The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 20, 1861.

directly and indirectly recognised the essential
rightfulness of the popular demand. In legalising
past marriages with a deceased wife's sister by the
Bill of 1837 the Peers and Bishops implicitly de-
clared that such marriages were not in themselves
wrong; and since then a Commission of the Upper
House, presided over by a Bishop, has formally
pronounced against the injurious restriction of the
existing law. What is there to oppose all this weight
of public opinion and national influence I Simply a
very partial Church authority, mediaeval tradition,
and Romish canon law. These are really, in the last
resort, the only grounds for maintaining the ex-
isting prohibition of these marriages. It is a
purely ecclesiastical restriction, which grew up in
times of darkness and ignorance, when the Flemish
Church, for its own purposes, placed the most
innocent and sacred human relations under its
cruel and arbitrary ban. The prohibition
is unknown in the leading Protestant countries
of the Continent. It is dispensed with on the
easiest terms in every Catholic state, and is pro.
bably retained by the Itomish Church mainly as a
source of influence if not of revenue. It is una-
nimously opposed by the Protestant Dissenters of
Great Britain, as well as by a large and liberal sec-
tion of the Church, hundreds of active and zealous
clergymen having petitioned Parliament for its
abolition. Who, then, are the defenders of a law
so unanimously condemned? It is supported
mainly by the ecclesiastical party in both Houses,
not on any weighty grounds of public policy, but
on the absolute plea of canonical sanction and
mediieval practice. But a mere ecclesiastical fac-
tion cannot expect to over-ride natural right,
and rule the nation in • point like this;
and the obstinate attempt to do so
is fraught with peril both to the Church and to
society. It is absurd to suppose that a law
so condemned by public opinion, as well as by
reason and justice, can be long upheld. People
will of course not refrain from contracting such
marriages, nor will the nation long permit them to
be heavily punished for doing so on the authority
of a reactionary clique in the Upper Chamber.
If the law is not speedily repealed some extra-
legal means must be found for protecting the in-
nocent victims of lordly prejudice and priestly
intolerance. To this the judgment just pronounced
iii the case of "Baas: e. Baoin "will contribute.
These children are legally robbed of their rightful
inheritance, and such a fact will assuredly exas-
perate public feeling against the unjust law and its
ecclesiastical abettors.

Tire garbling, mutilation, suppression, and
general falsification of thu despatches of Sir
ALEXANDZIL BUSSES relating to the Affghan war
is a fact which has been known for many years,
but the documentary proofs of which were care-
fully kept from the public. The House of Com-
mons was occupied a long time with it last even-
ing, but not a minute too long, for it is one which
vitally affects the honour of our Governments and
the genuineness of the information which they
render to Parliament respecting their executive
acts. Very plain language was used last night. This
was proper, for a very serious political offence had
been committed. It wan necessary to say so, and
Mr. Demur did not shrink from his duty. He
said :—" The name of the Qtrzare had been dis-
" honoured : more than all, a fraud had been
" practised upon Parliament. Ministers owed an
" allegiance to Parliament, and were constantly
" coming before it to ask its judgment on their
" policy. A grave question had arisen whether a
" war had been justified, and, instead of laying
" on the table documents by which the issue might
" have been fairly tried, they had withdrawn
" material facts, and, by fabricating a different
" set of papers, had sought to escape from censure.
" The Minister was bound to lay none but honest
" papers on the table. For him to do otherwise
" was not only a moral but a political crime. The
" confidence reposed in a minister by Parliament
" was that whia, beyond all other things, enabled
" him to carry on affairs successfully ; but any-
" thing that gave a shock to that confidence in-
" flicted a grievous injury on the public interest."
Everybody must regret that a member of Parlia-
ment was obliged to speak thus. Anything
resembling violence is to be deprecated in the
deliberative assembly of the nation ; but, before
all things, the truth must be told.

