The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-23 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

necessary to contieue the °entracte to the nine extent during
the course of the financial year 1861-1862, as they had gone on
during this year. In consequence of that the London and
Birmingham gen trades were requested. if convenient to
themselves, to meet the views of the government by post-
poning a portion of the delivery which they might make
under their contracts from the year 1861-62 to the year
1862-63. The trade met the views of the government—or
rather they did not protect spinet them—and accepted the
arraegement. At the same time the Secretary of State Old
not consider that it was right to postpone such delivery by
the trade and still continue the same iunount of manufacture
of rittes at Enfield ; wd therefore he had ordered a reduction
of the manufacture of nrms at Enfield by 200 per week.
He believed that what his honourable friend bad alluded
to as an extension of the manufactures at Enfield
referred imply to an alteration of some machinery,
which enabled the government to manufacture at Enfield
short as well as long rifles. He behoved all those gen-
flan= who had attended to the subject thought it right
that the government should manufacture all kinds of arms
to a certain extent, at the time they bad to apply to the
trade for anns of ell descriptions ; inasmuch as -they would,
by theme menus, be able to provide a cheek epee trade
prices, while the trade would not suffer from the limited
number of rides manufactured at itulledd.

INVESTMENT OF TRUST FUNDS IN INDIA STOC%•

Colonel SYKES uked the BlicretarY of &ate for Indi►,
whether the notice issued nosally by the Court of Chan-
cery, authorising the invert/cut of trust funds in Bank
'task and East India stock, was confined to the old Fast
India stock of the company, to be paid off at 200 in 1874, or
whether it extended to all the stocks and loans contracted
*the authority of the Becutary of State for India in
o°,ll

WOOD oil Out as anise . to, usahle hint to
•MIIIIr • the question of his honourable trlerldlre lidd
applied .to.t be proper authority, and he juid bee* .infong
that the order In Chancery applied to the. old East I
stock and did sot apply to.tie. wow. . _ ,

MILITARY APPOMTMENTH IN •RiliDIA.
Lord STANLEY asked& Secretary of Stiate for India;
whether first appoittreinde to Indian regiment, would be made
tyadmin competition, or by competition anions nominutepi
tea, of by ample nomination ; and, in the litter case,
with what department the right of nicommentling for coma•
nation ensito rest.
' .11iiC".'WOOD said he must state that the question as it
. *Ns midst give rise to some little misapprehension, for in
Out of het awn would pot be airty appointments to Indian
ItCrineee'lx°gellainenal.velY. Itiel,tbbteitftatase w°9
regimidentabeloakt
Wl* tanned from the Indian troops the English system
would not be allowed. The whole question of
into the Queen's army was corder the considers-
Ham Of the government, and he was slot at present in p
position to answer that portion of the question, but in. any
of the adelangemients MioOil might be adoped, prqvineen
would Ile MN& for the admission of a doe proportion of
the sow of Indian officers. •
TOR OCCUPATION OF ROME BY FRENCH TROOPS
M. GRIFFITH asked the Secretary of tale tel F
Affairs whether sty dtplornatic cominuniatikit bt% fa•
lbouvenel, co:presorting it U) be the view or intentlit. of .He
French government to leive the French troops a 4 Room
*ad a osegtam shall have determined upon the sittlamaat
ad the aashs ci Italy, heel been add/weed to or brought be
the knowledge of her Melerny's government.
Lord J. RUSSELL Ana the hon.' gentleman woulditad
lie the Blue-book (at mise 91) on the slain of Italy a de-
spatch from Lord Colley, and also an extract from .the
Xmoiterr, declaring Mae intentions of the French rivers.
'hest upon that subject. (Laughter.)
TeE ADJOUPN WENT OF THE HOUSE TO MONDAY..
0a the motion for adjournment till -Monaday, no•ferreir
twig sixteen notices, by as many differeatinembere, Meat
von the paper of subjects for discussion ; they
'alleged remonstrance by volunteer Me corm
gas recent minute, by which rifiel must be kept *eV
construction of harbours of refuge • thiSpositioa -dm
in the burgh ichools of Scotland ; the. nuttier
reeigwations in the . constabulary force of het
the miesahir service ; the refusal to sda-
lON artillery voluntners of . facilities for predict
the extredititki of the American slave
n ; the disputes between the planters and the
in Bengal • the Committee on Miscellaneous
editors ; the ;tale of the packet service between
thin country sod North America, and the matter
is —which the Cholera y Company and the Carrard
Cepspany are fulfilling de conditions of their coettacta
thi onnespondence with the United States government
retro: to the clearance of British yawls is the port of
ton, South Carolina ; the laws and procedure of the
ci Jersey ; the Corrupt Practices .Act ; the case of
Dr. * enure' of *din,' 'a coadlllip fete'
o Site Queen's service ; retiring allow-
; and the complaints of the Chris-

