calculated to un settle that which had been settled for ages, and because it sought to set parties on a new cruise for social happiness, which it asserted had not been attained before. He had the opinion of learned men in Scotland, who stated that they did not believe that a clergyman would be found in that country who would perform the ceremonial of such marriages as were contemplated by the present Bill, thinking such marriages at variance with the Word of God and the law of man. The Church of England was solemnly pledged, and the Church of Scotland was solemnly pledged, to maintain this question upon the Word of God, which said that a man should not marry his brother's widow or his wife's sister.—(Hear, hear.) Who were the persons who came forward and asked the House to set aside the law as it at present stood, and as it at had stood for ages? A great deal had been said about the poor. It was not for the sake of the poor that this Bill had been brought forward—(Hear, hear)—but for the sake of a few interested parties.—(Hear, hear.) Persons of station and rank in this country were the real root and basis of the Bill—(Hear, hear)—persons who had violated the law of man, and, as he thought ho had proved, the law of God.—(Hear, hear.) Such parties had been put down as unimpeachable persons; ho denied that they could be such when they set at defiance the law of God and man.—(Hear, hear.) Was it, he would ask, to be said upon the evidence of sixteen interested parties, ten witnesses, three clergymen, and others, who had wilfully violated the law of the land, and also the report to which he had referred—was it to be said that upon such testimony as that the House ought to pass a law uprooting that which had existed for ages?—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Now, with regard to America, he found there was a great difference of opinion on the subject of the rule prevail ing there; bat he sincerely hoped the House nor the public were prepared to go the length of America in settling the great question. Now, had the Commission furnished the House with enough information to induce it to pass this Bill?—(Hear, hear.) He did not think it had, and no Member could conscientiously say that this report upon the operation of the existing law would justify his support. ing the Bill. It was said the social exigencies of the poor required the passing of this Bill. Now, in Ireland the p )or were in a worse condition, so far as home ac commodation was concerned, than in England; and be was glad to say that he had never heard or known a case of incenst in that country, where the poor of either sex were so much mixed together. There was a feeling of abhorrence to such a crime, and the same feeling prevailed both in this country and in Scotland. He admitted that all men were not influenced by a Christian feeling, and strong moral motives, but the majority of them were, and their legislation upon this subject ought to be based upon a high moral standard, for if it did not act primarily, i; would secondly permeate all classes of society; while, on the other hand, a low standard would not only injure the poor, but affect the purity of the higher classes of society.—(Hear, hear.) Every man then was to follow his own views; justice was to be set aside; prudence was to be set aside; mo rality was to be set aside; and Scripture was to be set aside.—(Hear, hear.) Now what would be the effect of this Bill upon females?—(Hear, hear.) Supposing a wife were to be an invalid, and a sister, the early sharer of her confidence, was the chief person who took her place, what would be the case? Supposing that' this law was passed, what would be its effects? Could she tender those kindly and affectionate attentions which, it she had no personal object to serve, she would, and which, as fathers and brothers. they all knew were so readily given to the children of her sister?—(Hear, hear.) If this law were to be passed would it not tend to lead to a spirit of jealousy in a wife who was upon her deathbed, and thus embitter her last moments? Supposing an attachment to take place, how long was the union to be deferred? How soon after the coffin was screwed down was the marriage to take place?— (Hear, hear.) To interfere with this case was to inter fere with that which constituted one of the great mys teries of our nature.—(Hear, hear.) It was placing women in a false position—it was outraging one of the principal laws of our nature. In arguing this question, then, he had first adverted to the great impulses of human nature ; he had then relied upon the Levitical law; and, lastly, he had turned to the whole practice of the great Catholic Church, which had Christ for its head, the Bible for its rule, and the Spirit for its sanctifier. The Hon. Member sat down amid loud and reiterated cheers from both sides of the Hou,:e. The LORD Al )VOCATE said that, in rising to speak upon this subject, he felt how great a difficulty he laboured under in following the Hon. and Learned Gen tlemen who had just sat down. He felt as much as any Hon. Member could feel the great difficulty in which the House was placed in discussing matters which were totally unfitted for its sphere.—(Hear, hear.) If this were a matter to be decided simply by a reference to the Word of God, and that word was explicit, and sufficient either on one side or the other, there at once would, of course, be an end to the question.—(llear, hear.) But if dart word was not so clear, but that in this respect it ' had been subject to various iaterpretations, then he must affirm that there was ample opportunity for the exercise of re %son and the adjudication of judgment. He had felt it his duty to investigate the subject in all its lights, and having done so, he had come to the conviction that these marriagca were not prohibited by the express law of God.—(Hear.) It was clear to his mind, and he would endeavour to make it so to the House, that neither the itonaan Catholic Church, nor the Church of England. nor even the Church of Scotland. had rendered the law so rigidly as the lion. and Learned Gentleman had just stated. The Church of Rome held that such a nsarrisge was nct ineunsis:ent with the Word of God, either expressly or impliedly. Then the Church of England held that it was a voidable but not a void marriage—that if it were not objected to by certain palsies under certain circumstances, the marriage ws,s legal as regarded all civil rights, and also as regarded the issue of it, for the issue were of the same blood, and inherited all estates and honours. It did appear to him, therefore, that if the marriage was prohibited by the law of God, either expressly or by implication, that the law of England stood in a very extraordinary position, for it adopted a distinction be tween marriages which were void and marriages which were voidable. The law of Scotland stood in a situation altogether different, for if a mar riage were against the law of God it was void, and all issue from it were divested of those rights which belonged to the issue of a legal marriage. The statute law of 1567, which was now binding in that country, contained two chapters of the greatest importance, one of which was, that those guilty of an union within the degrees prohi bited by the 18th chapter of Leviticus, should be punished by death. The marriage was, therefore, not only considered void, but the persons guilty of it were liable to suffer the highest penalty of the law. During the period that the people of Scotland were much ex cited upon religious matters, some very violent proceed ings did take place under that statute; but, with the exception of one case, he believed that there had been no Crown prosecution against persons who had married within the relationship now in question. The Church had put its own construction on the Confes sion of Faith of 1690. That contession of faith had bean ratified by Parliament simply as the confession of faith of the Church; it had not been ratified by Parliament as giving it the full force of a civil enactment. He had care- tully considered this mawr, and had come to the conviction that this marriage was not prohibited by the express words of Scripture or by any clear implication of that word. It had been a great deal too hastily assumed on the other side of the question that the whole religious matter was or was not written in the 18th chapter of Leviticus. If the marriage which this Bill sought to legalize was held not to be prohibited by the hJok of Leviticus, he (the Lord Advocate) did not admit that the House were to go into the mere question of expediency, for he found the Almighty in his revealed Word dealing with the law of marriage, and if he had dealt with that marriage in his