The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-10 00:00:00

.OrI:9ONS.

Had the Intentions of iikL;;;:iiver been to prohibit the
marrow of a wife's slater altogether, even human wisdom
would never have takes a nurse so sum to defeat its ppurposse, se
r.. L. 'balm a rule Mel:Adding It solely In one pvUcu ass ease.--
Archdeacon lure's Charge
I .111 endertake to say that In no part of the elegised world
is there to be Mimi a more mini and Intelligent
_people, gape.
rivaril to the intercourse of the seeks, than are the
p•vple Or Lie n:ate of Massachusetts, and yet, my lords, in that
Nate tho marriages wbkh the noble lonl kirks to Itiste are
r.66llkltt with the law. They ore not only legal, but obey
ate .4 onstant comnrrence.- —hpeech of Inn, Lyndhurst
It seems to be established and admitted that the moral feet
in.; of the community at large le not with this law—that the
to t, 11 not ...eyed, and that a great number of persons tot
nm•ot, tog O. ;skins to commit any moral offeace do coutract
re amain • winch the law proltildt. That is not a state of things
ohm b ..llutit to t•lat , and ant being of opinion that there is any
moral -tin ton to the contractleg of these marriages. and be•
Ilrvnoe tint law la It ts the muse of a great deal of
millers sad social evil especially among the middle and lower
classes of the comssimity, II shall with great pkaaure give toy
lute fir the unotiou.:—Speech ofLoni Painier•ton.
"

'- I moat say that I hate saiivtio..l ioya.ll that there If not any
rellittoas prldiiiiitiou of thete marriages. 1 thrik where pers..ns
feel that they ran wolisosit terry.. contract them they should bo
allowed to .1., ,0.--ageedi of kart Russell
•• The lava orate atimsipted vibe ,Ir..wu from Script 'ire by the
emponents .4 the mousse, were arguments by nil, riuce . and,
the marsh nt arpl.l.or, ,11,111ef of this
..1 chmstian ~nurniiiiitier. and that At hi .1 artitm-fits by
lit MIA e were of a very doubtful elmrart.•r h•-• tholght they
nimbi very wellies!' there.., unties of the ilioiht bi the c..nselener
.1 sarh individual But, belly, trig. as he .114. that Scripture, so
far from pr eatictioned lb ee in ir7i.v,:t,„ It as. a
ia watch the peopl, might Justly complain, that the
L▪ u
.411, ['and was 1101 4.f hario..hy with the revealed wid of
—,tpeereh of the Iti ,hop id hips..
•• 11. smarter that tiro Jerboa 'guest thrill martiatres Is In a
prat ineavitre fouuded rather on a vague and uninformed as.
etiniAto.l lii it they ar.. prohibited by DM'. Wont than on a
siatnn esan• nation ot the ,leripttirev or the la r of the
Clitt. 1.. Wv .1. not tliol that th, pet,oa who ei.iitraet, the*,
riairia,•• and Inc relations anti frietol4 who appn.te th.m, hue
a ie.. strife% i-nof than .ithrri if religion% and moral WM:Minn,
or Are smarted by Lally of rondo," Thew marmairs will take
pt.: when a ~,IW.lff•liCo wt.* VIVI" rise to 'sonnet
at... hnrent they are 110‘ It pt-toltlit .I(
• kt.4.wwwwwoocrw agintl I,y Liao Itnh..p ,f Lichfield. air.
Star. Veoetkl, De. Lu Ir Usk.. Mr. Judi.: Nla
Wan., Ayr, I.srd itutlisifurd.
•• it fis rearark.to.l„, tha• whsle the, 1.. an entreat Minn 'Dan
aaifisst the Warn twe of • man with his h7ottor'v wlitow, there is
r.. pewhimtion 3%....4 hi. InArliwur rah his owl-used
ite•s ebder. In VC protiobitm.tr it only an/110 /1141,
ty.ist the wife • titter trio tine ,ti th, Cr-. wit,. • loch
of Implies the Ille,rty to starry thr -osier ant r her tleallt
—I. lie Chain. rt.