Lord PALMIEBTON made a long and vehement
speech in reply to Mr. Di:7mm, but he left all his
material allegations unanswered. His speech was
a justification of his policy and a condemnation of
Sir ALILIAND/Ut BVILN/BS. Suppose that Lord
Pause:twos is quite right on theme points. What
then I Sir ALLZANDIA BCZNIDI was our Minister
at Cabul ; his reports from the spot were a most
important part of the materials on which Parlia-
ment and the country founded their judgment of
the policy of the Government. The Government
pretended to produce them, and actually produced
something quite different, completely transfigured
them, so that they conveyed and proved what Sir
AI LICANDCR Buairss never intended, and never be-
lieved. After the confidence of the country has been
so abused, is a Minister to come down to the House
of Commons and say, that if the papers produced
justify the policy of the Government it is enough,
and the House of Commons ought not to require
more I Lord Psmasairrotes speech would be a
very serious manifesto if it were at all probable
that our rising statesmen were likely to adopt its
maxims. The spectacle they witnessed last night
will save them from such a danger, for none can
be ambitious of standing in a position like that
which the Panties occupied last night.

GARIBALDI IN THZ Cm.—Mr. Barker's picture
of Garibaldi in his island home of Caprera is still on view
at Messrs. Jennings's, Cheeped", whem it is daily visited
by imp numbers of admirers of the Italian patriot. It
has begs pointed out to us that a casual remark occur-
rim is our former notice of the painting bas given rise to
neinenespion. Referring to a goat which the artist bad
istroaloced, it was observed that a donkey would have
bees more characteristic. The allusion was of course to
the humorous anecdote which Garibaldi told publicly at
Naples about his asses at Caprera, of which he was very
fond, and which he said be bad named Pio Noon and
Oavour. It was supposed that this story was so well
knows as to have secured from misconception a referent)t
made in simple goal faith.
The thirty-third anniversary festival of the
Royal Free Hospital, the plan .4 which recommends it
peculiarly to the notice of those philanthropic persons who
have observed the frequent Deed of instant relief in sick-
ness among the prior, was held yesterday, at the Freemasons'
Tavern, when the governors and friends of the hospital, to
the number of about 200, at down to an excellent dinner.
The chair was takes by the Loau MAYOR, who was sup-
ported lay Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Abbus, Mr. Sheriff
Lask, Mr. Alderman Rose, Dn. Marsden. O'Connor, and
Hassnll, Messrs. W. W. h 6,, M. P. ; J. Bowyer, T. Buie
NBreese. Septimus A. L. Mocattar. H.
Wakley, . Cooke, Victor de Merle, A. Marsden,
V. J. Qint, J. Robinaos, H. Harris, S. S. Smith, Ice.
Mrnolay night the 14th division of the Lanca-
shire Kale Volunteer Carps (Edge-hill) presented a set of
accoutrements to Itiociotti Gar:baldi, son of General Gari-
baldi. The accoutrements consisted of shoulder•belt, sword-
belt, and frog-belt, with silver ornaments. The two com-
poise were under the command of Captain Tindal Bright
sad Captain Brady, and west through company and Latta.
boo drill, in the pesseneeof • large and select body of sputa-
. tors, in netaceptiossble style. The bayonet drill was really
splendid, and the proisiescy of the men bespoke the great
efticieecy of all the @Meets. A square bowleg Lean formed,
Curtain aright called to the front,
Catlftßat. Pal-exit ONE SHILLING DAT.
TerADAT. Mimes 19.—Admissions on payment, ttli
ditto by mess tickets, 436; total, 1,272.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY.
-*--

QUALVICATION TOR 011FICD5 Si LL. —Moved, that the bill be
now read • second time (The Lord Taunton) ; objected
to. An amendment moved, to leave out (" now") and
insert (" this day six months")--(The Lord Chelmsford).
On question, that (" now") stand pert of the motion ?
Contents, 38% not-contents, 49.

cosTzsrx
LORD EARLS LORD' 1.4 .RD3
Campbell. De Grey fared Somerbi II
Dcers Granville Treadmill Stanley of Al-
Newrgultie Orey Dertrey derky
Somerset. Saint Germans De Tabley Strath,len
SI ANWAR Sonar:len Harris Trynham
A llesbury pencer liundana Truro
Breadalbane. Wicklow. Lyveilen Woilehouse.
EARLS ViramCwra Manner'
A idle Sydney Monteacie of TRLLERS.
Caithness Torrington. Itrandon Foley, Lord
Carnpeolown logos Overdone Taunton, Lord
Clarendon Boyle Tomionby

NOT-CON TY.Nrs.
A aeHatatihr EALLs BISHOP Loans
Canterbury. (inhale, London. Florthwiek
Duals ilardwieke Liam itedesdale
Marlborough Home Berner% Rollo
SI s ageism Laneshorough Calthorpe satterspird
Ansi Lucan Clifton Sallow'
Niinnanhy Portarlington Clinton Silchester
Poilisbury Veridsm. Colchester Monde*
Winchester. ViscoctiTs De Elsie mad Templemore
Lu.La Dungannon Dudley Tenterden
Amherst Exmouth Denman Wensleydale
Aylestrird Haniinge. Egerton Wytif. nal.
Derby BISHOPS Fevemham TELLERS.
Elletaborough Carlisle Gage Chelmsford. IA
Erne Limas!! Orlustesd Colville of Cul-
l( ingsdown roes, Lord

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS (AFPONENISTAN).

