The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-30 00:00:00

THE ST. BRIAVEL'S EZMARMAGE CASE.

In 1855, the Rev. A. Lush, curate of Greywell,
Hants, prevailed upon a couple who had been married at ea
independent chapel fourteen months before to be remarried
by him; the parties betog described in the benne and is
the register as a bachelor and a spinster respectively. For
this offence against the law he was committed foe trial at
the Winchester assizes ; but in the interim he thought it
proper to confers his error, and the prosecution was able
dooed. In his apology be acknowledged the validity of
marriages performed either in dmeentieg chapels or before
supenutendent registrars, and also that they were " binding
in the sight of the church."
Another clergyman, who has either forgotten these facts,
or who is determined to brave the penalties of the law, has,
it would seem, just committed a similar offence. Oa the
21st of June, •young couple were married at the iode-
peodeet chapel, Monmouth, the man being an episcopalian
and the woman a baptist. Right days after the vicar of
St. Mayers, Coleford, the Rev. H. VValcaseley, remarried
them ; describing the man in the register as a bachelor and
the woman as a spinster, and entering the woman's maiden
name.

The government having been questioned by Sir
Morton Peto whether they intended to prosecute the
offender under the 4th of Geo. IV. et. 76 s. 29, Mr. Bruce,
the Under Secretary of State, has replied that—" He did
not think that the conduct of the vicar io question was
such as to make him liable to prosecution for felony under
the Act 4 Geo. IV. a 76. Either the fuss marriage was valid
or it wu not. If it was valid, then all that WM doz.° was
superfluous, and could not be the subject of prosecution.
If the tint marriage was invalid, then everything was pro-
perly done. It was clear the conduct of the vicar waa not
an offence against the law. It might be an offence spinet
good taste and good feeling, and as such to be con-
demned." In this answer Mr. Bruce his either avoided
the question put to him— which was, whether Mr.
Walmeeley would be prosecuted for the false entries made
in the register—or he is wrong in his view of the law.
For Mr. Walmuley he. clearly violated the 29th section
of the act referred to, which adjudges any one to be
guilty of felony wbo knowingly makes a Ulu entry in •
parish register; seeing that be has registered the marriage
of Mr. and Mrs. Hello as that of • bachelor sod spinster,
he at the time knowing that they were legally man and
wife. He cannot even shelter himself behind the provi-
sine of an act of parliament since the occurrence of
the Grey well case, sod passed Eiarlehde purpose of meeting the
views of high church clergymen, who are shocked at the idea
of contracting • mnniwe without any religious Berrien
For the 12th section of the Marriage Act passed on the
29th of Judy, 18.56, provides that if the parties to any mar.
rise contracted at a registry office shall desire to add the
religious ceremony of the body to which they belong, they
may present themselves to a minister of that body for the
purpose. But it is expressly provided that the superinten-
dent r. gietrar's certificate of marriage must he produced,
and " no Meg in the reading or celebration of such service
shall be held to supersede or invalidate any marriage so
previously contracted, nor shall such reading or celebratiou
be antecedes a marriage among the marriages in the parish
registry."
We are informed that it is likely that this cue will be
v;goo.00ly dealt with in it. legal bearings by the committee
of the diaaenting deputies, who proceeded against Mr. Lush
in 18.56.

LLANELLY RAILWAY AND DOCK COMPANY.

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of
this company wee held yeatetday, at Hadley'a Hotel; Mr.
1311,13 C LP/110 the chair.

The report stated that the earnings of the company in the
ba.f-veer ending 30th June last were 14,7474 19s. 4d., and
the working expenses were 8,3761. 10a, inclusive of hire and
purchase of weggons. After payment of interest on deben-
tures, &c., sod rent of the Pale of Towy Railway, which
together amount to 2 9074 Is. 78.. there remains the mum of
3,8711. lls. 911. for dividends, applicable as follows, viz. —5
per cent. on the A Preference Stock, and 6 per cent. on the
B Preference shares, requiring 1,8654 lls. 2d., leaving for
the ordicary consolidated stock the stun of 2,0061. Os. 7d.,
and the directors recommended a dividend of 20s pee cant.
for the half-year.
The report was adopted, and the dividend agreed to.

Tux RAILWAY LEGISLATION OF THE SESSION.—
The total number of bills foe new railways, mooches, ex-
teosions, arrangements between companies for magma-
tions, capitol, and traffic, passed by committees of both
houses during the so-sloe, and receiving the royal @Assent,
amounted to 166 ; the total somber of bills rejected by
committees 40, cod withdrawn by the promoters 52 ; making
• total of 238 hills as originally introduced at the commence-
ment of the session, exclusive of many others for harbours,
docks, piers, sod other uudertaktop.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. —A committee re-
preerotioe a section of the shareholders in this company is
now sitting at the London Tavern, with the view of in-
viting their support sod ;voiles at the forthoorniog meet-
ing of the company on the 7th proximo, when propositions
will be laid before the meeting having for their object a
reconstitution of the board of directors.

CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN AUSTRALIA. —We
have before us four large tolls of cotton grown on the land
of Mears. Goodwin gad Pegram, situate at Boodemine,
twenty miler from Yam. They are perfectly ripe, and de-
velop in each OD, • larger quantity of cotton than we have
seen io soy of the specimen, that hare come under our
notice. The product is of • pure milk-white colour, of
long staple, and exquisitely gat There is an elasticity in
the bulk which is regarded as a special excellence. The
plants bore • pink blossom, and the same growers have
other plants which bore • yellow one, but as yet the bolls
are not ripe. The soil is which the seed was sown is • red
sand, and the innate of cultivation pretty high lead • short
distance from the banks of the Burrows River. Messrs.
Goodwin and Pscrain have about 100 plant, in all, and the
experiment, so far es it has cons. will gooourage them to
outer largely into the cultivation next season.—Pas

°Piga. ()Lamm—T. HARRIS and Box's Gunn
still retain the celebrity tong awarded co them by the habitues
of the Open: they pm's. high magnifying power, with •
large and perfectly disthect Geld of view, the acme of perfec-
tion T. Harris and Son make or alter Opera Messes so as to ac-
curately suit neu-sighted eye& A varlet) of the newest form
and fashion for this season. Moderate pnue• Thos. Harris
and Son. Opticians, opposite the British Museum gates, Loudon.
Betatotiatiedl7Bo.—Weiirßtetimat4