_ . .
•• 1 eurser4 bring noself to I, liete that the theta. law pen-
hityll• a sham tnis roarr,vte loth a eleccantol al.Ver
Dr. 11e..trt.r. tor Aretablaloop at York.
H. abotelo • es. lb .1 sel• b Imarrtiltlyi a. the Hill wai InteuJel
• ,„, ••••••hootawl, bat wife tarot!) pertalttel 1., the
•orile thee/1.0. W.IIo t, had hen so "lien .08.4. L Ile pr..
oe, ~,, .401 eapreawd by Chow eotelool•-•1
Mot them rible.lany 1.01. on.• (•rohlhltios."-12121to:•••? tt ht.
ppwach tab.,.
that bath ttl.rri...l too 4sirre, spore Ills appeal from
pour toraw fuel eo.t. •11111,rforr IM oo.ea.t.w, and, a.
tww, h I•ae p nem, e$ 41. •.12 to Like itoy ~.1,114 butt at
G. trl mob. *mill $1114..t. wit urre larhd 1•• man,
too .14 ••ehl 11,. • •.e.l Is oat down. a. nos It la
ra„,., .• r. ,wwti, Jea..l. m AI. tier to An-h-
-1,4... rt,•rr..4.0.••1 Jon.% I".a Irmo IM ortrioal, In 11t.
Ar• p••••• 1. of. Lush, th TM* a/pinto's of t11•Itop Jrwe•
01 I 111•" jars aft. r the ~pare, on, 11, gwtrd
1.6. I.l4liitatr•. wltt 111.1 cootteresn fletelet. waa
the a. ,• Appose: to 411. ir•ktwo tow • ..ppintel
po - • 10b r Ala • 21. It er •• •titt tat) ttlter vrtlh
1.4.1• a .11.1 ropoor .1. awl al•r•p• rt.* of 1'1.•
C.t•rt•. t• •-••••ooe.teraml.l. • I. r• ..111••••4 Is II Low

•• of lit- All !I •of faith,
trw1....• I ws4hisi. lL It ntllluden inr,alw•l *wit ntaillavit.
I 1., I 1..1 any 1....i...1ti50tt.at snlPrivra . with the
Si.. ..I*.pet Atr Lerman Withal**. Ilan.. 1,1 A..
I*.

The p+dul,ttr•n ut Latina Wiskr, was al.:ant tor lb. Ilk.
-
_ . .

•*1.11.0 e.s .4a wi lower with hi. h.t..
art loin the • p- .h. 1.110,1 .1+ In all I .
4.4 1.. It is Int.s.b. ith r bT espies.
)“ 1.1 nuytt. atasn usessol, au.tenty I. wog to he
I.4•ntts .1..11. nwsal parity ..r.nstrinosassi thh nly "—Rev.
I 1 Wil4k.l Lite...tars 4. th s I rolled Prrah)te•
r... 1,1 h
- _ .