olivine revealed Word, and so as to allow that union to take place, he (the Lord Advocate) would ask the House, in a religious sense, what right they had to legislate on a sanction which had come from heaven itself? If his Hon. and Learned Friend was right in respect to his construction of the chapter of Leviticus, and in intro ducing other texts of Scripture, such as that a man and his wife were one flesh, he would find that prin ciple, if pushed to its full extent, did in reality justify all those abuses of the Roman C.tholic Church by which they prohibited all degrees, as to the doctrine of affinity. With respect to the ex pediency of the case, he knew very well how very much averse his countrymen were to the marriage which this Bill sought to render lawful. The aversion in which this marriage was held in Scot land and in Ireland were not very important elements of the consideration on passing a law on this subject. It' at they were not sufficient to prevent the pass odnote, su th h o j er e y ct for England, as a part of the United la g aver sion w i i regarded e gttrded t S cotland illearnweti _n e er sufficient as it Irteillyed h i e r a mit r e . w ) rraiseg A es s were regarded both in Scotland ne cessary to know that it proceedaed entirely OU3 grounds. They had no aversion to stainiaremar ligi‘ but, considering it to be an d ri i a re g c e tlj in • prohibited by the eighteenth chapter of Le viticus, they hold it in the utmost abhorrence and aversion. But we wished to recal another considera tion to the attention of the House; by the principles of the Reformation the people of this country had ac rqeumi r i e n d d t h t h e e exercisethat t o h f i s w private as a judg questionm e n w t , h i a c n h d w h a e s would argued not only in this House, but throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom, and he fully believed that a conviction was growing stronger in the land day by day, and would probably be increased by that day's discussion, that these marriages were not within the prohibited psle, and not contrary to the Word:of God. The natural consequence of this would be, that with the conviction of the illegality the feeling of aversion towards them would depart, because it had no other foundation. Looking at the ques tion in a domestic point of view, ho had no doubt that such a Bill as this would be highly acceptable to the higher classes of society. The tender claims of a wife's sister, the consideration that the orphan children should be entrusted to the care of ' the sister of their deceased parent, were all in favour of it, but he could not consent to legislate on such grounds as these; he must look into the middle and lower classes. He had done so, and had found that there the question had already been discussed; that they had been search ing the Scriptures, and had formed their own opinion. They ask where is the authority on which is founded a law which prohibits marriages which we fled not to be contrary to God's Word. It is witli refer ence to the feelings of those persons that the words had been used which the Hon. and Learned Member for the University of Dublin had said " had taken away his breath." The Commissioners had said that the persons whom they had found had formed such marriages were parsons YAW were not in the habit of violating the laws in other respects; and were those wise laws, he would ask, which forced persons of this class to disobey them, which led such men as these to contrast their views of Scripture with our legislation ? The Honourable and Learned Member then concluded, by apologising to the House for troubling them at such a length. Mr. GLADSTONE said, after the speech of the Noble and Learned Lord, he felt himself called upon, from the course he bad taken with respect to this Bill, to offer a few observations. As regarded the upper class, that Noble and Learned Lord stated that the balance of evidence goes very much against the enac tion of the proposed law, and admitted that the most powerful arguments were those which had been used against it. But he strongly called upon them to consider the condition of the poorer classes. The middle and upper classes were very much in the same position in regard to these marriages. He had, however, failed to show that large masses of the poor had been examining the Scriptures on this question in order to show that the decisions of the Legislature were wrong. In order to show the fallacy of the arguments in favour of the Bill, he had only to call attention to what was stated by its promoters. They said that during a certain period 1,648 marriages within the prohibited degree had taken place, which were divided into five classes. In the middle class 1,503 of these marriages had taken place, in the upper 105, and in the lower class, constituting the bulk of the community, only 40. The legal arguments might be very well for a court of law, but the House had to deal with the moral and social bearings of the subject.—(Hear, hear.) He was the la't man to severely criticise the conduct of those who had entered into these marriages, as they had been previously misled. Let the House bear in mind that they were called upon to alter the law in order to meet the requirements of a small portion of the community. This was not a mere question of civil liberty. In the Bill a clause had been inserted to protect clergymen against any proceed ings for the solemnisation of those marriages. Was that a condition in which clergymen ought to be placed? They were called upon to alter one of the most important laws of the Church by a proceeding of that House. Now, he objected to that House interpreting in what sense the sacred law of the Church should be construed, when in order to meet the requirements of a small portion of that body, they were asked to put a new con struction upon certain of her laws.—(Hear, hear.) He must protest against such a system, it was dangerous to religion and to conscientious freedom.—(Hear, hear.) Ile believed that there was a religious injunction against the passing of this Bill, for it was opposed to the law which had existed for upwards of 3,000 years, and it was for sins such as this Bill contemplated the committal of that ' the people of Canaan were visited as they were. No man could doubt, reading Leviticus strictly, that the marriage of a man with his wife's sister was forbidden by Scripture. The words of the 6th verse of the 18th chapter of Leviticus, " Thou shalt not, approach to any that is near of kin," clearly demonstrated that. It had been said that the Jews did not exclude these marriages; he asserted that they did, and Mr. Jenkins stated that the traditional laws of the Jews clearly showed that though their tendencies were to relax the law of marriage as laid down in the Scripture, yet that they would not tolerate a mar riage between a man and his wife's sister. The prohibition contained in the law of the Jews in the Old Testament was carried over to the New Testament by the decree of the Apostles, and the 15th chapter of the Aots distinctly states that a certain portion of the institutions of the Jews were to be carried over to the law of Christianity, and amongst those institutions were those relating to marriages under the prohibited de grees. They were told by some advocates of this measure that the civil law of the Roman empire was adverse to thesee, mar, iages, and that the Church became adverse to them in consequence ; but it was impossible to make a statement more opposed to the probable view of the case. If the Apostles did not prohibit these marriages, it would still be ridiculous to state that the Roman empire was the means of imposing upon the Christian Church a stricter system with regard to marriage than had previously existed, because it is perfectly notorious that in the latter period of the Roman empire, from the time of our Lord down to the time of Constantine, the law and practice of marriage was so exceedingly relaxed, that iocests, which were now regarded as horrible, were then very common. Instead, therefore, of the law of the empire having forced its way into Christianity, the law of the empire was itself derived from Christian principles. There could be no doubt then that these prohibitions had existed in the Church from the earliest ages, and the Greek Church maintins the practice to the present day. It was in the time of Innocent 111., when corruption was at the highest in the Roman Church, that the practice of ecclesiastical dispensations in cases of prohibited mar riages came into practice, when an example which had been previously set by Alexander the Sixth, one of the greatest monsters, perhaps, who bad ever held a conspicuous situation either in the Church or the world, was followed. Now what were the modern authorities referred to in support of this Bill. In the first place there was the modern practice of the Church of Rome and certain Protestant States, and the case of the United States of America; but in regard to America it must be remembered that the alteration which had been made in the law was not of a religious character, but merely an alteration in the legislative law relating to the simple contract of marriage. But he did not st,tach great weight to this change in Ame rica, for in certain States it had been declared law that a married man living with an unmarried woman was not an act of adultery; and the example of America e as thought fit to be followed, while the Church of Rome was too politic to make it sate to adopt the views which it promulgated on the subject.