The Express.
London, England, 1858-05-05 00:00:00

DEPUTATION TO THE PARMA OR THE
N 41121.41111 LAW.

Yesterday afternoon a large and influential depu-
tation waited upon the Premier, at his official residence in
Downing-street, to represent the great social and moral evils
resulting from the present state of the law regerdfas the in-
validity of marriage with a deceased wite's sister, and to urge
the necessity for au alteration of the existing law. The
deputation consisted of the following gentlemen :—Viecoent
Bury, the mover of the bill, Viscount Goderich, Kr. Bigge,
M.P., Mr. Schneider, M.P., Right Hon. M. Gibson, M.P.,
Mr. J. Fresessa, and gentlemen from Liverpool, Birmingham,
the metropolis, and otherpartsof the kingdom. The deputation
also included Mr. T. B. Heedlam, kI.P., Lord Ashley,
Mr G. Medfield, M.P., lisjor-Gen.Thunapaca, N.P., Right
Hon. X T. Baia= M.P., Mr. Edward Akroyd, M.P., Mr.
Joseph Crook, 11. P., Mr. B. WO. Wiliam, M.P.,
Truman, M.P., Mr. B. Spooner, M.P., Mr. J. C. Swart,
M.P., Mr. Samuel Whitbread, M.P., Mr. H. W. Wickham,
M.P., Mr. J. D. Harris, M. Mr. W. Wood, M.P., Mr.
J. P. Brown Wenthaed, M.P., Sir J. V. Shelley, M.P., Mr.
Doeahl Nicoll, M.P., Sir J. Trelawny, Bart., M.P., Mr.
B. P. Collier, 11. P., the Mayor of Leeds, acootepsided by
Mr. Alderman Gibson, Mr. Councillor Claris, and Mr.
Nichols; Mr. J. I'. Cortland, J.P. of Huddersfield, aooom-
panted by Mr. Charles Brook, Mr. John Armitage, Mr. John
Freeman, and Mr. James Brook ; the Mayor of Ilbsaleid,
'Doom_ ponied by Mr. John Roebuck, Mr. W. H. Balborough,
of Bfailford, Mr. J. °ashen of But Kent ; the Mayor,
ex-mayor, sad magistrate of Ashton-under Lyme; Mr. L. H.
Mecintyre, of Liverpool; Rey. Geo. Dawson mad Yr. E.
D. Wilmot, of B' ham; Mr. Geo. H. Smith, Mr.
Barter, Mr. C. Brett, Mr. Henry Brett, Mr. lama Low
Mr. S. P. Low, Mr. A. T. Derby, Mr. Mitre, Mr. Daley,
Mr. Piuman, Mr. Hart, Mr. J. Stambury, Mr. D. A. Free-
man, Mr. Fealuni. re, Mr. Geo. John Newton, Mr. Joyllsg,
end others.

--Thedspu Mika was introduced to the Premix by Viscount
Boar, who also addressed hie lordship, and was followed by
Lord Goderich, M.P., Mr. Akroyd, M.P. Mr. Freeman,
Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., Mr. )(unit Milos% M.P., Mr.
Schneider, M.P., Mr. Conynghara, M.P., the Mayor of
Leeds, the Mayor of Sheffield, and Mr. Biggs, M.P.
The Berl of D Lair( having listened to the deputation,
raid that, although no doubt there were very strong feelings
in many quarters in favour of the alteration of the law,
upon the balanoa of tie difficulties and possible advantages
and evils, the inclination of his own mind wee not in accord.
sacs with the views which had been impressed upon him by
the deputation. At the same time, this question most be
decided by the programs of public opinion ; and if the public
opinion in favour of an alteration of the law wes ea strong
and as general as the deputation seemed to think It was, that
public opinion would be sure to have its effect upon the House
of Commons, and, ultimately, upon the House of Lords. His
own opinion, he candidly stated, was, that it was a question
of ao political party, and he did not think It ought to be
taken as a government question. He, for his own part,
would not exert any influence whatever over a single indi-
vidual In either house in opposition to the bill. His vote had
hitherto been in opposition to the alteration of the law, but
he should consider It, so far as the government wee concerned,
a perfectly open question both in the House of Commons
and in the Honest of Lords.
The deputation thanked his lordship for hie kind reception
of them, and then withdrew.

THE METIOPOLITAN 618 COMPANIES.-
DEPUTATION 112 IHE ZONE 810RITANY.

Yesterday afternoon a deputation front the various
neetropeliten gee companies waked en the Home Beciretary,
fa teterence to the statements recently made by a deputation
hero the metropolitan parishes se to the districting arrange-
ments and alleged monopoly of the cumpanies. The depu-
tation was Inirodneed by Mr. F. W. Russell, and
lir. Butler, M.P., and ouneleted of Captain Brown, Messrs.
Hawes, Browne, Price, and other gentlemen representing
eleven companies.
Mr. Rossti.t., M.P., noted that the gee companies were
exoeslingly anxious to have the charges against them de-
em& He denied that most of the companies had obtained
their acts of parliament on the basis of competition. The gas
sompaairs had no objection to be griveraed upon the
principle of the Gas Companies Clauses A mated in
1847. He mentioned many faits in evidence ct,
ot the com-
prise 'applying gm at a fair prior, and remarked that some
of them paid the limited dividend recognised by parliament.
They him, however, no objection to a four committee.
Mr. War rote mid that one point urged by the deputed.=
from the metropolitan perishes which struck him se a very
straw ewe, sad which induced him to admit that a
Jana ease was male out for inquiry, was that in which they
&okra. AM there was no power to comp.l gas companies to
shy perkier any light at all, even at their maximum price,
and they prayed In their memorial that companies should be
sempelled to supply gas at the than current price they were
shartehut.
Kr. Ruseatt said it was hardly to be supposed that cos.
rielalthough there might be no compulsory power, would
' sotoolien es to refuse to light a district antes" under very
llamas:amble aircumataitcen

Kr. WairomAasibie pit they urge ie dad theS
tied el sodetempardis bee toad to dlookrot
soot that the other psiit Wool so to Ity
node tot • jottima fate's.* Otr s osumilso. At do one
thee, disk It dot to tie pa tomproiso that they "hod'
lima to r tomodttoo b miry mood tato wed, sod I won
ow lay toot atilosystoo to obtain coo.
Mr. RVIIMILL, to that vow oietehl hews so &ilea= to
seem& tbe nutlet ter seestatittee, whet they had the piste
MOW.
no &potation dm TIM/ow.