&pose to

the subjects of the Porte.
lir. LIDDELL, in urging the pressing necessity of har-
bours of refuge, gave deplorable details of the numerous
lives and the vast amount of property lost during the late
gales upon the northern coast, which was peculiarly dan-
gerous, much exposed to bossy gales, and unpruvided with
secure harbours.

Other reenl;;rs drew attention to the state of the roads
of Wales and Ireland.

Lord PALIIERBTON—I can assure the house that her
Majesty's government are fully sensible of the great
national importance attaching to the matter which the
boo. member haa brought under our observation. (Hear,
hear.) We lament that so large an amount of property
should be annually lost on our shores. That, however, is •
loss which fells on individuals, and they have means of
indemnifying themselves to a certain extent by insurances
and other arrangements. But we lament still more the
loss of moat valuable lives—(bear, hear)—the loss of
some of the beet seamen of the country, and that
is • loss against which no insurance can be made and
o compensation ran be obtained, and is, therefore,
a dead calamity to the country. (Hear, hear.) But
when we say that we are sensible of the magnitude of the
evil we also cannot shut our eyes to the magnitude of the
remedies which are proposed to correct that evil, and that
' which has pissed in the short discussion we have just beard
shows to what extent the demand would go. The hon.
member who began the discussion confined his represen-
tations to the harbours of refuge on the north-east coast of
England. Immediately afterwards Another hon. friend of
mine draws attention to the state of the Welsh cask
Another hon. member point. out bow memory it is to
have harbours of refuge for the Irish coast, and T have no
doubt that my noble friend the member for Wick (Lord
Bury) would be ready to insist on the extreme advantage of
a harbour of refuge for the plaza Le represents.
But those harbours of refuge would cost a very
sum of money, and I am sorry to say that her
,Majesty's government are not at present prepared to
propose to parliament to advance grants from the public
revenue at all commensurate to the magnitude of the object
in view. At the same time it is quite true that last cession
we did make a pledge that we would propose dome measure
this session, and my right hon. friend the President of the
Board of Trade has • bill ready to be presented to the house
for the purpose of taking the first steps in this matter.
The hon. member who spoke first urged that steps should
be taken to improve existing harbours. That is asuggestion
more within the scope of our means than the construction
of new works, and I agree with the remark made by ray
hon. friend behind me with respect to the mistake which
has been fallen into, of making these harbours of refuge too
small. It is quite true that they are so, and that if you are
to make new harbours care should be talc, n to make
them large enough to meet all demands. As
our shipping and commerce increase we mnst look
forward to new demands, hut my right hon. friend has •
bill ready, I believe, to be presented, the object of which
will be to enable the Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners
to make advances both in Englsnd and Ireland to those who
an willing to take money on certain conditions for the pur-
pose of improving existing harbours. (Hear, hear.) The
committee which the boo. member who spoke first re-
ferred to made a proposition which, I am afraid, has not
been at all approved of, namely, that if the government ad-
ranted money for the creation of harhoun of refuge, the into.
rest on pert of the money so advanced should be paid by passing
tolls. That is a proposition which, I believe, owners of
re shipping e not at all ready to acqniesce in. A bill will
shortly be presented, giving to the Exchequer Loan Com-
missioners very large powers, for the purpose of making
advances on easy terms to those willing to draw money
from that source with the object of improving existing
liarboun. (Hear, bear.)

ap in obedience to the court, but only under the hted and
seal of the Oo►ernorl3eneral, and his noble friend ordered
I that no further step should be taken in the ektradition
motif further consideration had been given to the case,
which, his noble friend added, involved a most -Important
question. Thatquestion was dill under eonsiderition, and
in the meantime he (14. }•orteacuel trawled that the house
would be satisfied to leave the gumption in the hands of the
government. He could usure the bon. number that any
papers that could now be produced would add nothing to
the information already in the hands of the public. (Hear.)
MARINE ARTILLERY rouls-rtas.
Mr. NORTH asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether the board persist in their determinatioa to refuse
marine artillery ►olunteers having facilities for practice
afloat ?