—(Cries of " Hear.") The Roman Catholic Church did not claim to dispense with the law of God, but she did dispense with these marriages between a man and his diceased wife's; sister— ergo, these marriages were not in contradiction to the law of God. But the question was, did that church claim the power to dispense with the law as it is written in the book of Leviticus? It was notorious that it did so. And they need not look further back than the time of henry VIIL Del or did not the Roman Catholic Church claim to dispense with the law as it is written in the book of Leviticus for prohibiting the marriage between a man and the sister o f hi s deceased wife?—(Hear, hear.) They all knew what the fact was. For with regard to the great section of the Eastern Christian Church, was it not evident to all who knew that Charch, that such marriages were forbidden by it?—(Hear.) The truth was that these marriages were forbidden by five sixths of the whole of Christendom.—(Hear.) Now he would return to the great social aspect of the question. He had heard a powerful appeal to the affections, on the ground that the children of a deceased wife were most likely to meet with affection and kind ness from her sister. He would respond to that appeal, and, on the ground of that appeal, he would assert that upon it, it upon no other grounds whatever, he would say that this law ought not to be passed.— (Hear, hear.) With respect to the lower classes, he would state his belief that it would be instrumental, in the highest degree, to reduce their social state and im pair their happiness.—(Hear, hear.) This Biil went to impair all the social relations it struck at the foun dations of society; it confused the conjugal with the sisterly aff, ctions.—(Hear, hear.) It reduced those at= fections which were of the purest and the highest order and: rendered them in their power minute and almost imperceptible.—(Hear, hear.) Then it should be recol lected that there was another class which was likely to be affected by this law—that was the class of married men who were not widowers.—(Hear, hear.) Only let them think how the position of such persons would be complicated by the passing of this law, and what diffi culty they were likely to be placed in—how they would be compelled to forego the assistance of those who, from their sisterly affections, ought, under peculiar cir cumstances, to be the greatest comfort and relief to the m.—(ll , ?ar, hear.) Looking then at the whole of these circumstances, and considering the law as it now stood had been the law of the Christian Church for three thousand years, and that it was calculated to strike at the very foundations of society, he thought it could bo pro ductive of no benefit whatever at all proportionate to the mischiefs which it was calculated to work.—(Hear.) There was but one other point which he was desirous to urge. If this Bill was passed where was this legislation to stop ?—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Did his Hon. Friend (Mr. S. Wortley) mean to take his stand upon the Scriptures? If he did he left open to them three cases of incest which were conspicuous among all others—one with the mother, the second with the daughter, • and the third with the sister, and of those, incest with the mother was the only one prohibited by special mention in Leviticus. If then he could not rely upon Leviticus, or upon social expediency, would he stand by the law of nature ? He thought not, although he was free to admit that the very mention of such cases would occasion a sentiment of horror in the breast of every man.—(Hear hear.) If they allowed the Bill to pass, they would be assailed with serious charges which would lower the tone of the law under which they now lived.— (Hear, hear.) He hoped the House would therefore re spect the unanimous sentiment of a large portion of the country and reject the Bill. On social grounds he trusted they wama ir av m. o ps u o. l s d ewd m ob a i yi n rrt t ahLienEo obligations rose t p eio a tn i o r s el : oefp t lt h yh a .e t mN s t a r i ortr c wi t a n igt e he s s s ttiae wh Notwithstanding d h i i n c g the very able speeches of Mr. Napier and Mr. Glad stone, he still maintained that opinion with respect to this question which he had expre o s f seLona former occasion. Dr. Philpot, one of the he ads tiliasdessiatnCedamthberidg?, and not any relative of the Bishop, peti tion.—(Laughter.) He' had listened • attentively g to the ingenious speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Gladstone), but he had forgotten, notwithstanding he had read the Scriptures carefully, this important fact, that the Author of Christianity bad said, " Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder." Now those who opposed the Bill held that those who married deceased's wives' sisters should be put asunder.—(Hear, hear.) It was presump tion ot appealed to them to pass this Bill on the g r o unds , Chris tianity,Whh the influence tion in the highest degree to b s r 9 o y ad s°.ile rs could still be exercised. of the Church, whose powers b tt• h 1 ort y The Rig • ht Hon. Gentleman, after com a ing for it would not interfere concluded by expressing a hope that the House would assent to the se against the measure, conc second reading of with several of the other arg uments that had been used the Bill. moment for conscience t for the second sake.—(A. laugh.) He was anxious to vo e Colonel THOMPSON rose amid load cries of "Di. vide.* He only wished for one mom • 'n the Bill with reading of the Bill, but could only do ! so u p on the understanding that all the provisions respect to a deceased wif e 's brother's daughter would be struck out of the Bill in Committee.—(A laugh.) Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared— For the second reciting 177' Against it 14 3 .lajority for the second rending C.A.267211.23. . ~,l Names of le. !Dividend), Pri c e. Names of 1 3 Dividend' Companies. A i Annum. per Companies. Oa" \ per Price, ...: Annum. c ---- - - - --- - £ £1 Ashtn& Oldh 97 71. - Macclesfield . 100 21. 108. - Barnsley.. • • 160, 121. 180 Neath ••• •• • 1001 181. - Urknk&Abrg 150; 5/. 85 Oxford.. •• • • 100 201. - Birmingham 35 41. B_2 s P we e v a ; k reß, Forest. taani gi.. 124 7 65 8 I 31. 188. - Covent r y . . . . 100 1 25/. 210 30 s ß h e r g e e w nt sb 's u . r . y .... 33 1/. ss. 18 Derby -• • - 100 1 ' 61. 63 Rochdale .. .• 85 41. 54 Ellsinre&Chs 133 565. 34105114 WSoamrrwsiectklolal Erewash •• • 100; 321. - Do.LkFd St 12 61. p. c. - GrandJunctn 100 5/. 83 Stard &Wore 1 40 ' 28/. 310 orcsAtrm&oultll 7 2 / 11 .. 5 1 01 05 . . 130 : rand Surrey 100 21. ,irand Union 100 11. 10s. 24 Stourbrid 201. 3CO Grantham - 150 - IC. l,e e e n a n s t s, & L A i„ vii rp ; 10039 783.061. d. Leicester .... 140 51. 63% Birming. j 100 41 . 57 % r•tticstr &Nth 83 41. 45 Warwick& Lou4hborogh , 142 701. 650 Napton-} 100 ". 41 Antgenarysla 100 - Monmouthsh' 100 81. Dividend Amou n t - Birming.i 78 21. 41 MeßnMwbry.loo - - Wilts & Brks - 11. 10 I.ISF OF SCOTTISEL COMPANIES' PRICE S _ Name of Company. per of Paid. Price, Annum. Share. £ s. d. i X s. d Bank of Scotland ..... 71. per cent. 100 0 0 ,100 0 0 169 3ritish Linen Company Si. p er ce nt. 10 0 0 0 1100 0 0 202 1 Caledonian Bank ••• • • 8 per sent. 10 0 0 ' 210 0 31. 18 City of Glasgow Bank . 61. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 113 jlydesdale Bank -•••- 6% per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 127, Commercial Bank •• - 71. per cent. 500 0 0 ;100 0 0 160 Eastern Bank •••• • • • • 61. per cent. 25 u 0 16 0 C 91. 7s Edinb.g& Glasgow Bank 6/. per cent. 50 0 5 0 0 5% Exehange Bnk of Scot.. 41. per cent. 100 0 0 50 0 0 273 Isle of Man. Company 71. per cent. 10 0 0 7 0 0 - National Bank ...... _ 634 per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 14' North of Scotland Bank 4/.percent. 20 0 0 5 0 0 31.05. North British Bank • • - Royal Bank of Scotland 5/. