Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-25 00:00:00

DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BILL

On the order for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. Henley, pursuant to notice, moved the post_
ponement of the stage for a month. He referred
at some length to the proceedings in reference to the
divorce laws at different times, showing the diversity of
opinions as to the tribunal which divorce cases should be
referred to, and the doubts in the attempted legislation
upon the qu€stion, what should justify the application for
divorce, whether the parties should be allowed to marry
again ? These circumstances, he thought, justified him
in asking that a further time should be' given
for consideration of a measure upon which there
was a strong feeling in the country, and in
regard to which a false step might lead to the shaking
of the foundation of marriage vows.

Sir George Grey contended that they were now in pos-
session of sufficient information to legislate on the subject,
and that the approaching termination of the session was
no argumant against removing a scandal in the law.
Mr.. Gladstone thought that sufficient ground had
been made for postponing the question, the import-
ance and difficulty of which could not be exaggerated,
and urged that if they procebled with it then, when
the Indian debate and the Probate Bills should have
been disposed of, the late stases would have to be taken
with but few members left to discuss it.

Mr. BOWYER, also supported the motion, and said that
this bill proposed to alter the civil and criminal jurisdiction
of the country, and, in fact, had matter for three or four
acts of parliament jumbled into one. It, therefore, re-
quired further time for consideration and discussion.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL hoped the house would
permit him to bring this bill forward. It had
been discussed for two months in the other house
of Parliament, and considering the unsatisfactory state of
the law, and that this bill was supported by the bighes
authorities both in the law and the church, he trusted the
House would not impede its progress.
Lord JOHN MANNERS supported the motion, and drew
attention to the fact, that there had been many petitions
against the bill and none in its favour.
Lord STANLEY hoped the government would persevere
with the measure as it was of broad principle. The
petitions upon which much stress had been laid, had their
origin with clergymen who only opposed certain parts of
the bill without touching the bad principles of the bill.
The country could not afford to lose any more time, and he
therefore hoped the measure would be pressed forward.
Mr. NAPIER supported the motion, and wanted time to
consult his constituents and the learned doctors of the
University of Dublin.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that hon. members had
all called for more time to consider this bill, as they were
entirely unprepared to go on with it; yet their speeches
had shown indisputable evidence that they were perfectly
qualified at the present time to discuss the measure, and
the delay asked was only for the purpose of defeating it.
Mr. MALIN3 urged the House not to force on a measure
of such paramount importance as this was at so late a
period of the session.

Lord PALMERSTON said the course adopted by the right
hon. gentlemen was the most extraordinary he had ev,r
witnessed. They had not attempted to meet the bill
boldly with a negative, but bad errieavoureil to conceal
their opposition by a miserable motion to postpohe the
second reading for a month. (Hear, hear.) Tt
arguments that hon. members had used to show that
the country knew nothing of the bill, proved that they
were well aware of its provisions, for hon. members had
stated that petitions had been sent in against it from all
parts of the country, which they could not have done if
they had not been aware of its contents. With regard to
the time that the house would sit, he could only say that

as long as there were important bills to be discussed that
house most sit to discuss them. (Hear, hear.) He had
known the session prolonged to the middle of September,
and it was, therefore, useless for hon. members to be
frightened at its going beyond the middle of August.

The House then divided. The n.lmbers were :
For the motion
Aga'net it

Majority
The second reading of the bill was then fixed for
Thursday next.
The Canada and New Brunswick Boundaries Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The House adjourned at twenty minutes to two o'clock.

EARL FITZ HARDING F. —W6 have this morning (Tuesday)
beard from the castle, with the deepost regret, that hopes
are no longer entertained of his lordship's recovery, and
that he is gradually sinking.—Cheltenham Chronicle.
From a Parliamentary paper, it appears that the
amount of money realised by the seizure of Russian ships
during the war was £72,000, of which upwards of £41,000
was distributed in the financial year 1856-7, leaving
£30,330 balance on the Ist of April last.
RAILWAYS.—It is stated that amicable arrangement
have been resumed between the Eastern CJunties and
Blackwall Railways, by which the public and prop iefor:,
will be benefited A now railway called the Devon V;;Iley
Railway is proposed for the county of Kinross. Arrange.
ments are being made for the construction ci the long
projected railway extension from Hungertord vzcstwar.t.
The first turf of the Vale of Clwyd R
--a..w:ty is to be
turned on the 7th of August. The fotin,'ition stone of
the docks at Silloth Bay is ie be laid el) 'the 4th of August ;
gor.npleted. the jetty of 1,000 feet is already