Lord A. PAGET mid that thin question had often been
submitted to the Admiralty. They had been asked to send
gunboats to the ports where marine artillery volunteer"
were enrolled, and to wend the latter to sat for practice.
Bat such a course would involve considerable expense to
the country, and that was the reason why, with every
desire to further the volunteer movement, the beret could
not accede to request" of this description. Besides, the
hon. member should recollect that every seafaring
man in the country had already every facility
for learning his drill. He might either join the
Naval Reserve or the Naval Coast Volunteer% In the
latter they could never be ailed out for service except in
their own neighbourhood, or for duty other than that of
the land volunteers. Gentlemen, therefore, who took an
interest in the discipline of our esafaring.populution should
urge them to join either of tlie forcesbe had mentioned.
MAIL PACKET CONTRACTS. •
Mr. BAXTER called attention to the Mate of its packet
Zisiltawnisathistouetry and North America, Koff urged
iseseesity of better provision for that purpose than was
yes seceded b 1 the Galway and Cunard Companies.
Lord Doff MAW and Mr. 05110011 T defended the
Galway coatrant.i 6..„, .- • .
XL GLADSTOW neither kei no cam had been
made out to the , do jturidy an inter-
ference with the C a ,d, way ,wall sum of
Money had been paid to .W Galway Gosapeey ; but as a
sum had ben voted by puilanent,fer the contact, it was
thought proper to grant an extensiof time to. the com-
pany for its fulfilment—until the 26th et Marc lsi on coo-
.dition that if they failed then the contrast, might be re-
scroded. Nothing had been contemplated with regard toud
alteration of the present pocket stations.
The motion for adjournment was agreed to at tea minutes
Past 9. .
MARRIAGE LAW AMENDMENT.
Mr. M. 111.1.2.1103 moved to bring in • hal to legalise
marriage with a deceeted wife's sister. He apologised for
antroducang a question which. had been six times before the
house, on the greeted Walt it affected the happiness of
theusaadeof .peximaii lite,wisuldAokentee auto the hide-
rical discussion, eopneeted, with the wimp, bepeould re-
serve them for the second reading. .He would ilentPlY refer
' to
ihacalliett.Louird Vykilleutt''l6747f tAri by. buwthait
was a
the
on, that =hie lord to. cell it by 170 name ;
for the measure which he intradwied was simply,a bill to
limit the time within which those cams sing* be dis-
puted, and the mes Are was of • very different gbaracter
when it left the house. (Meer, hear.) Perhaps he bad
as great a right many ens to intrabwe , this measure ; for
he had presented petations from pintoes ia the county of
York in favour of it, km= by no fewer than
55,434 (hear., bear)—pad of those, above 21,000
were at that sex who, it had been said, wen) too woman
opposed to the bill. {Hear, beer.) Of the petition on the
firside which bad been presented to the House Of Lords
/eferßishop of Oxford, setil,ta bp from the womee of Fug-
an immature peopedigs p( the signatures we written
apparently in a man's handenating. (liear, hear.) It was
impossible to deny that the was a question which. effected
')be happiness of Ruud: of Timken had, een left
,m a "tate not adiboxtrery.to public sense of justice,
hut of legality. gene. on ever mince the
Aims of Henry VIII.. withoitt Nay doubt as to their pm-
priete. While a marriage of an incestuous character would
at asap have been made the subject inf a spit in the sale-
sladies' courts, these marriages frequeatlp occurred, with-
put model and without injury ; and from the inquiries of
the maiming= in ler& it appeared that there was hardly
lin record • single Can. in .which pp action bad
brought in consomme)/ of. . each marriages.
, •f : Infereate was that . there was memething
Apitlial in those =crises, that they. were not
et to the reason and feelings of a Christian people,
a whatever might be the condition of the law, it was
thought that they might be contacted without Noy injury
to aticipty. 14 was impomeible to eletermin• Atha! . was the
fifteokrieffee Poomatrui- That eminent divine, Dr.
"Wed that in the Method= body a large
number of the preachers had contracted those marriages,
without any scandal to their cougregstions. Those mar-
riages had been frequent, and the suite of the law was not
unsatisfactory until there arose that celebrated case of one
noble family which brought this matter before public con-
sideratioa, while hundreds, and perhaps thousands of those
marriage* were taking place ip other ranks of life. (Hear,
hear.) The effect of the change of the law in 1832
was only to the advantage of that noble family, and
• very few others, and to the disadvantage of the mass of
the community. The law had begun in injustice, in that
discrimination between classes which was repugnant to the
sense of Englishmen, and which be hoped would never be
considered a sound basis for the laws of this or any other
country. The effect of that law was to declare that per-
sons who had been married up to a certain day were legally
married—that the children born up to a certain day were
legitimate ; but that afterwards those marriages were incestu-
am, and that the children born of them were bastards. (Hear.)
He proposed to legalise these marriages is a simple form,
which he trusted would not shock the most delicate con.
meiotic*. The bill provided that all marriages solemnised
before the registrar should be recognised by the law as a
civil contract and declared legal marriages; but that
nothing in the bill should affect the dignity, title, fortune,
or arrangements dependent on the present state of the law.
He did oot think that Scriptural objections to these marriages
I weighed much in the minds of the English people. Twenty-
' one bishops admitted that there was no direct authority in
Scripture against such unions, and among them were some
who were formerly the strongest opponents of the bill.
The ecclesiastical part of the question, however, could he
better discussed in the House of Lords than in this house.
If the bill went up to the other house, bricked by a large
majority of the House of Commons, bethought the question
would be very soon decided. It was his strong conviction
that both ha a natural and social point of view these mar-
riages were some of the happiest which could be contracted.
He believed that the real and only question they had
to decide was whether these marriages should be legal or
whether they should uphold a system of concubinage.
(Hear.) If any uneasiness was felt among a portion of the
people with respect to such unions, surely that was not a
reason why they should perpetuate au injustice. (Hear.)
'He trusted that upon general grounds parliament would
ultimately adopt the measure. Above all, he hoped it
would not be made a party question. (Hear.) He asked
the house to allay the miserable anxieties which bad so
long existed on the subject, and to give peace to those sus-
ceptible minds that were disturbed in consequence of the
present state of the law. In a word, all he asked them to
do was, by adopting the measure, to reconcile law and con-
science to the British people. (Hear, hoar.)
Mr. BUXTON seconded the motion,