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 124 Union Bank of Scotland 81. per cent. 100 0 0 50 0 0 80 Western Bank •••• • • • • 81. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 73% .A.ber leen Fire and Li fe 7 34 1. pr cent. 12 10 0 2 0 e 2% B. Accord. Life and Fire - 20 0 0 010 0 - British Guarantee Ins. 4/. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 9s 6d Caledonian - Fire Insur. 101. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 21 Church of England Ins. - 50 0 0 2 0 0 2 City of Glasgow Life.. 61. per cent. 25 0 0 2 0 0 21. 7s g•linburgh Life Insur. 61. per cent. 100 0 0 12 10 0 183¢' East of Scotland Life.. _ 10 0 0 015 0 9s.od. Eng. & Scot, Law Life 51. per cent. 50 0 0 217 6 - aercules Insurance Co. 71. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 - (flaw. Co. of Scetlnd•• 51. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 - Life Assoc. of Scotland h/. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 ' 11. 6s Mercantile Life - .... 4/. per cent. 10 0 0 010 0 ;3s. 6d. National Fire and Life 5/. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 ,20s. 6d North British Insnr... 5%1.pr cent. 200 0 0 20 0 0 1 2234 North & West of Scot. 61. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 ,1711.6 d Scottish Life and Guar. - 20 0 0 0 11 0 ' - I scot. Mas. and Gen. Life - 10 0 015 0 - 3cottish Union Insrnce. 641. pr cent. 20 0 0 10 0 ' 11. 2s Stan lard Life ........ 51. per cent. 50 0 0 5 0 9U United Dep. Assurance 51. per cent. 10 0 0 0 148.6 d MISCELLANEOUS. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price, Annum. Share. - X. s. d. X. s. 5. Australian Agriculturl - 100 0 0 30 0 0 16 Anglo-Mexican Mint.. 11. 4s. 10 0 0 10 0 0 - Ditto. Half Shares.. - - 2 10 0 Canada ... • • ........ GI. per cent. 100 0 0 32 10 0 31 Uppr Canada Bonds 51. per,cent. - - 70 City Navigation .... - - - 90% Comp. C ppr Mars Eng. 51. per cent. 100 0 0 70 0 0 - Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp. c.& bs, 2/ 100 0 0 100 0 0 90 Equitable Reversionry 5 1 . pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 Gen. Steam Navigation 11.8 s. 15 0 0 114 0 0 22 London Institution ... - - 78 15 0 - Russell Institution.... - - 26 5 0 3 Peninslr& Orient.Stm. 81. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 70 Reversionary Int. Soc. 4141. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 92 Royal Mail Steam- - 61 18..4. p. c. 1(10 0 0 60 0 0 49 34 South Australian ..... 11. per share. 25 0 0 25 0 0 16 Van Dieman's Land.. - 100 0 0 123 0 0 ' 134 THE BRAZILS. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.d The Swedish brig, Alphild, Captain Wahlmann, arr i ve d off Cowes, Isle of Wight, last evening for orders, and we have received by her advices from Rio de Janeiro to the Ist May, with the Jornal do Commcrc i o to April 30, a few days later news than by the last arrival. Mercan tile affairs have undergone little change; the movement to California still continued, and several vessels were on the berth loading for San Francisco. Exchange on London, 25k; on Paris, 375 to 380; Haniburgh, 680 to 685. Spanish doubloons were, 31,700 to 31,900; Patriot doubloons, 31,000; Spanish dollars, 1,980 to 2,000. The Six per Cent. Brazili an St oc ks were fi rm at 87i to 88. Freights were quoted as follows:—A n t werp, 325. 6d. to 455.; to English Channel, ; 355.; Hamburgb, 325. 6d.; United States, 505.; Havre, 40 francs; Liverpool, 45a.; London, 405.; Marseilles, 325. 6d.; Trieste, 355. The latest dates in Rio de Janeiro from the provinces had been received by the steamer San Sebastian as follows: Para, 24th of March; Maranham, 30th of March; Per namhueo, 13th of April; and Bahia, 18th of April; up to which time the respective departments enjoyed pro found tranquillity. At Bahia the exchange on London was 27, and at Pernambuco 27k. There is no political news of importance. COUNTY 'CESS IN IRELAND.—A return obtained by Sir Robert Ferguson, M.P. for Londonderry. shows that the grand total amount of county cess in Ireland, remaining unpaid at the late spring assizes amounted to 136 286/. 14s. 2d. How much pain have those evils cost us that have never happened.--. Eliza Cook's Journal. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 21, 1t49. The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be committed. The or her orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Six o'clock. PRICES OF SHARES IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM. PANIES' STOCK. From the Official List. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FaIDAY EVENING. LONDON. TUESDAY, JUNE 19. TOINT-STOCK UANKS, Name of Company. .knstralasla .......... Britsh.North American Ceylon • . • • .. • • • • • • • • C 3mmercial of London C ilonial.. • • • • Gloucestershire ...... Londn and Westminstr Ditto .. • . .. .. .. .. .. Lo idon Joint-Stock ... P covincial of Ireland . . Ditto, New......... NAtional of Ireland .. Nat. Provncial of Eng. Ditto, Now. South Australia ...... Union of Australia.... Ditto Union cf London... Union of Madrid Dividend per Annum. 51. per cent. 7/. per cent. 6i. per cent. 51. per cent. 151 per cent. 61. per cent. 6/. per cent. 6/. per cent. 81. per cent. 81. per cent. 51. per cent. 6/. per cent. 51. per cent. 5/ per cent. 61. per cent. 6/, per cent 61. per cent. INSUNL.B.NCE C Name of Company. Altiance Brit. and For. Ditto Marine. • • • • • • Atlas ••• •• •• • ****** •• ilritish Commercial illericl,Med.& Gen. Life Eigle . • • • • • ...... • • • • Eng.& Scot. Law •• •• &uropean Life ••• • • • Family Endownint Soc. - .‘reernasons' . • • • • • • • • Di •oe Glardian • ........ • • Imperial Fire • • • • • • • • Imperial Life •• . • Indemnity Marine.... Law Fire ............ L.iw Life............ Legal and General Life LOndCn Fire ........ London Ship ........ if&rine ....... • Invlid & Gen. Life gational Lean Fund.. N'ational Life.... 'alladium Lila Pelican • • • • • • • • l'hamix • • •• Protector Life.... Provident Life.. • ..... Rock Life • • Lloyal Exchange Sun Fire.. - . Ditto Life Universal Life rie.t.cfria Life .... Dividend per Annum. 31. 10s. 71. 4s. 6d. 61. per cent. 138.6 d. pr oh. 7s. per share 5 pr ct.& bs. 14s. 61. 51. per cent. ,5% per cent. 4/. & bs. ci• ner cent. 61. per cent. 51. 121, per ccnt. 12s. It. sh. & ba. 11. 165. I N. 101. I2s.per share .00. per ct. 51. per cent. bl. per cent. 51. per cent. p. sli. & bs. Si. per cent. 11. ss. & bs. ss. 51. per cent. 6/. 10s. H. 6s. 10% pr cnt. Si. per cnt. Name of Company. Charing-cross • • • • .... Southwrk, Nw Sub. Av. Ditto Nw of 734 p.c. Waterloo •• • • • • • • • • Ditto Old Ann. of V. Ditto Nw ditto of 71. Vauxhall .• .. • • • Av. Name of Company. East and West Ind'&...: Est Country ..... London .... . Ditto 80nd5........ St. Katharine ........ Ditto, Scrip •• •...1-: Ditto 80nd5....... Southampton •• Name of Company. East London.... •. .... Grand Junction ...... Lambeth •• • • •• •• •• New Rivr Lndu Brdge Vauxhall West Middlesex . . . GAS-LIGHT British •• •• •• •• •• •• Ditto Provincial.... Bristol • • • • •• • • • • • • •• Brighton • • - - .. • • • • • • City of London .. • • • . lontinental Consolidat. Equitable-. .... .. .. .. Imperial ...... •• Endependent .......•• L0nc10n.............. Ditto•• .• •• ehcenix ............. fiatcliff. •• • . • . • • United General .. •... Westini RS ter Chartered Ditto, New •• •• •• Amount of Share. s. d. 40 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 M) 00 l 0 0 0 £ s. d. 40 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 13 0 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 10 0 0 22 10 0 35 0 0 10 0 0 22 10 0 25 0 0 2 10 0 10 0 0 40 0 0 FRANCE. The funeral service to the memory of the late Marshal Bugeaud was celebrated with great pomp at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning in the Church of St. Louis of the Invalides. A grand labarum, ornamented with silver, was placed behind the altar. The Mar shal's escutcheon was represented at the four cor ners. It was of light blue, with a sword crossed on a cannon. The grand catafalque was placed in the centre of the church, beneath a magnificent canopy. On a level with the foreign flags which decorate the church were placed shields, on which were inscribed, to the right, "Isly, Oran, Moustier, Llobregat, Burgos, Yelat, Tortoso, Lerida ;" and on the left, " Tariffa, Tarragona, Castille, \Vilna, Tafna, Moustier, Tlemeen, Isly." The President of the Republic, the Ministers, the Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Mar shals of France, the Generals commanding in Paris, with the officers of their staff, and the corporate bodies, were present at the ceremony. The troops under arms around the building, and in its vicinity, could not haves been less than forty thousi.nd men The