The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-22 00:00:00

MOTION OP SOCIAL SCIENCE.

SIXTH DAY.

The several departments of this valuable AMU-
alike amembled on Tuesday at &valve o'clock, in the
different courts appropriated to them (after the delivery of
Lord Talbot de Ma address, as president of the de-
partment of Public Health, in the Solicitors'-room, Four
Courts), sad proceeded to the despatch of business.

FIRST DEPARTMENT.--JURISPRUDENCF.
This department, in order to facilitate buskins, was
divided into two sections, one of which set in Judge Her-
peave's Court, and the other in the Court of Chancery,
presided ever by the Right Hon. Joann Nano.
There were present on the bench in the Court of Chancery
the Lord Justice of Appeal, Judge Hayes, Mr. Whiimide,
N.P., and Dr. Ratcliffe.
W. Naas J. 0141.1AUGHSEHNT read a paper "On the
of the Marries Laws required so as to imam •
Marriages is Ireland."
E'''.l:ll.ertifemtairia (barrister) read • paper "On the
=aadmitting the evidence of accused persons on
tr of
al." He strongly urged that it would be disadven-
=to Use accused partite if they were allowed to give
on their own behalf.

Yr. Wtrnaeroe wu of opinion that it would be • pert-
lens imievation to establish a law which allowed prisoner,
tie be emedasil on their owe behalf. It never had been
the law of logland, and them should be great caution exer-
cised before • change was made in this respect. It was may
to dienipbat wet esby to recover the original poultice.
MlM't DELIUS= OlMOidiftid that the Irma&
made of interrogating prisonen on their trial afforded them
grist
Q.C., as the Crown Prosecutor for the city sod
county of Dublin, said that
.be was, before lie ea-
tared on his duties, opposed to accused parties to
be examined, he was now of opinion it would be a beneficial
change in the law. He was also of opinion that the evidence
of a wife should be adminible in criminal cases.

After some further discussion the president concluded it
by strenuously advocating the proposed change.
Mr. J. C. Sarni, a Scotch lawyer, read a paper in de-
fence of the irregular marriage law of Scotland.
Dr. WADI/Man then read a paper on " The Law of
Marriage end Divorce as at present existing in England,
and Scotland." Having described the different modes
of contracting marriage in the three countries, and also the
modes of obtaining divorces, he suggested that the marriage
laws of Wend, Ireland, and Scotland should be assimi-
lated, the law of llagland being taken as the standard;
more care being taken for the due publication of the banns,
and in the granting of boeines, so as to prevent hasty and
improvident marriages.
Mr. WILLIAM O'CoNNOR MORRIA (barrister) read a paper
CM the marriage law of the empire.
Load BIOLMHAM said that the principal defect in the mar-
tier law of Scotland was the want of deliberation, and
also the want of sufficient publicity. He had introduced a
measure into the House of Lords requiring certain residence
in the case of border marriages, but the session had too far
advanced, and although it was approved of by the Scotch
judges and the Scotch bar in general, it was postponed for
another yaw, and the consequence was that this approval
was afterwards refined. The subject had never been re-
vived since, but he hoped that the entire law would soon be
brought under consideration and greatly improved.
Mr. WHITIBIDE detailed his experience of the working
of the marriage law of Scotland. It wwasu,, in his opinion,
in a most unsatisfactory stets, but if Scotobmen were satis-
fied with it they should not interfere. The laws of each
particular country should be made to suit its condition, and
although the marriage law of England seemed to meet
general approbation, there might be some difficulty in in-
troducing it into Ireland. As, however, at that late hour
the discussion on this important subject would not be fully
entered into, be would refraiu from further observations
until a full expression of opinion had been elicited.
The department then adjourned.
JURISPItrDniCe..—ISICTION I.
• - - • -- -

Thu section met in Judge ve s court ; Master
FlrLGlßßON_preinded.
Mr. J. W HILLAIN reed a paper on Jurisprudence sad
Amendment of thaLaw.

Some discorion having taken place on the subject,
Mr. J. C. Warne read a paper on the appointment of •
public trustee. After stating the danger to which trustees
are at present exposed, he suggested that there should be
• trustee appointed in the Court of Chancery, in the ftnie
meaner, and with the same authority as the amigos* in the
Bankruptcy Court.
Mr. °WON read a paper on the Defects in the Law of
Charities in Ireland. _ _ _

Mr. J. H. tarren read • paper on the Practice of Coevey-
seeing among the native !rink before the introduction of
English law, after which the section adjourned.

SECOND DEPARTMENT-EDUCATION.

Sir J. 8. Lamina, President of the Department, opened
the proceedings shortly after eleven o'clock.
Mr. JA)11/4 HICYWOOD, F.ELS., read a paper on " The
Recommendation of the Royal Conitnisaiouere on Popular
Education, respecting primary instruction and the better
application of Falueational Charities."
A discussion followed, in which the 11ev. A. D'Orsey, Dr.
Willock, Mr. Greer, It. P., Rev. Mr. Stephonami, Rev. Mr.
Fraser lllr. lairs", aid Dam Graves took part.
The Very Rey. Dean GRAVES read a paper "On the
question whether the System of Competitive Examination
gives an undue advantage to persona of an inferior physical
development."

THIRD DEPA RIII ENT-147ND
REFORMATION.

AND