I'ARY DIVISION.

The following are the 49 members who voted last
night for the motion :—" That a select committee be ap-
pointed to consider the ' Correspondence relating to
Affghanistan,' as presented to this house in 1839, and the
same correspondence as presented in labs, and printed by
special order of the house in 18.59, and to report on the dis-
crepancies between the two, and also to inquire into the
circumstances of the preparation of that correspondence
for being presented on the former of these occasions ; and
to report their opinion whether any, and, if any, what,
precautions should be taken to secure that documents pre-
sented to this house by the government as copies or extracts
of correspondence or other papers shall give a true represen•
Utica of the contents of such correspondence or papers :"
Messes. T. Alcock, E. Baines, W. E. Baxter, T. Baxley,
P. Blackburn, Sir G. Bowyer ; Messrs. J. Bright, A. D.
Cochrane, W. Coningham, W. Deedes, Colonel Dickson,
Mews. H. Fenwick, W. E. Forster, Captain Gray, Mews.
C. C. Griffith, G. Hadfield, J. P. Hennessy, J. T. Hopwood,
T. B. Mental, E. Hammen, Lord Heehaw, Messrs. J. Ker•
Shaw, P. J. L. King, W. Lawson, N. P. Leader, R. G. Liddell,
Loogfield, K MacEvoy, J. F. Maguire, Lord R. Montagu,
Messrs. J. It. Mowbray, W. Nicol, Major Parker, Meows.
J. Pilkingtoo, W. Scholefield, G. Sclater-Booth, C. J.
Selwyn, Sir J. V. Shelley, Mean. J. B. Smith, P. B.
Smollett, W. Stirling, M. Sullivan, Colonel W. H. Sykes,
Messrs. G. Tomlin, J. A. Turner, Colonel Vandeleur,
Messrs. E. Warner, J. White, J. Wyld. Tellers—Mr.
Dunlop and Sir H. Willoughby.
Mr. Disraeli, Sir S. Northcote, Lord Stanley, and Colonel
Taylor voted in the majority against the motion.

Cbt Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Dims 19.

The Crown Princess of Prneeia, attended by Conn-
twee: de BrOhl, Comore de Hobenthal, and Coat de
Furstenstein, arrived at Windsor last night, at 8 o'clock,
from Berlin.

The Prince of Wales travelled with her Royal Highness
tram Dover.

The Prince Consort, attended by Colonel the Hon. A.
Hardinge, met the Princess at the Railway Station at
Windsor, and accompanied her Royal Highness to the Castle.

We are authorised to state that the funeral of the
late Duchess of Kent will take place, at St. George's Chapel,
Windme Castle, on Monday, the 25th instant.
The fusers' will be conducted with the strictest privacy,
and so tickets of admission to the Chapel will be issued.
It is understood that the Court mourning for the late
Dasher of Kent will be for six weeks.

A deputation of the inhabitants of Brampton (Chatham),
to represent to the Home Secretary the insufficiency of the
Polio° at Brompton, and the urgent necessity for its in-
crease, had an interview yesterday with the Right Hon. Sir
G. Cornelison Lewis, at the Home-office. The deputation
was introduced by Lieutanent-Geoend Sir Frederic Smith,
M.P. for Chatham, and consisted of the Rev. Daniel Cooke,
M.A., incumbent d Brampton (Chatham), Mr. John Baird,
the high constable, Mr. Thomas Honey, churchwarden, Mr.
W. G. wslahhunt, watch committee, Mr. T. Malloch, over-
seer, sad Mr. A. Light.
Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colosialoffice,
to the Governors of the West India Islands, Malta, Gib-
raltar, Hong Kong, Ceylon, Laboan, and Australia.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFIcE, MARCH 16. —ln
consequesies of the melancholy event of the death of her
Royal Highoces the Duchess of Kent. mother of her Ma-
jesty the Queen, notice is hereby given that the drawing-
room announced for the 21st instant will not take plate.—
Gazette. _ _