Archbishop of Paris pronounced the absolution. The body of the Marshal had been placed previous to the ceremony, in a chapelle ardente, prepared for the purpose in the lower part of the church to the right. From the moment the service began until it was ter minated, the Invalides and the Ecole continued to fire minute guns. Military bands also played outside the building. The façade of the In valides was covered with black cloth, and also dis played the escutcheon of the deceased Marshal. The troops stood with their arms reversed in sign of mourning; the drums of the foremost ranks were muffled ; the hilts of the officers' swords were covered with crape, as also the colours of the regiments. The officers of those corps that had served under the com mand of the Marshal in Africa wore crape on the arm ; and an expression of profound grief was observ able on the countenances that bore the strong impress of an African sun. A great number of officers of the National Guards were present ; and the concourse was great of pri vate citinens along the quay and the neighbour hood of the Invalides. The ceremony was over at half past eleven o'clock, and the troops were on the way to their quarters before 12 o'clock. No incident of importance occurred during the ceremony. M. Kalkbrenner, the musical composer, died a few days ago at Encehein (near Paris) from cholera. STATE OF TRADE. The market may be concisely described as exhibiting, on the whole, much steadiness in prices, along with a very perceptible want of animation, and an amount of business by no means large. We need not enter much into particulars. It appears, however, that, although the operations in various widths of shirting, in mado• pollams, in printers, and in certain other light and medium fabrics, are not extensive, this is evidently owing quite as much to an indisposition on the part of manufacturers to receive contracts, as of merchants to give them. In executing what orders they have, the latter find the former, not only with out stock, but under engagements for some weeks forward ; and it is with difficulty they succeed in supplying their present needs. Under these cir cumstances, prices do not indeed rise, but they are decidedly firm. On the other hand, al though recent purchases have somewhat reduced the stocks of stout domestics and T cloths, these articl e s still hang heavily upon the market, and, if not lower, are certainly stationary in value. Certain kinds of T's and domestics are, however, scarce, and in fair request. Yarns are not marked by the same degree of firmness as goods. The continental houses are doing very little; and the India and China mer chants are proceeding with much caution in their transactions. Spinners for home manufacture are rather indifferent about selling; while, at the same time, the consumers show a backwardness to pay the advance latterly demanded. On the whole, restricted as is the extent of business, there is a good deal of stt adiness in prices, and it is only in exceptional instances that any concession is made. ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—The improvement in the de mand fur fi innels last Monday has been fully maintained to-day. The wool market remains dull, with little or no change in prices. HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—Not much business is doing for the home trade, either in the warehouses or Cloth Hall, which may probably be accounted for by it being the near approach of the general season for stock taking by wholesale houses. Orders to some extent still remain to be completed; and a fair business is doing in goods adapted for the American and continental markets. Several foreign buyers are in the town. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—There was rather more in quiry for some descriptions of goods in the Piece Hall to-day; and there is, we understand, somewhat more doing in the warehouses; but the trade is far from being active, and !here is no improvement in prices. The spinners continue to be well employed, and the quota tions for yarns are fully sustained. But little wool is changing hands, and prices are still drooping. LEEDS, ' , TUESDAY.—AIthough the transactions at our Cloth Halls these last few weeks have not ►.no.. note, we may nevertheless state that the general busi ness done to order, and at the warehouses, is of a most satisfactory character. Stocks of low and middle qualities of cloth have been much reduced in the manufacturers' hands—many an order is still In the course of execution, and it is gratifying to add that some of these are for markets which have been forbidden ground for us during the last six years, owing to the prejudices entertained in favour of continental cloth. These are encouraging signs for our manufacturers; of whom it is but just to say, that they strained every nerve to maintai❑ a competition in neutral markets, and who, were it not for the enormous advance in wool at the last German fairs, would reap the advantage due to their efforts without any difficulty ; but we apprehend a serious check to this tendency may be expected from the high prices which they will have to insist on, when the new and dearer wools come into work.—Manchester Guardian. LAW INTELLIGENCE. 'COURT OF QUEENS BENCH, June 20. RCGERS V. RUSSELL. This was an action on a guaranteed bond to recover from the defendant, Mr. Frederick Russell, a leather cutter, the sum of 1781. 16s. 9d. It appeared that the defendant and a person now deceased, named Garrett, were sureties for a Mr. Henry Edward Russell, who was appointed a collector of paving rates for St. Margaret's and St. John's parish, who became a defaulter to the above amount, and who is now undergoing imprison ment in Westminster Bridewell, for embezzling money from the 'Westminster Life Assurance Office, in which he was a clerk. His father had held the office of col lector for some years before, and had unfortunately been a defaulter in the amount of 2491. 10s. 2d. The son, who was one of his father's sureties, stated his willingness to the Commissioners to take upon him self the default of his father, provided they should ap point him to the situation which his father had resigned, and which was not worth so much as 501. a year. They agreed to appoint him on condition that the money was paid, and it was accordingly paid by a Mr. llawsett, who was one of the sureties of the elder Russell. The father and son then covenanted to pay the amount to Dawsett, and the place was given to him. Such are the brief facts of the case. Mr. Rogers, the clerk to the Commissioners, proved the making of the bond in 1843. He would not swear that the defendant Russell knew that the son had bound himself to pay half the defalcation of his father. 301. a year wns to be paid to him by H. E. Russell for Daw sett, and he did so out of the poundage to which he was entitled out of the rates collected by him. The arrange• ment was made, he believed, without the knowledge of the Commissioners. Mr. PETERSDORFF, in the absence of Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, addressed the Court on behalf of the defendant, who had pleaded that the guarantee bond had been obtained through fraud and misrepresentation. He contended that the defendant had been disingeniously deceived by the Commissioners—that he was led into an agreement without this important fact being communi cated to him—that if 301. a year was deducted from the salary of Henry E. Russell, that it would be safe for him to become his surety—that if he was bound by pecuniary obligations which might not unlikely lead him to appropriate the money of others for his own purposes, he would most unquestionably have declined. If a person drew another into a bond, it was not only a proper, but a social obligation on his part to make no un derhand sinister deed like this, The Commissioners had, therefore, deceived him in a way which was most discre ditable to them. They had broken their contract alto gether. For instance, Russell was bound to render monthly accounts, and never to hold more than 501. ; whereas nothing of the kind had taken place, and he had been allowed to hold very large sums. He trusted the jury would protect the defendant. Mr. Edward Russell, who was then examined, swore that his uncle, the defendant, did not know that he had bound himself to pay 301. a year out of his poundage. He goodnaturedly became security be cause another uncle at Greenwich had refused. He was aware. of the defalcations of his father. The if h bound he w h e i r m e seu appointed, t o pay t 075 l. which a year Commissioners were p e rf ec tl y aware that the money was to be deducted from hi m; i n d eed, at one of the meetings had of the Commissi oners , h e was asked if he would