Mr. WALPOLE did not oppose the introduction of the
bill ; but he wished to guard himself against being supposed
to sanest to one or two propositions in the speech of Mr.
Milne., who bad not, he said, given a fair representation of
the existing law or its effects. Ile (Mr. Walpole) put his
argument against this measure on the groued that the last
thing a nation ought to do was to alter the law of marriage
known to the country, especially when it bad been
sanctioned for so many centuries ; and, if it were to be
altered at all, be deprecated the alteration unless the
legislature took its stand upon some definite principle that
would prevent it from extending the alteration much fur-
ther, and be believed this was not passible.
Mr. V. SCULLY said be thought this was eminently a
question for the considemtiou of the hon. member's country-
men, and still mote of his countrywomen. He thought it
was a woman's question, and that the house ought to be
guided exclusively in the matter by the feelings of the
women of the country. He had done all that lay in his
power to ascertain what were the feelings of his own
countrywomen on the subject. (Laughter.) They were
unrepresented in that house,
RINI he entirely surrendered
his judgment to what he might consider to be their feelings
and instincts, for of course whenever a measure was weed
in England it was likely to be extended to Ireland, and
he had always found that they revolted against such
a law. He had not descended into the lower classes
of the community to ascertain what their feelings were—(a
laugh)—but he should certainly take an opportunity of con.
sultiog the humbler cinemas of his countrywomen as to whether
they did not still more strongly revolt asraiustxuch a Plea-
sure. But he should not presume to fonn an opinion on this
subject contrary to the feelings and instincts of his country-
women. (Laughter.)
Leave was then given to introduce the bill
TAXATION AND LOCAL Oc/yEitNMENT OF THE