• 1. thereto—. 'hit first. a. nieriptnre shows
it.lt line I. !mix onnooti in .1101 n .• •••14,1011.—an•l.
a. is ..hrton• th it ninth et it vndd in I.rerente.l,
nanny poor. . •• • aml min, by hawing that
rr SlAr.t.l r Iva. in a I/I iptrity of •01.1.1 he the
rest heat substatiite fora nr.ther, my I,Wllanin.l k. led to i5.11.-is
that the la* .1 Nan .night 1•• ugly in this re 'pert with the law
et I;o1 --R••, Canon s'h impowyt
"Rut hat it never mestere.' to 7.m. my dear Wynn. that thit
lima is an .I.aannalrie mi.,. .1 Tr, •t dastnal t)rlinoly r Cif mil se.
mmal istarrliLi.• I kite 1140 bl,ltaiP.ll hi milli,/ that these ate the
emit swltalilt. and likely to be the most frequent, if the taw 01.1
nit a. .tnib • prevent them. It ia quite mon•tromi. pulse* and
I tit) er. oetli id; as 1101 hive dove of late upon this subject.--
E,hert •ort)...y
•• W ”pie it., not ...bier mach rnars'ama Improper.
They cannot it • pnort4 to 111. improper by "teript tire. The goes-
-43 Is therrbde one of es tmitiene v. and my experienr • at n pato-
thud Fainl.ter miners ma to th•ok the in•moire tSpealtiO a),
l:o . if ever a 4:•invoratiou lie railed, and I he elected
nice of Li. • pb.ctors, I shall move for an alteration in this regard
lu .4 Wetted And sflinity. lentil this he the rase, I
s'llll I. Mart to are mach marriages le,talimat by the dell ritr."—
Der in Honk, [nm of Chi, heater
" ere the probitetton• n0001...1 on Stripttl.r, we might, at
whatever tarritke, to al rather than roan. hat I rann•it are
ostarred/obey of a kw which, having so each misetios In ob.

wily by the scrutinies's, evaded tiy the wealthy, and defied
ur csoled the po sr:—Re v. Camel Dale.
•• It is not wily not considered as prohibited, but it is (Ha-
hn •tl3 noilerstisol to he prentittod . and on this point neither
the low. nor the Itablds, nor historical Judaism, leaves
W.W.I for the lead doubt. 1 can igily reiterate my homer aass-r•
Dons that AU sophistry must Wit on the clear and unequivocal
words, Lev. trill. Is, • in her lifetime.' "—Evidence of Dr. Adler,
the Chief Rabbi of the Ji•ws In England,
Ile a iced thew to reflect that the parting request of many •
dylliz wife WAS that the man should marry her sister, which was
t ie best testimony to the feeling of wumanin thiamine?. Bach
nuirrlano• were nut rvyugnant to nature nor to Scriptint ; and
It tit. 3 idd hut look i• dmly at these feats, sure he was that the
'lay was not far distant when the °tomatoes law would be re-
ps.& I.- —Opeech of the Rer..l. C yliUer, D.D.
•• As rni clear mei strong case has hero made oat of Important
nit .utta,re to the public from such restriction, I take my stead
on the broad general principle that every restriction is an evil in
itself—the burden of proof lying opus the advocates of any res•
striotiou b. show its seofesity." . , .• Yon are at liberty to
eche to me as approving of the abolition of the restriction on
marriage to which don allude."—Archbishop Measly. In a letter
to t: .t. Crowder, Leh
•• I admit that a marriage with • wife's older If oct forbidden
lu Lovitkus.--Elishop of London t Dr. In).
• • such marriage., I apprehend, are seine fla frequent se the
circumstances which usually give rise to them. I have not
known any social disadvantages attending them."—itishop
11•11vAirse, Ohio, (dled Staten
N0t0.04 is mom common in almost all the States of Ame-
rica than second marriages of this sort ; and, so far from being
doubtful as to their moral tendeary, they are among es deemed
the very hest sat of marriage is my whole life I never
I heard the slizittett suggestion against them, founded on moral
I or domestic considerations.--Chief Justice story, United States.
•• Whence, I pray you, is this rigour of man easiest man,
which trod has out required? Who has given to met this
tif annulling or prohibiting marriage, 1 Be It that they
wens holy men, and Warmed by pions zeal ; why should ash-
thers nal Infringe my liberty ? Let any one be as zealous and
as holy 31 he will, so that he dues not injure his neighbour, or rob
him of his liberty. Let them arm themselves with the Divine law,
arid say, • What God bath joined together, let no man put asunder.'
The salami to h uabead and wife is of Divine right, which is binding,
however contrary it may be to human laws, and the taws of men
ought to yield to it without reserve. Yor if a man leaves father
and mother to chase to his wife, how much rather shall be
trample antler foot the eistitemptible and unjust laws of men, and
cleave to his wife? Anti Pope, Bishop, or oalmr, If he dissolve
any marriage sootracted in opposition to merely human law, is
Antichrist. a violator of stature, a traitor against the Divine Ma-
piety; for that sealence still stands. ' What God bath Joined let
no man put asunder.' Perish, therefore, those cursed traditions
of tn. rt. which have been brought In only to multiply dangers,
offence% and miseries in the Church."—Luther.