pay 501. replied m thatoney h he had he forthe been compelled to raise to meet the defalcations of his father, and that he could not; upon which the Commis sioners agreed to accept 301. a year. Mr. WHATELY replied, and dwelt upon the improba bility of the defendant's ignorance of the terms of the bond to pay the 301 a year. It was altogether impro bable that the Commissioners were aware of its existence, and but for a technicality he should have called several of the Commissioners to show that this was so, and that no such conversation as that referred to by the witness 'tassell had taken place. Mr. Justice ERLE held that tho Commissioners had not been guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation. The bond Is as not made with them or with th• it consent, but with a private party for a private purpose. The jury, after a short consultation, found a verdict for the amount claimed. Sympathy among men is beginning to be felt. The extremes of society are approximating each other—the zenith and the nadir of life are drawing together. The great democratic principle of equal political rights is compre.sing society to as near a level as nature will justify. Remote nations shake hands with one another. Conventional rights are giving place to natural rights, and the government of force is giving way to the govern ment of popular will and sincere action.--Eliza Cook's Journal. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. (Before Mr. WITITAM, and a Bench of Magistrates.) Yesterday, William Miller, 59, one of those fellows who hang about the County Ceurts, yelling thern.Aves " agents," was indicted for obtaining 9s. from Elizabeth Mills, under false pretences. The proseeutrix was a poor old woman, who earned a precarious subsistence as a sempstress. Some short time since she was anxious to sue a person named Smith, who was indebted to her for money lent, and the prisoner was introduced to her as an " agent" of the Whitechapel County Court, who would get an execution for her against Smith. The prisoner told her that he had been an officer of the old Court of Requests, in Osborne street, for twenty years. The proAcuirix, believing this statement, at once authorised him to proceed against Smith, and gave him 3s. to take out the summons. He subsequently told her that he must pay 4e. more for the hearing. To pro Lure this sum she was obliged to pawn her bedding, and shortly after he asked her for ss. to takeiout an execution against Smith, telling her that she would receive the fed amount due to her after the execution had issued, and without having any occasion to attend the court at all. The prosecutrix was again obliged te pledge the remaining portion of her beddin g to obtain the required su m; hut instead of receiving the ; amount due to her, she discovtred that, though the summons had been taken out against Smith, the cause had been abandoned. There had been no hear ing, and, as a matter of course, no execution could be obtained. The clerk to the County Court proved that there were no fees paid for hearing or execution, and that nothing further than taking out the summons had been done. The jury found ,he prisoner Guilty. Mr. WITHAM said that it was a most heartless fraud. It was intol-rable that such persons as the prisoner should be allowed to hang about these county courts, and extort money from those poor persons who were obliged to resort to them. The sentence was that he be imprisoned and kept to bard labour for the term of six months. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Lieutenant Lean, the City agent of the Emigration Commissioners, attended for the purpose of bringing a charge, under the sth and 6 , h Vic., cap. 107, called "An Act for regulating the Carri.go of Passengers in Merchant Vessels," against Mr. Sutton, a licensed emi grati3n broker, who voluntorily attended to answer the matter of complaint. Alderman Wilson presided. Lieutenant Lean said the subject was one of great importance to persons who intended to emigrate. Two men and a woman had applied to him, stating that they had pa id mosey to Mr. Sutton for their passage to New York, per the Rose, emigrant vessel. It appeared from their representations, that the emigration broker had violated the Act in two of its important clauses in dealing with them. In the first place they had not given them receipts for the money in the form contained in the schedule, and, in the second, he had received the money without having received a written authority to act as agent for the party on whose behalf the contract for such passage was purported to be made. These omissions were infringements upon the 19th and 21st sections of the Act, and subjected the defendant to two penalties in each case of 101. a head, the Act having been expressly made for the protection of the passenger from fraud or the consequences of false pretence. It happened that the emigration ship turned out, upon examination, to be wholly unfit for the voyage, and she was accordingly ordered into dry dock for repairs, and when she would be fit to und, rtake the voyage was quite a matter of conjecture. The defendant, although infoimed of the illegality of the proceedings, had, never theless, refused to return the money to the com plainants, who seriously felt the grievance, and appealed to the Commissioners for assistance in so disagreeable an emergency._ Alderuran - WILsoN having examined the receipts given by the defendant for the amount of the passage-money, which receipts were of the ordinary kind, and by eo means such as were required by the Act of Parliament, and. having been informed that the defendant had no written authority from the owner of the vessel to con tract for the passage of the complainants, asked what answer Mr. Sutton was prepared with? The defendant said he did not mean to deny anything which he had done. He certainly had received the money, and given the receipts produced, and he had no written authority from the owner of the ship to act as agent; but he con:idered himself perfectly justified in the course he had pursued, and was whelly at a loss to find anything in the Bill at all tending to show any obligation upon his part to return the money. Alderman WILSON—How can you be justified in acting in direct violation of the Emigration Act? Mr. Sutton—My licence is my authority. I contend that I have carried out the Act of Parliament, by en tering into a contract as agent for the complainants, and that the section you have quoted has no reference to any person but the passenger. Alderman WILSON—Your construction of the Act of Parliament is so palpably erroneous, as to amount to an imputation of actual stupidity. I advise you to go to some one capable of advising you. Mr. Sutton—l look upon the Act in quite a different light, and I am determined to appeal against your deci sion. lam anxious to have the point settled, and have no 'idea of shirking the resi,onsibiii.y. To show that I had no intention of doing wrong, when the Rose was found incapable of going the voyage, I entered into con tracts tor ane pf.s.. g e of the complainants in the Pioneer. Alderman Wit-sou—Have you got the written autho• rity of the owner to act as agent in that instance? Mr. Sutton—No. Alderman Wlmos—Then you aro subject to double penalties. Mr. Sutton—l am willing to take the responsibility in all the cases. Lieutenant Lean said he had in vain endeavoured to prevail upon the defendant to come to arrangements, to prevent the inconvenience which must result to the com plainants from the delay. Alderman WiLsox— I perceive that the case is out of my jurisdiction, but I hope the defendant will see the necessity of returning the passage-money to these poor people, and not render an application to the magistrates of the Thames Police necessary. Mr. Sutton—l don't mean any offence, but I assure you, Sir, that I expect, upon my return home, to find some persons waiting to be supit lied with a passage to New York, and it is my determination to act for them just as I have acted for these people. Alderman WILSON—In nope Lieutenant Lean will at once apply to the Thames police magistrates, who know well how to deal with such a case, and that he will not forget to mention the defendant's expressed determina tion to repeat the offence of which he certainly has been guilty in directly violating the Act. The Act was made tor protection against such conduct as that upon which I have animadverted, and the case most strongly proves how necessary it is to be stringent upon agents. The defendant is liable to penalties to the amount of 801., and it I had authority he should feel the consequence of the threat to continue in an illegal course. Lieutenant Lean said he certainly would act upon the Alderman's