The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-09 00:00:00

CIVIL SERVICE.

Mr. MACARTNEY gave notice that, on the sth of
June, be should, in the absence of the bill, so long pro-
mised by the Government, move for leave to introduce
• bill to alter the law affecting the civil Fervice.

MARRIAGES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Mr. HEADLAM, on rising to move the second read-
ing of the above bill, pre-ented several petitions from
Scotland and the North of England, in favour of the
same. The hen, gentleman said, in proposing this mea-
sure, he was not seeking to make any trifling or mere
theoretic improvement of the law, but was endeavouring
i❑ the most earnest manner in his power to repress an
evil the magnitude of which he could scarcely describe
without what would seem to be exaggeration, which was
lowering the character, destroying the morality, and
depraving the manners of the people in the northern
parts of this island. The hon. gentleman sfter quoting
some statistics showing the great number of illegal
marriages now contracted in Scotland, and the evil
effects they produced on the moral character of tl'e
people, concluded by moving the second reading of the
bill.

The LORD ADVOCATE, though he could not pro-
mi-e to support the bill in all its details, yet considering
it was a praiseworthy attempt to grapple with a subject
the evils of which he fully admitted, should not' oppose
the second reading of the bill.
Mr. ELLIOTT opposed the second reading, hoping
that the Lord-Advocate would himself introduce a men•
sure that would really grapple with the evils of the
question, which this bill would not do. He moved that
the bill be read a second time that day 6 months.
Lord LOVAINE considered the present bill was cal-
culated to mitigate at lea-t a portion of the existing
evil., and therefore he thought it would be unfair to
wait till the Scotch members should agree among them-
selves to a revision of the whole of the marriage laws of
Scotland.
Mr. NAPIER considered the difficulty of dealing
with this question was, that the people of Scotland did
not regard any religious ceremony requisite for marriage.
He also objected to the facility of minors to contract
marriage in Scotland, the mere fact of people of tender
years declaring they took each other for man and wife
being at present sufficient to hind them irrevocably for
life. He thought this biil would not have the effect of
remedying the evils now complained of, and therefore he
should feel bound to support the amendment.
Lord DUNCAN also supported the amendment. He
found that this 1111, while intended to legislate chiefly for
the two border counties of Northumberland and Cum-
berland, would introduce the greatest possible confusion
into the whole law of marriage in Scotland. He was far
from saying that some measure was not required to
amend the existing law of Scotland, but it should be
done in a comprehensive manner, and therefore he
trusted the English members would assist him in eject-
ing the hill now before the hou,:e.
Mr. DUNLOP supported the bill, on the ground that
it would he at least a modification of the existing evils.
Mr. WALPOLE considered the bill would fail in
remedying the evils of the present law. The penalty
proposed by the bill for contracting an illegal marriage
was 101. for the first offence, and 501. for a second of-
fence ; he was sore that penalty would be willingly paid
in most cases, and therefore, on the plea of putting down
immorality, it would not at aP grapple with it. He ad-
mitted that the anomalies of the marriage law in Scotland
were very great, and he trusted that the Lord-Advocate
and the Government would take upon themselves to in-
troduce a bill that would assimilate the laws of marriage
in Scotland with those of England. For those reasons
he should he obliged to support the amendment.
Mr. HEADLAM replied, contending that no ade-
quate argument had been brought forward by hon. mem-
bers who opposed the bill to show that it would not have
the effect of at least mitigating the evils of the present
system, and he should press the question to a division.
Sir G. GREY said that with respect to the appeal
made to the Government to bring in a bill to grapple
with the whole subject of the marriage law of Scotland,
he feared, judging from past experience of similar
attempts, it would not be prudent for the Government to
make any such pledge. A bill for that purpose had been
brought in by a former government; but it was
unanimously opposed by the whole of the Scotch mem-
bers and it was unsuccessful. But he regarded
the present bill would affect merely the humble
classes, and would not touch those in a higher
position who contracted the same sort of irregular mar-
riages. (Hear, hear.) Fie therefore put it to the hon.
and learned member (Mr. Headlam) whether it was
worth while to press the question to a division ?
After a few remarks from Mr. INGRAM and Mr. J. G.
PHILLIMORE,

The house divided, when the numbers were—
For the second reading. 4O
For the amendment, 143
Majority --103
So the bill was lost.
[LEFT SITTING.]

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
MITTEE.—(THIS DAY.)
The committee reassembled this morning at the usual

hour.

Mr. Sidney Herbert was examined by the Chairman.
He stated that he held the office of Secretary-at-War at
the breaking out of the war, and his being a Cabinet
Minister in no way interfered with the duties of his situ-
ation. The duty of the Secretary-at-War was that of a
check on expenditure only. He had nothing to do with
promotion or discipline otherwise than his consent being
required in the event of such promotion involving in-
creased expense. The expenditure of the army was so
complicated that it was necessary the office should be
kept up. When it was decided on commencing hostili-
ties instructions were given to Lord Raglan for the de
fence of the Balkan, it being understood that Sebastopol
would be attacked, that being the object for which the
British army was despatched to the East. The prepa-
rations made for the army were not with a belief that the
army would winter in the Crimea, but the place be taken
by a coup de main. Admiral Boxer was sent out to
superintend the harbour arrangements, and Dr. Andrew
Smith the medical department. He had no authority
over the medical department, other than with reference
to finance, and Dr. A. Smith acted direct from the
Horse Guards. The first time he interfered with the
medical department was in the difference that existed
between Dr. Smith and Dr. Guthrie, respecting the AP,