The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 15, 1857.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THURSDAY.
DIVORCE DILL.

The house at the early sitting went again into
committee upon the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes
Bill, resuming the consideration of the important
25th clause, which enacts that a wife may petition
for a dissolution of her marriage on the ground that
her husband had been guilty of incestuous adultery,
or bigamy, or adultery coupled with cruelty, or
adultery coupled with desertion.
Lord J. MANNERS proposed to add another ground,
" adultery committed in the conjugal residence."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the amendment,
and in a discussion of considet able interest, the tone
of which was occasionally warm, the amendment was
supported by Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Drummond, Mr.
Hugessen, Mr. Napier, and Mr. Ayrton.
Mr. HENLEY urged the inconsistency of the Attor-
ney General's objection with the fact that the clause
itself contained two causes of divorce at the suit of
the wife which was altogether new.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL reasserted that the bill
embodied substantially the principle of the existing
law, and said that to admit this new ground of
divorce was beyond his limited function in taking
charge of the bill.
After some further debate,
Lord PALMERSTON, remarking that the proposal to
multiply the grounds of divorce came with an ill
grace from those who maintained the indissolubility
of marriage, and that the amendment would give
rise to opportunities and means of collusion between
parties, consented nevertheless, on the part of the
Government, to waive objection to it.

On resuming at six o'clock,
The Militia Bill was read a first time, and Mr. J.
WILSON obtained leave to bring in the Consolidated
Fund (Appropriation) Bill, which was subsequently
brought in and read a first time.

DIVORCE BILL.
The 25th clause of the Divorce and Matrimonial
Causes Bill was then again brought under discussion,
and occupied the house for many hours. The ques-
tion chiefly at issue related to the conditions upon
which a married woman was to be allowed to obtain
divorce a vinculo matrimonii. The ATTORNEY-
GENERAL, returning to the charge, suggested with
regard to granting a divorce for bigamy the addition
of the words " with adultery." After a long and
nice discussion the amendment was agreed to.
Certain other offences, such as "rape," &c., were in•
eluded. _ .

Mr. WIGRAM moved to insert the words " being
proved by conviction."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed this amend-
ment, which was negatived upon a division by 103
to 68. _

Mr. DRUMMOND proposed to make cruelty alone a
ground of the dissolution of marriage ; but this
proposal was resisted both by Sir G. GREY and Mr.
GLADSTONE, because it would introduce a new prin-
ciple into the bill, and a new category of divorce.
The motion was negatived.
Mr. HENLEY moved the cmission of the words
"desertion without reasonable excuse," suggesting
the difficulty of defining the term " desertion."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed that where a
husband ceased to live with his wife without the in-
tention of returning he would have deserted her, and
the court would collect from the facts whether there
was an animus descrendi.
The amendment was ultimately withdrawn.
Mr. BUTT moved to include among the grounds
entitling a wife to petition for a divorce " adultery
coupled with aggravated ill-treatment of such a
nature as ought in the opinion of the court to entitle
her to such divorce." .

Upon a division the amendment was negatived by
137 to 41.

Mr. Cox moved that the Chairman report progress,
and Mr. GLADSTONE seconded the motion.
Lord PALDIEILSTON said be congratulated the oppo-
nents of the bill upon their ingenuity in having
expended ten hours upon three lines of the clause,
and took the opportunity to inform the house that
they should sit "day by day, and night by night,"
until the bill be concluded. He should have resisted
the motion for reporting progress if it were not out
of consideration for the professional engagements of
the Attorney-General, whose presence was required
at an early hour in the House of Lords. " Out of
consideration to him, therefore, and not at all out of
consideration to the opponents of the bill (said the
noble lord) I shall not oppose the motion for ad-
journment."
Mr. GLADSTONE :

This is not the first time that my noble friend has given
me occasion to perceive that he emancipates himself from
certain rules which are ordinarily incumbent upon mem-
bers of this house. I repeat it—this is nut the first occa-
sion on which my noble friend has emancipated himself
from those rules which are ordinarily incumbent upon
members of this house, and on which, confident in his