suggestion. GUILDHALL. Mr. Robert William Rickard, of Harpur-street, Red Lion-square, surgeon, was brought up before Aldermen Gibbs and Carden, for final examination, on the charge of uttering two forged receipts for rent. Mr. Humphreys attended to prosecute; and Mr. D. W. Wire, of the firm of Wire and Child, defended the prisoner. The first witness called was Mr. Hugh Hughes, of No. 6, Portland-place, Clap ham-road, who said I am one of the deacons of the Welsh chapel; I took the receipt for the Lady-day quarter to the landlord—he said it was a forgery. I saw it taken off the file which is kept in an iron chest in the cupboard in the Welsh chapel-house. There are three persons who keep the keys of the cupboard, but Mr. Edwards had the one belonging to the chest, and I saw him open it a few nights ago. This is the receipt which was taken off the file, and I marked it. , Mr. Wire—How do you know it. Mr, Hughes—l am satisfied about it, as I had it in my possession from Monday evening to the Friday evening, when I marked it. Mr. Wire—The prisoner was connected with your chapel for some time. Mr. Hughes—He was. Mr. Wire—Were there any disputes between him and some other members? Mr. Hughes—There has been a lawsuit between him and Mr. Davis, one of the deacons, but it has no connexion with this transaction. Mr. Morgan Jones, of 2, Union•place, Pimlico, slate merchant, said I am connected with the chapel in Jewin crescent. I was with Hughes when he went to Mr. Lilly. I was in the room when Mr. Hughes got the receipt. It was at a meeting of the elders. This is the receipt of the Lady-day quarter. When we returned I put this mark on it. Mr. Alderman GIBBS asked Mr. Wire what defence he had to make. Mr. Wire—There is no case against Mr. Rickard. I take it that there ought to be evidence to show that be uttered the documents, knowing them to be forgeries, for the purposes of fraud. There is an utter absence of evi dence to prove that offence, or that be even knew them to be such. Alderman Ginus—But they are vouchers which turn out to be forgeries. Mr. Wire—But the first document is disposed of, as he paid the Christmas rent. Mr. Humphreys—l must disabuse Mr. Wire's mind on that point, and inform him that they were both for , genies. Alderman GIBBS —Mr. Lilly, who paid you the two last quarters' rent? _ Mr. Lilly—Mr. Rickard paid the last, and his wife the previous one. All the receipts before that time, which are now produced, are in my handwriting. Alderman GIBBS—Upon the evidence before me I shall commit the prisoner for trial. Mr. Wire—Then it is useless to address you; but you have the discretionary power of admitting m y client to bail, which I hope you will do, as at the teal circum• stances will come out that will throw a very diffeient light on the whole transaction. Alderman GIBBS —I don't feel inclined to do so. Mr. Wire—lle is is professional man, and it will be his ruin. Alderman Gnus said, be was very unwilling to add to the severity of the c ise, but he knew too well what impression his admitting him to bail would have on the minds of a jury, namely, that the magistrate had a doubt in the case, and theretoro he must decline acceding to Mr. Wire's application. The prisoner was then conveyed to Newgs,te. LAMBETH. ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.—A young woman, with c n infant in her arms, nam,d Louisa Lloyd, was placed at the bar charged with stealing a purse contain ing ten sovereigns from the person of Mr. W. Butcher, residing at Peckham. Tire complainant etated that the previous night he was passing along the Kent -road, when he met the prisoner, and tiecoa:panied her into Surrey-squire. He had not been there more than five minutes before he missed his purse containing the money, which wss in his left hand pocket safe a f4.w minuses bet,re. The pri s,ner, upon being taxed with the robbery, ran away, and while so doing fell down and cut the left side of her face. Police-constable M 206, hearing the cries of " Stop thief," caught the prisoner, and afterwards found the money upon the spot where ho stopped her, The prisoner, who had nothing to say in her defence, was committed for trial. WORSHIP-STREET. Joseph Johnson Colverd, alias Smith, and William Hall Brown, alias Clarke, alias 11114 who stood charged with having obiained goods by means of fraudulent repre sentations, to the amount of 1561. from Ur, Henry Dymond, wholesale gutra percha boot and shoe manu facturer, in Regent-street, City-road; and also with hav ing uttered two forged bills of exchange, for 21/. 7s. and 221. Ss., in part payment of the same, were placed at the bar, before Mr. Arnold, for further examination. In consequence of the publicity which had been given to the fact of their apprehension, a large number of tradesmen and other persons, who had had dealings with the prisoners, ware in attendance to pre'er charges aga , :►st them. - Further evidence having been given, Sergcant lluboib said that, since the last examination he had received a letter from Mr. Hodge, deputy con stable of Wolverhampton, ,pprising him that he held a warrant for the apprehension of the prisoner Brown, Rho had absconded from that place about two years since, after defrauding tradtsrneu to the extent of nearly 3001.; and he was also in communication with various other firms in town who had promised to attend on a future d and substantiate other charges, ernbraciffg both fraud and forgery, against both prisoner 3. The prisoners, who were advised by Mr. Vann and another solicitor who appeared on their behalf to reserve their defence, were accordingly remanded for a week. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. NEWCASTLE CATTLE MARKET, JUNE 19.-- Since this day se'nnight the arrivals of fat cattle from Edinburgh and the counties on the north-east coast of L;cotland, into this town by rail and sea, have been about 250 head. Also a good season able supply from the border counties, both of which are of a very superior quality ; and a large supply of sheep and lambs for the time of year. The former is fully an average in point of quality, while the latter is only very indifferent. The supply of beef will comprise about 560 head of beasts, there being a good attendance of both local and distant buyers, together with the cool state of the weather, all breeds are in active request, and a clearance will be effected. The supply of sheep and lambs is 6,000. The mutton trade is tolerably active at former rates, yet a considerable quantity remains on hand, while lambs are excessively heavy, at a decline from id to Id per lb from last week. Prices—Beasts, prime Scots, 6s 3d to Gs 63; middling, Gs; good steers, 6s; middling 5s 6d to 5s 9d ; inferior beasts, 5s per stone of 141bs Sheep, 5d to bid; lambs, 6d to bid per lb sinking the offal. EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET, JUNE 19.--There were in the market to-day 74 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801b$ imperial, whereof 63 sold thus: —0 at 1110 s Od, 25 at 119 s 6d, 21 at 1/ 9s Od, 6atl/ 8s 6d, 11 at I/ 8s Od, oat 1/ 7s Od. Average price of the whole, 11 8s lld 8-12ths. 8 sacks flour, whereof 2 sold at 31s, 0 at 30s, 3 at 295, and 3at 28s. 6 sacks barleymeal, none sold. 1 sack peasemeal, which was not sold. 24 sacks pot-barley, whereof 15 sold thus: —1 at 118 s Od, 2 at 11 5s Od, latl/ 4s 6d, 3atli 3s Od, Batl/ is Od. 1 sack brosemeal, which sold at 275. , ._. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET, .TUNE 19. Supplies of all kinds moderate. Oat straw, from 6s Od to 7s Od per kemple of 16 stones tron ; wheat ditto, 5s 6.1 to 7s Od ; barley ditto, 5s Od to 7s Od. Hay from 7d to 9d per stone. BELFAST, JUNE 18.—The supplies of grain and oatmeal at this day's market are moderate, and prices remain unchanged. Indian corn is in good request, at prices nomi nally as on Friday. Wheat, 9s 04 to 10s 6d ; oats, 6s 9d to 7s 64 ; oatmeal, 12s Od to 12s 10d ; yellow corn, 81 19s Od to 8/ 15s Od; white, 8/ 12s 6d to 8/ 15s Od. Oatmeal is also a small supply, and yet prices are 3d lovver• turn lower, and a dull sale at 7d to lid per lb. Indian corn a slow sale to-day, at a small abatement in value. Potatoes, per stone, 19d to Is; ditto, per cwt, 5s 44 to 6s Od. Fruit—Apples, per dozen, 64 to 9d; pears, per ditto, Od to 04; grapes, per lb., 8d to 10d ; lemons, per dozen, Os 94 to Os 10d; nuts, per quart, 6d to d; wall-nuts, per hundred, is to Is 3d; chest nuts, per ditto, is Od to Os ; cocoa nuts, 6d to 8d each; American apples, 10d to ls Od per dozen ; mixed pickles, 10d to Is. Butchers' Meat—beef, p er lb, 4d to 74; mutton, 5d to 7d; veal, 64 to 7d ; lamb, 5s Od to 6s Od per quarter. Fish—Trout, Os 64 per lb ; brett, 3s 04 to 4s Od; soles, Is to 2s Od per pair. Poultry—Fowls, 2s 6d to 33 a' pair ; chickens, is 6d to 2s per pair; ducks, Os to 2s 6d Per pair ; turkeys, Os to Os each ; geese, Os Od to Os Od ; egg's per doz, 5d to 64. Hay, is 2d to 2s Od; straw, oat, 9d to Is 24 ; ditto, wheat, 8d to Is Od per cwt. BANBItIDGE, JUNE 18.