However inexpedient such marriages may be In certain cases,
I have been unable to illecover their unacriptural character.
With those Mews I willingly subscribe the opinion already given
the eubJect by say ramected Iletrupolitarh the Archblahop of
I thiltv"—Thi Bishop of Limerick.
it 4 now admitted by th • ripest scholars and moat accu-
rate critics that there is not the &Lightest proMbitloa Is the
Scripture. midis* the mirriage with a deceased witte sister. I
cone der the least restriction to be both %input and meet in.
Jurions. producing the di cpeataocial Dials, of Down
and Connor.
. . _

.:1);7;;*e each u.eriaget m you wtsh to make lawful am
alro:a La fN, arc to the letter and spirit of Bolt !Lift
tuft, andhope the chit and accleslastlcal law will
he made uouturnable to the Latina' —Dr. Clues, Dune

" You are understood to state that win are of °peaks UM
an far as the interpretation of Scripture goes, either to the
Ilosale or Ulan dispensation, there is sing repugnant
to thOtO marriages v.. '—" There is nothing repugnant iss mg opt-
nion.--levidence of Bev. B. C. Jenkina,
" The petition was probably entrusted to me in eossomenee
of my baring declared without hesitation that the merrlase of a
sister of • dm:eased wife was not prohibited by the Isretitaal law."
—The late Dr. Coplestoo, Bishop of landaff.
" shall only add that all persons who voted for dm Let et
Parliament which legalia.al such marriages of that description
so had taken pia a—nay, all who had an opportunity of oppos-
ing that act, and did not oppose It. mutt be regarded me sub-
scribing to the declaration that these marriages were not In
opposition to the Word of Go L"—The late Bishop of Meath.
Without pursuing the subject further. 1 shall give It as my
opinion that the niarriage in question la not against either
simian or the law of God."—Roy. T. Blaney-
" Are marriages of this description considered In Germany to
be at ail 'contra bowie roomer "—. Nut at all. So far from
their being considered contra bones mores,' the feeling of the
people of tie:many is undoubtedly in favour of such marriage"
—Zeielence of A. Bach, gay.
'• Socially speaking, II a ease was made out that morality
would be endangered by the bill, that would be • reason for re-
jectleg it ; hat be had not heard it established that such d
could wise. Marilee being a Weil rite, they were boitanfeko
make that civil rite co-eztensive with the Beano of the coon.
try. lie had therefore come to the conclusion that It was his
duty to support the second reading of the Bill."--dpeech of the
late Lord Herbert. . _ _

