The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-22 00:00:00

MR. BEY WOOD'S MARRIAGE BILL.

The following is the bill of Mr. Heywood to amend
the law as to marriage with a deceased wife's sister or a
deceased wife's niece :

[Note.—The words printed in italics are proposed to
be inserted in committee.]
Whereas it is expedient to amend the law as to mar-
riage with a deceased wife's sister or a deceased wife's
niece : Bs it enacted by the Qaeen's Most Excellent
Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this
present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of
the same, as follows :

I. So much of any Act or Acts of Parliament as ren-
ders void or voidable any marriage celebrated between a
man and, his deceased wife's sitter or deceaied wife's niece
is hereby repealed.
11. No marriage which has been or shall be celebrated,
at any time or place whatever, between a man and his
deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's niece, shall here-
after be void or voidable by reason only of the affinity
of the parties thereto, or on account of any canoni-
cal or other objection or impediment (founded only on
such affinity as aforesaid) to the validity of such mar-
riage, or to the celebration thereof, or to the validity
of any licence or certificate under which the same may
have been celebrated.

111. Provided always, that nothing hereinbefore
contained shall render valid or affect any marriage
or any ceremony of marriage where before the passing of
this act the same has been annulled or pronounced void
by legal decision, or where either of the parties there-
to has subsequently, but before the passing of this act,
intermarried with any other person, or where, by
verdict, judgment, decree, or sentences in some action,
suit, or proceeding, civil, or criminal, either in the eccle-
astical courts or any of her Majesty's superior courts,
the husband shall in the lifetime of his said deceased
wife have been found or pronounced guilty of adultery
with the other party to such marriage or ceremony of
marriage, but in every such case the marriage or cere-
mony of marriage shall be absolutely null and void to
all intents and purposes whAio;ver.
IV. Provided also, that nothing herein contained
shall invalidate, alter, or affect any right to any title of
honour, or any right or interest to or in any estate or ef-
fects, real or personal, which title, estate, or effects may
before the passing of this act have become, by reason of
the invalidity of any marriage between a man and his
deceased wile's sister or deceased wife's niece, vested in
enjoyment or possession in any person or persons whom-
soever, nor shall anything herein contained invalidate,
alter, or affect any act or thing done before the passing
of this Act, under the authority of any court, or in the
administration of any estate cf effects, real or personal,
or in the execution of any will, or in the performance of
any trust. _ _

V. Neither of the parties to any marriage between a
man and his deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's
niece, nor any person celebrating, or granting a lice, cc
or certificate for celebrating any such marriage, shall,
by reason of the affinity between the parties thereto, be
liable to any action, suit, censure, or punishment.
VI. No person refusing to eeleltrate or grant a licence
or certificate for celebrating any marriage between a
man and a deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's neice
shall, by reason of such refusal, be liable to any action,
suit, censure, or punishment.
VII. This act shall not extend to Scotland.

SIi.HAMYL AND HIS SON.

Within the last few weeks Schamyl has been rejoiced
by the return of his son, who, eleven years ago, when of
tender age, had the misfortune to be tali en prisoner by
the Russians. Since then Schamyl had not heard of
the boy, and long ago gave him up for lost. It appears,
however, that when he was captured the Russian gene-
ral, Prince Woronzoff, sent him to St. Petersburg,
where the late Emperur took a liking to the lad and bad
him educated in the Military Academy.
It happened last year that Schamyl, in some sudden
surprise, took several Russian ladies prisoners, amongst
whom was the Princess Tscharwaddy. They were con-
ducted to one of Schamyl's mountain fastnesses and con-
fined there as prisoners of war, but treated with the
respect and decorum due to their rank and sex. The
Governor-General of Tiflis sect a flag of trucei:to Sam-
myl to demand the release of the captured ladis, offer-
ing a large sum of money and the liberty of 'sorrel Cir-
cassian ladies who had been made prisoner: by the
Russians. But Schamyl replied that if -his ton were
alive, and the Russians would restore him, he would re-
lease all the lady captives. The Emperor Nicholas sent
for young Schamyl, gave him his liberty, and fitted him
out with the needful equipment to undertake the long
journey. The exchange took place in the end of January.
Yawn Schamyl, who, when at St. Petersburg, was not
required to abjure he Moslem creed, has profited by
hnoiswinrvetdul
ruinl
et,derytoshdiesuorveartjotyb
eedßfuastsihearn
acnapaietca, olmapnldi s Lads
cavalier, with a comparatively civilised education. .it is
said that he entertains great gratitude to the Emperor
for his personal treatment, and it is not impossible that
his return to his native mountains may have an effect on
the future mode of Circassian warfare, and the introduc-
tion of more civilised manners and customs generally
amongst his countrymen.
The following was related by one of the Prus-
sian officers of the 6th Cuirassiers (Emperor of Russia),
who were sent in the year 1842 to St. Petersburg as a
deputation from the regiment to congratulate the Czar
on his having been five-and-twenty years colonel of that
corps. Nicholas, who received the officers with marked
distinction, took them in propria persona to inspect his
different military establishments, and amongst others to
the School for Cadets, where all the lads were drawn up
in the long ball. The Emperor, closely followed by the
Prussian officers, walked down the line when he sud-
denly stopped before one of the youngest cadets, patted
his cheeks with both hands, and then lifting him up
kissed him most affectionately. Then, turning to the
Prussians, he said, "Gentlemen, you will never guess
who this lad is. He is the son of my most bitter enemy,
the Circassian chieftain Schamyl, who has placed him
under my care for his education I"

A. SLEET! COMMONER.—After the body cf the House
was cleared on Tuesday evening, some amusement was
caused to the tellers and doorkeepers by the discovery
of a member asleep in the gallery. The Earl of Mul-
grave called from the floor of the house, "Hi! wake up!"
but without effect, the hon. member's slumbers were too
profound to belightly disturbed; and he was only brought
to a sense of his undignified position by a gentle shake
on the shoulder from ene of the doorkeepers. The hon.
gentleman, at once appreciating the situation, jumped
up, and hastily quitted the gallery. We are unable to
state how he voted, or whether he submitted himself to
that ordeal.