The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-20 00:00:00

wan sport proven and lawn to Ait Agt,tu,
which the committtee divided. The numbers wore—
For the motion
Against it., 124

Majority against the motion 24
The committee then proceeded with the bill. On
clause 3 being read, which provides " that no
olail marriage
with a deceased wife's sister which has been or be
celebrated at any time or place whatever shall be void
after the passing of this act,
Sir F. THEIGER proposed as an amendment that
the words " which has been or shall be celebrated at any
time or place whatever," be struck out of the clause.
The committee then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it .. 123
Majority against the amendment 26
The amendment was consequently lost.
On the question that clause 2 stand part of the bill,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he under-
stood that during his temporary absence an attack had
been made upon him for not being present. He could
assure the house he was absent on public business, end
he trusted that the house would pardon him under such
c'rcurnstances for being so. The learned gentleman
stated again the opinion that be had previously given in
the course of the morning relative to the validity of
marines under the bill.
Mr: HENLEY could assure the Attorney-General
that in the observations had made about his absence
he meant no reflections upon him, but was only anxious
that the house should not proceed in the absence of the
first officer of the Crown.

Mr. G. BUTT objected to the proposed retrospec-
tive operation of the.bill, and trusted that the committee
would pause before it passed any further clauses of the
measure.

Mr. HILYARD sari that the present bill sought, by
retroactive legislation to marry parties against their
will: (Laughter.)_

Mr. LOWE defended the bill.

After some further discussion,
The committee teen divided on the question that
clause 2 do stand part of the bil4, when it appeared that
there were—

Ayes
Noes
Majonty

The clause was accordingly agreed to.
On clauie 3,

. 126
Liz

Sir F. THESIGER said that, as he bad some very
strong objections Co the retrospective clauses of the bill,
he had been exceedingly desirous of preventing its
progre,a ; but, at the same time, his object was to
do so by all fair and legitimate means. As, however,
the committee had expressed so decided an opi.iion after
tao divisiors on the point, he thought it both courteous
and proper not to throw any further impediment in the
way of the bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that as some dif-
ficulties hal been suggested in relation to the operation
of this clause which were worthy of consideration, they
shoald have his best attention, and with that view h.
thought it expedient for the Chairman now to report
progress .

The CHAIRMAN reported progress accordingly, and
having obtained leave to sit again on the 10th July,
The CHAIRMAN then left the chair, and the house re-
sumed.

BILL OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY
NOTES BILL.

On the order of the day for going into committee on
this bill,
Mr. VANCE moved that the house resolve itself
into committee this day week.

After some discussion, in which Mr. KEATING and
Sir G. GREY took part, the house divided on the original
motion.
For the motion

. 146

Against
Majority

. 25,
.•-121

Mr. SCHOLEFIELD oLjected to the house going
into committee merely as a matter of form upon a bill
which he believed to be alarmingly dangerous to th•
commercial interest.

After some discussion upon this point, which was in-
terrupted by the standing orders at a quarter before six
o'clock,
Some other business on the paper was disposed of, and
the house adjourned a few minutes before six o'clock.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

QUEEN'S BENCH.
(Sittings in Banco.)
HILTON V. ECKLESTON-JUDGMENT.

This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover
of the defendant the sum of 5001. The defendant, with
seventeen others, milbwners of Wigan, bound themselves
by a bond in the penalty of 5001. each to close their mills
for 12 months, in order to resist an illegal combination
of the workmen to raise the price of wages. The ques-
tion for the consideration of the Court was whether a
bond of that nature could be enforced at law.

Mr. Justice Crompton considered the bond void as
against public policy, and was an offence indictable at
common law. Agreements of that kind tended rather
to prolong than shorten the mischief it sought to cure,
and was mischievous in the extreme. It was not to be
endured that masters or men should legislate in a man-
ner to interfere with the happiness and comfort of the
people, and the trade and commerce of the nation.
Judgment must be for the defendant.
Mr. Justice Erie said that this case was one in which
the masters had contracted and combined for the protec-
tection of their interests against the injurious results cf a
combination of their workmen to raise the price of wages,
and which it had been contended was an illegal act.
The 6th Geo. IV., sec. 2, repealed all former acts re•
lating to this subject; sec. 3, enumerating certain pro-
hibitions which were declared illegal and punishable, and
unless the act in question could be brought within that
section the bond mast be considered a valid one and re-
coverable at common law. His judgment was in favour
of the plaintiff.

Lord Campbell (whosejudgment in consequence of his
lordship being engaged at Nisi Prius was read by Mr.
Justice Cromptou). His lordship concurred with Mr.
Justice Crompton in considering the judgment should be
for the defendant, but at the same time he was not pre•
pared to say this combination was such an illegal act as
would render the parties liable for a. conspiracy. This
bond could not be enforced by action and was void on
principles of public polity. He was at the same time bound
to say that the object of the masters to put down an
illegal assoclation of the workmen, and to protect their
just rights and privileges, and prevent their being in-
fringed was a laudable one, but the means sought to be
employed to effect it were such as the law could not
sanction. The fanciful notion of a labour parliament to
regulate wages was a thing that coed not be tolerated.