7:'lliiiersrailtied to say that the evils anticipated tram per-
=Ming these marriages here had not manifested themeetem In
Mow eiontriee for if they had, the law which had authorised
them would not have been suffered to matinee for 1.2 montlia."—
spree h id Lor,l Chief Justine Cockburn.
" lie had before stated his belief that if the matter cams I.
be I vvstigated before the cosine, It would turn out that the
ruarriag • contemplated in this Bill was in Scotland a laved
florites; and he had good mann for saying that that yet Um
opinion of an bon baronet, tban altos nu person ever good
Mafia In the Church of Scotland—Mr H. Mot:cried. Tor libasU,
having come to the deliberate opinion that the marriage la gaie-
ties was not forbidden by the law of Leviticus, be oases •Mo to
Itim:r7aiota"waeule that
ro,"1:1111-- tr,212,1
AdvocAte of Scotland' ,Ibatcterflutirl"m".
" I elvers' my coovictioo that Seripture says Dot one word
agaluat marriage with a deceased wife • sister. Surely it is not •
enc.,, and, if it be not, the law that constitutes it so must be,
sr the worst of all camas is an evil and unjust law."—Bev. Cleo.
Dundee.
"The prohibition of such marriages is. In my judgment, sanc-
tioned neither by Scripture, nor hy physiology, nor by expediv
eisey."—ltcv. H. Luton. Kelso. Scotlauel.
"If this liiirMage he lawful in the sight of Ood, then I go upon
the broad ground that, in such a case, no man has • right to im-
pose a restriction on his fellowman which God has not imposed;
that the doing so can only bring a SSW, upon the conscience,
and be the occasion of sin : and that no sanction of human law
eau be expected ultimately to succeed In enforcing what a man
feels bno trausgremion of the law of God." . . . " That
It is lawful, according to the Word of Ood, I consider incontro-
vertibly proved by the parages in Leviticus of which I feel sure
I have esteillsbed them', ourrect traralation."—vivo. C. J. Good-
hart. M.A.
" The petition from the City of London In favour of this
marriage was signed by a Loge number of persons, and among
others by the Lord Mayor, Governor and Deputy-Oovernor of the
Bank of England, and a considerable number of the Directors of
that establhament, SO private bankers, by the Chamberlain of
the City of Lender, by MI merchants, 141 solicitors, 124 bar-
risters. and of physicians. It was his good fortune to be ac-
quainted with a largo number of persons who signed this peti-
tion, mid he could say. from he knowledge of their characters,
that their °plutons were entitled to the greatest weight and ot-
tetalioC—speech of Lord Overstooe.
"That the crimiments of the Levitical law are entirely =lain-
terpreed when applied is conilemilatioa of marriage with a de-
ceased wiles sister, was the decided judgment of Mr. Wesley.
the founder of our societies; and I believe that similar views
have since lame entertained by many of those anion *swim
have been led by circumstances carefully to examine the matter,
and whose c.kaip color; to Fides of such • question has given
great weight to their couelasion.--lesv. Dr. Bunting.
Ile had Mato his best attention to the arguments adduced to
show that there wasa Divine proltibitiiiii against these marriages,
but he wu, satisfied In his own mind that no such prohibition
I ringed." Then came the question as to the effects of
this measure upon society, and he thought that the great pre-
p ioderamie of AIWAIIACIIIA, and flkitA Spill which argumentse were
;monde were in of the alteration of this law.' —.Speech
SirOeorge Grey.
' ''"' "

ohlhitlon of the wife's slater, except during
the lifetime ..f the wife.--iter. Professor golfunou, Now York,
author Researches iu Puleititfe."

Froni the fact that the prohibition of marriage with the
alder of a wife Is restrwted to the lifetirtn, ,4 the wife, It Is eel.
dent that uml•r this prohibition is not comprehended marriage
with tits sister of a ilee,a.ed wife, the lirwtobon, ' in her life-
time. leas sac the marriage frce after her death.•'—Cardlual
. . .

Mice", In Leviticus. prihililted certain marriages and per-
mitkd in the same degree. Fir he prohibited marriage
with the wife of a brie her rren after his death, and did not pm.
hitot mtrringer with the eviler of a wife, unless ht her lifethne
ronseimmtl). del led prululdt it with the sister of a de.
ceased vide Bellarnime,