—Oatmeal, from 12s Od to 12s 64 per cwt ; Indian meal, 9s 6d to 9s 94 per (cwt ; flour, first, Per 1121bs, 15s 6d ; second, 14s Od ; thirst, 12s .9cl ; fourth, 93 " ul l bran, 6804 ; wheatm ea l, 12 5 6d to 1 4s Od ; wheat, from 0 3 " to Ils Od per cwt of 112 lbs ; oats, from 7s 4d to 7s 6d per cwt of 112 lbs; barley, 7s 6d to 8s Od per cwt; best butter, firkin, at the scale, 6i4 per lb ; r oll, Od to 6'4,1 per lb; beef, 3d t o 5d ; mutton, 4d to 6d; potatoes, for seed, Os Od to O s Od per cwt ; for table, from 6s Od to Os Od per cwt ; h ens , 104 to Is Od each ; chickens, 10d to Is 2d per pair; ducks, is 10d to 2s 4d ; turkeys, 2s 64 to 3s Od each ; geese, 2s 4d to 2s 9d ; eggs, hen, 5d to Od per dozen ; duck, Od to 6d per dozen ; turkey, 10d to Os per dozen; goose, Os Od to I s 6d ; h a y, up l an d , f rom is 8d to 2 s p e r . _Flit; ditto, lowland, from Os Od t o I s 4d ; straw, f rom 04 to I_od turnips, Od to is 8d ; p or k, none at mar k e t this day ; lamb, from Od to 74 per lb. Weight of bread at Hamilton Moore's bakery, 4lbs fur 50. Old grain whiskey, at Mr. Robert Bell's, 6s 3d per gallon, duty paid. BALLYMENA, JUNE 16.—Oats, 7s Od to 8s Od ; oatmeal, 12s Od to 12s 9d per cwt ; butter, 7d ; beef, 3d to 6d per lb . ! ad to od ; flour, first, per cwt, 18s Od ; second, 17s Cas third, 15$ Od ; inferior third, 13$ Od ; fourth, lOs Od ; bran, Os Od to 6s 8d ; I n d ian meal, white, per cwt, 9s 6d to l Os yellow, 9s 6d to lOs Od; potatoes, 3s Od to 6s 04 per cwt; hay, is 3d to 2s 04 per cwt; American flour, 30s pr barrel; tallow, 4s 04 to 5s 44 per stone; flax, 4s to 63 6d ; straw, 84 to 1I d hie's, 2s 6d to 6s 9d each ; pork, 35s Od to 41s Od per cwt; turnips, 8d to is per ditto; carrots, Os to is per ditto ; beans, 5s 9d to 6s 64 ; grey peas, 6s 6d to 7s 6d. COAL MAUI,. L Ord's Redheugh Tanfield Moor .... Wylam 13s 6d Wall's End, &c. Gosforth ..... Eden Main 154 3d Bell Hetton Morrison l 4s 0 Hartlepool l7s Oa Lieugh Hall Kelloe lss 9d YESTERnAY. South Hartlepool lss 3d Adelaide Tees lss 9d Cowndon Tees 143 9d I - Ziehardson's Tees l4s Od Seymour Tees South Durham l4s 9d fees Derwentwaterllartley 14s 3d Nixon's Merthyr 20s Od Ditto. Ct.rditY 20 3 Od Ships at market, 38. MILTON A TRUE HERO.--Mlld Milton approaches nearly to my conception of a true hero. What a picture have we of that sublime old man, as—sick, poor, blind, and abandoned of his friends —he still held fast his heroic integrity; rebuking with his unbending republicanism the treachery. cowardice, and servility of his old associates I Ho had outlived the hopes and beatific visions of his youth ; he had seen the loud mouthed advocates of liberty throwing down a nation's freedom at the foot of the shameless, debauched, and perjured Charles the Second —crouching to the harlot-thronged court of the tyrant, and forswearing at once their religion nue their republicanism. The executioner's axe had been busy among his friends. Vane and Hampden slept 11 1 their bloody graves, Cromwell's ashes had been dragged from their resaug-place ; for, even in death, the effeminate monarch hated and feared the conqueror of Naseby and Marston-moor. He was left alone in age, and penury, and blindness, oppressed with the knowledge that all which his free soul abhorred had returned u pon his beloved country. Yet the spirit of the stern old re publican remained to the last unbroken, realising the truth of the language of his own Samson Agonistes "Patience is the exercise Of saints, the trial of their fortitude, Making them each their own deliverer, And victor over all That tyranny or fortune can iaict." True, the overwhelming curse had gone over his country. Harlotry and atheism sate in the high places, and the curses of wantons and the jests of buf foons regulated the measures of a Government which, had just ability e n oug h to deceive, just religion enough to persecute. But while Milton mourned over this disastrous change, no self-reproach mingled with his sorrow. To the last he had striven against the or pressor, and when confined to his narrow alley, a pri soner in his own mean dwelling, like another Prome theus on his rock, he still turned upon him an eye of uniubdu9d defiance.—People's Journal. RUTLAND TESTIMONIAL—A meeting was held at Leicester, on Saturday, for the purpose of agreeing to an address to be presented to the Duke of Rutland, on attaining the fiftieth year of his lieutenancy of Leices tershire; and for the purpose of deciding on the apPr°: priaiion of upwards of 1,4001., which had been subscribed fr‘r a " Rutland Testimonial." A congratulatory ad dress having been• agreed to, it was further resolved— " That a bronze statue of the Duke of Rutland, 0 12 a granite pedestal, be erected in the market-place, 1e 1 oes• ter, provided a site can be procured for the same. It happens in conversation as in different games. One person seems to excel, till another does better, 5 1 1 we then think no more of the first. —Eliza Cook s Journal. /EVIP.B.NIES. Amount of Share. Paid. s. d. 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 1 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 20 A n Stock. 100 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock, 100 0 0 BRIDGES Dividend per Annum. Amount of Share. , 355. per cent. 11. ss. 4d. 11. 2s. 2d. DOC Dividend per Annum. 61. pr cent. 40s. per ale. 51. pr cont. 41. per cent. 4 per cent. 434 /. pr cent. 21. per cent. WATER- . Dividend I per Annum. 21. 10s. 31. 10s. 51. per cnt. 21. 10s. 51. per cnt. 61.05. pr cnt. ..e. s. d. 632 12 8 50 0 0 100 0 0 70 10 3 Amount Share. Z s. d. Stock. 100 0 0 Stock. Stock. 50 0 0 '0 RIES . Amount of Share. X s. d. 100 0 0 41 13 4 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 AND COZE CO: Name of Company. Dividend Amount per of Annum. Share. X. s. d. 40 0 0 a. 20 0 0 101. per cent.' 20 0 0 51. per cent. 20 0 0 101. 100 0 0 928. pr ahriro 50 0 0 355. pr share 50 0 0 6/. per cent. , 50 0 0 6/. per cent. 40 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 51. percent. , 50 0 0 5/. 'lOO 0 0 4%1. pr cent. 50 0 0 31. 50 0 0 12s. 50 0 0 X 8. d. 50 0 0 11 0 0 5 0 0 5 6 8 5 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 2 12 6 All paid. 4 0 0 2 n 0 36 10 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 5 13 1 2 10 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 12 10 0 12 10 0 15 0 0 2 0 0 2 10 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 10 0 0 0 10 0 9 0 0 4 0 0 X. 8. d. 25 0 0 60 0 0 40 0 0 Paid. X e. d. 50 0 0 Z s. d. :PANIES. Z. B. d. 18 0 0 19 0 0 too 0 0 3V a 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 46 0 0 90 0 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 Price, BIRTHS. On the 18th inst., in Hereford-street, the Viscountess Villiers, of a son. On the 18th inst., at Oxford-terrace, Hyde-park, th® lady of G. Hotham, inst. Esq., of a son. On the 18th ,at Glocester - ter race, Regent's-park, the hll, thew Captain lady of H. W. Eaton, Esq., of a dau g hter. On the 17th inst., s3 datßetghiemeNnotd, eo,fNaVedlawuygnh,tetrh. On e wife of W. Reid, Esq., of a son. At Folkstone, Kenta, t o n i3 i t o h m e fi l e 7 i t d h . r i o n a s d t :, A t i h a e i d w a i . fe o: George th E e . l H 7t i h ili i e n r sc Hillier, 53d Esq., of a son. of OWn.thße jlaitmheisnst., the wife of J. Robert Kenyon, Esq., of a daughter. at Brechi n , Li eutenant William Fraser, Regiment Madra s N at i ve Infantry, to Helen, daughter of Dr. Guthrie, t . rechi n. on the 14th inst . , at T ywardreath, Charles Edward, second 44 O th n the 7thinsf" son of the Rev. Ge-orge Rashleigh, M A., vicar of Horton Kirby, Ike t, to Charlotte Hinxman, eldest daughter of W. Rashleigh, E sq., of MPliabilly, Cornwall.' DIED On the 16th inst., at Woodhill, near Guildford, William Ainslie. Esq , aged 64. On the 17th inst, at Wickham-hall, West Wickham, Kent, Henry C-aver, Esq., aged 42. On the 17th inst., the Rev. Charles Richard Pritchett, 25 years reader at the Charter-hi use, and 14 years rector of Little liallingbury, Essex, aged 63. On the 13th inst., at Onslow-square, Brompton, Lady C F. Smith. On the th inst., at Canonbury-square, Islington, Mr. J. N. Warner, aged ()8. On tl:e lath inst., at Cheltenham, John Thomas Evans, late Captain Ist Dragoon Guards, second and youngest son of J. Evans, Esq., of Hertford-street, Mayfair. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of Middlesex, Thursday, June 21, 1849. Paid. Paid. Paid. Paid. Pri, e, Price. 4% 15% 15 % R 9s, 2% 21 Os 26 5% Price. Price,