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFTICE, MARCH 141 —Notice
is hereby given, that the Siete Apartments of Windsor
Castle are dined to the public.—Gazette.
Sr. JAMES'S PALACE, MAUCH 13. —The Queen
was thisday pleased to confer the honourof knighthood upon
Colonel GeorgeEverst, C. 8., and F.R.S., on the Retired
List of the Artillery, formerly Superintendent of
the Great Tripsonietrical Survey, and Surveyor-General of
India. The geese was this day pleased to confer the
honour of knighthood upon Colley FUZMAR Scotland, Esq.,
Chid Justin of Madras.—Gazette„

His Highness the Prince of Began has left the
Drawn* Hotel, Jerriyo-street, for Perk

His Excellency the Minister for the Hansa
Towne and Madame Rocker hare lett Estoniquare for the
Continent.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury will
leave town la a few days for Hatfield House to paw the
&atm holidays.
The Earl of Clanwilliam has left town for the
Marquis of ASsabary's mat, Totteshani PS* Wilts
Lord and Lady Herbert of Lea arrived in Bel-
grave-square, yesterday, from Wilton House, near Salisbury.
Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby will leave
town in a few days for Orirostborps Park, Lincolnshire,
for the Easter holidays.

Lady Hariugton's " amateur music," which was
Azad for to-morrow, u postpooed.

Sir Anthony snd Lady de Rothschild ere ex-
pected in town in a few days, from Aston Clinton, for the
MOOD.

The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland (says the
Wokentampton Chronicie,) accompanied by the Dowager
Dachau and lady Blantyre, left Trentham yesterday
(Tonday) for Stafford House, London. In a few days the
Dowager Duchess will leave Stafford House for her seat,
Clivedra House, near Maidenhead.

Mr. Oregeon, on Friday, will call the attention
of the house to the customs duties now levied on tea and
sugar ; and to suggest to her Majesty's government to take
the subject into their early masideratioe.

On Fridey Lord Echo intends to nek the
Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in fulfilment
of the promos made by the First Lord of the Trea-
sury that Sir Baldwin Walker should be detained
to enable him to appear before Admiral Lluncombee
committee, he immediately wrote two telegraphic messages,
the one to the admiral at Portsmouth, the other to the
admtral at Plymouth, desiring them to take all possible
means to overtake or intercept Sir Baldwin Walker.
Whether the mire of these messages not being imme-
diately forwarded by tele,;mph arose from circumstances
over which be had no control ; sad whether he would state
those cin-urustaaces to the home. Also, whether any
. . _

stractions were sent through Admiral Bruce, or through
say other person, to Sir Baldwin Walker, desiring him to
go to sea immediately, and not to allow himself to be
taught.

BOARD OP TRADE, WHITEHALL, MARCH 18. —The
Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council for Trade have received from the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs • copy of • despetch from her Ma-
jesty's consul at Stockholm, reporting that from the bit
April next, seaside engaged in the coasting trade of Sweden
will be exempted from the obligation to take • crown pilot
up to the first station o• their arrival from sea, sad if they
take such pilot, will be subject to o•adourtbfo•ly of the
customary pilotage rates.—Garettr.
MR. SPURGEON'S T eta. The prelim ivary
meeting foe the opening of this beadle; was held yesterday
in the schoolrooms and lecture ball, when • grand Amoy
bazaar took place, aed was patronised by upwards of 2,000
persons. The hall sod rooms, large as they are, were fully
occupied with well-filled stalls. The bazaar is to be kept
open until Saturday next.

A Papal Zouave, who had taken part in a dis-
turbance in the Cafe Colonna, resulting from a
political discussion, was arrested by a detachment
of French gendarmes.

ROME (vu MARSEILLES), MARCH 17.

During the night of the 15th instant placards
were posted up in this city, bearing the portrait of
Victor Emmanuel with the title of King of Italy.
Ten persons have been arrested on this account.
The French have prevented the hoisting of the
national flag on the summit of the column Anto-
nin us.

Demonstrations in favour of Victor Emmanuel
have taken place to-day in the University, and in
the Academy of Fine Arta.

HUNGARY.
FLUME, MARCH 19.
The congregation of this city has resolved upon
refusing the request of the Ban of Croatia to send
mombersto the Croatian Diet, declaringthat Fiume
will only belong to Hungary.