..D yin dollen,: that passagu in Leviticus 19; aspen.
hibitina mirriatte with a deceased wife's alter, or merely itS toy-
ing that a man 'boatel not take two wives together, at the same
Haw, tieing iiiretaboil!—Gertainly, that verse apneas to have the
latter meaning. that two sisters should not be being together In
the same house se wives o: the same person.- . . . •• le inch
m.onsuu hehl by your c!.tareh a, pr.. ttttt Led in Scripture
Certainly not. It ~e indulerr,t a matter of ecele,butleal legls-
Istlon.--earilloal Wiegman.
** the priiliihiti• in in Lev itlena trill. 19, being limited to marry-
In; t wile s iditer daring the hfe of the first wife, n-ceniunly
fluvial' virtually and tacitly which is. In many casts, the strong-
est Moils, in:Honing the oiiii...:%istunce of any proht-
liituni .taato4 h rooter the death of the neat wife."—
The It., Dr. Itrut, Dean of Dromorv.
•• !le had given his beat attention to the ar,rum-uta uldureal to
there wan a 04,.1a, pn.hibsitwu SttsiliSt these now.
tiattes, but he was satiety vi that no such prohibition e‘iste.t.
Then came the question alto the effect. of thin sacrum,' op.'.
society, And be thought that the great preponderince of mau-
-1 menu 411,1 f. 1.14 grim n favour of the alteration ui this law."
- i+p .cc's ',lt tivinve
•• the Isi•I Co:Pail-IL:Ilion which t ran glee to it. It appears
I. Lord • offer. a tam 01011.0.1V01.11.1e comp.".
Inl•c .111.1 thu eu.dln tie,: opinion, re.per:lng the 111•1114•0 of a
demanol wife's eta - Ise nes. T. Hartwell Home. O.U.

vare.as .•.ossl.lerstiou•, such warm tea here here be
come very cumin • tar an such marriv.tes from twins a.m.
Ira.; to puha • ••;t:ir et, that people an., on the contrary.
teal bed to isoi•oler both nattiest and •lesiral•le Wu ex.
pre, •iti, commit...l Vaal there unaht to exalt perfect liberty
hetw...en wokosets aiol the sisters id 'hair late wise,, to contract
▪ laarriay."—Mucal sisise.Cobli c.f. Ministry In Connell.
1, i, roe enteurti.nk after e trefoil inve.ligatlon and
e•insi•Vrati.n., that th re Is no 'lire •t seriptnra! prolidsiti•in
fut. d.• not st.n. to corisltler
triur sot h in 11111611.
h.... the mires' the i.resent law may utfeet the Interemirse
brtweett a liadrint a.t.l his wife. sister. This Is not a nutter
f.or locisint. in I c.. 111.10.4 support the law a. It now staikla"—
bishop ..r Ila•••-;teater.
•• Wliet,er the Is ennsl.lcrel Ina religious, moral, or
social ;own vlew. inch tnarriaxe. are iin•do;ectl,lable, whit,"
In mei) thy contnlaite t•• the hal ,;, i ~ of the par-
(6,4. gull to the w :hare ••1 niotherleal children, and among the
p.NPIrk.OVe a ten.teney 1.. present inainonsliti.--Petltion signed
by th- Bishop if London Dr. Tait., 11811).
•• flirro is eve., mom.: th, opponents of this bill the Mar-
Map, Lill a wade lire pity of opinion no lot there being a
Divot euitrn in I ..roitildlin4 tlwse th- wright of
authority ~ against the eNi•t,see of any witch Nellie injtinetnei.
If site .lIS the richer 1.1.1.V.V. there Is a Luebke oleo, social gmuinis
ton Change in the War, that (m ilk,, rests .Iron seistiniental
r ratlte- than me solid ttinal when.as :stating th, pre. we:
• * it earned 1...10th-a that the law coos.', great Inituurality
nt Lord Wish-how.,
•• We who .010,1fI th 1.1.111 .10 not think that the marriage .1
drie.2.4.1 WM'S slater IS It0:011.61.4 to the lag of (00. and we
do think that It is ea 'SRAM t. restrict that which tuna permits.
as t•• oaten dispetntatl•ax tut that which God forbids.--Cliseeeit of
Visc.oitit Ll:ford.

—These marri,iges are tad contrsry to the Divine command.
The script...rat arizument asodn•t them seems to me to tweak
down at ei cry step. In proportion at. by our prohibitions, we
multiply ths opp,:unitict nr tentiatAtion, and prevent the injoy-
ment or any seeming aihanticir, not rill In itself, lu the tame
proportion we ext,ill and iner••ase the power of the enemy of
mankind:" —`speech of the Bishop of Kilialoc.

Ile did nut Wm!: the measure proposed waa an) Infringement
On scriptural prectpts nr r•ounands. It was a reruarkshle feet
that 'loon the Irme when the Scriptural law was Oven to the
present day, so tar as torrid he aw•erlained, the Jewish people
ammo:lre. had nes. r Intertsretsul that law as a law nt prohlbt-
tlou. Referring to re trri, with a brother'. widow, the bishop
mkt ft was tocoweelvabla nod, ow a salkiwet of moral purity sad

moral principle dm author of a Scriptural law shook( in one
place permit that which In another place was prohibited. lie
felt hound to soy that he lid not perceive in the Nindures say
direct prohibition or any inferential prohibition against gush
marlatn't."—Spereh of the ce.Bishop of Norwich.
$o far as the poor are concerned, I believe that an ahem
lion of the preeent law is much to be desired."—Lord Auckland,
Bishop of Bath and Wells.
If a layman may, without presumption, take place In this
controversy, and adopt the ciruclusion arrived at by the Bishops
of tit. David's and Norwich, that marriage with a deceased wife's
deter Is nolo4dgreohibited, but permitted by the Divine
law—not through nee, as too frequently happens I. the
best essays of human legislation, but studiously and of 2=
—can guy human authority be Justified In nalillyhm •
contracted under inch sanction, and psalm as tC;;;;;E
are united with such approbation lard Met Justice
Denman. _ _ _

unlawfulasse of the case you mention arbor from the
Cason. not the CMS Law. As for sinfulness, it le entirely oat of
the quesdon: and se to natural coneungulnity, in such cases, it
does not exist. Ameba such a connexion as that which your
Mend projects. time Is nothing in nature, nothing In grim--
This Bev. Dr. Aden Clarke.
In the J tithe Board, the marriage of a wirlowerwlth
the sister of hie deeseeed wife Is scripturally lawful, and ought
not to be prohibited hy human latlii."—The Board of Baptist
Webster' in landau and W
" I Inns a drone opinion spinet the Act which for-
bids the with a deceased wife s aster, and have so ob-
jection to put my sentimenta on paper for you to make any we
of that you think proper."—Rev. J. B. Ouruey, Hon. Canon of
M. Paul's, and Rector of St. Marla, Miuyleboae.
" He was acquainted with the working dames, and he moat
tell the House that the Act of 1836, In reference to their happi-
ness, bad worked most Injuriously. He considered that the roll.
gloss objection to legalising the marriage had been virtually given
up •'-Sir S. Morton Pete, Bart., M.P.
•' I know of no social &advantage attending such marriage*.
The apprehensions expressed In England on this headers entirely
dissipated by our experience."—Bight Rev. Bishop burgeon
Maine, United Mates.
" I ern not one of those who hold that such marriages are for-
bidden by Scripture—and I am not aware that any special disad-
vantages. social or domestic, have resulted from them."—Bight
Rev. Bishop Potter, Pennsylvaele. United State..
"The question was discuesal extensively In the Presbyterian
Church in the United Mates, and the new school body (as It is
called: generally held to the propriety of such marriages. I did
then, and still &coincide with them in that opinion."—Authoress
of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." . _

—"The dlrlebm the other night (in the Home of Commons, in
1815), proceeded upon the principle that aim wagons particular
degree of erhulty within which merrier ought to be allowed—
, the sister of a deceased wife.' —Speech of Sir William
Follett.

'7iiidealed the right of the Legit/stare to Infringe upon the
conscientu of any Individual whatever, with respect to those
natural rights of which marriage was, of all others, the foremost
and meet necessary. The right of marriage was given by IProirt-
dews. and it was not for man to Impose restrictions upon IL"—
Speech of Ur. Lushington, II P.
"These marriages were formerly permitted only by di=
taw ; but by a law of 1812, for the Outpace& Lutheran
of Boas* they are perfectly free to parties contracting there.
Such marriages are, Indeed, frequent. particularly among the
rural population, wheni members of families are thrown sore
together. It is more than mere supposition that such
are happy ones. Public opinion in this country is (Cr=
than against, such naarrlages."—Theological Yaculty of the Im-
perial University of Dorpat, and Ltvonlan Zwangellcal emulator,
of Ranh. .

" Public opinion, which feels no scruples of any kind as to
such marriages, approves of them most particularly when there
are young children of a lint marriage, se giving them in the
sister of their late mother a second losing mother. The pennia.
aion of such marriages has with us been productive In no way of
evil consequences."—e,,mdatory Court of the Grand Duchy of
Mecklenburg Strents,
Sly Lords, the vote which I shall give In support of the Bill
before your Lordahlps' Hoar, wW, I think, be in accordance
with, and nut in opposition to, the Levitical law. I acknowledge
that law to be binding. 1 hohl as strongly aa any one a belief
in the inspiration of the Scriptures, but In saying that, I mean
that there Is not • word too much, nor a wool too little. Be-
lieving, then, that every word bas its own important meaning, I
would remark that the verse in Leviticus, which has been so
often alluded to, contains these words, ' during her lifetime.'
My Impression is that these are qualifying words; that they
imply a prohibition to take a wife's sister so a wife, during the
wile s lifetime to vex her—but, that the wits being dead, the
prohibition wee removed—that the marrying a wi/e's later on
the death of the wife is virtually pronounced to be perfectly
IlewfuL"—Speech of the late Bishop of Durham.
"I can see no Scriptural prohibition of the marriages to ques-
tion. I believe the repeal of the laws which forbid them is
desired by a very large number of the people of 'England, and
by many clergymen and other persona in Irelond, and that such
repeal would be followed by beneficial results."—The late Dun
of Cashel

I am of opinion that marriage with a deceased wife's sister is
not forbidden in Holy Scripture, and that the repeal of the laws
which prohibit It would be followed by results beneficial to
society, "—The Dean of gilmaeduagh.
I can find no Scriptural objection to marriage with a deemed
wife's sister, and I consider that the repeal of the existing laws
e.inst such unions would be of much public usetuistess."—The
Hon. H. It. Browne, Dean of Li more.
"Be frankly confessed that, if founding a new republic, he
might he disposed to authonae marriage with a deceased wife'
sister."--Speech of Lord Robert Cecil, ILP.
Hering again carefully examined the question, end consulted
some of the highest authorities in Hebrew literature so to the
meaning of the Scripture palmy*. I am confirmed in the opinion
formerly expressed, that marriage with a deceased wife's sister Is
asS only not prohibited. ' either expressly or by implication,' but
that, according to Leviticus xviii Ili 'concerning the translation
of which there la not the least uncertainty;, such marriage is
Oainly allowed." I milieus that when I entered upon this
Inquiry 1 Masbate& Wen that the case of those who wish &change
In the present marriage law was so strong. I had thought that
the minion* of grave and learned students of the Bible were more
equally divided, and that, 98 authorities were pretty evenly be-
lanced, they who had contracted :such marriages must bear the
Inconveniences arising from doubtful interpretation. But I do out
think so now. Confirmed by the testimony of antiquity, and the
judgment of the most considerable interpreters at the Reforma-
tion, and since the Iteb,rmation, I now believe that there is no
reasonable room for doubt—that there is no verse in the Bible of
which the Interpretation is more sure than that of Leviticus
relit 13 ; and 1 think it a case of great hardship that they
should by the civil law be punished as transgressors, whose
marriage, according to the Divine law, Is permitted and valid :
and harder still, that the children of such marring" legitimate
In the sight of the infallible Judge, should be visited with civil
Alexander M•Ceul, D.D., Prefemorof Divinity
and Hebrew Literature In kings Collsp, London.
lAtivallaimel