The National Register.
London, England, 1822-07-01 00:00:00

MARRIAGE Ar:1:.

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The House on the motion of Lord ELLENBOROUG 11, re.
sumed the dixossion on the clauses of the Marriage Act Amend.
men, Bill. The noble Lord said, the first amendment lie hail to
propose would combine in a few words the subject of the two
provisos, which the House appeared to consider necessary in the
bill. The dime was to the following effect—That nothing in
the bill should make valid any marriage declared invalid by any
judgment, deem, or order of any Court of Law or Equity befue
the passing of this act.
The LORD CHANCELLOR stated, that the clause pro-
posed would not ell'ect the object the noble Lod had in view.
The Earl of 11 A It ROW BY said, the I louse might safely prefer
the clauses which lie understood it was the intention of the noble
surd learned Lord to snore.
Lord EI.I.EN BO ItO UG II observed, that his object was
merely to condense in a few words the proviso of the noble and
learned Lord. Ile had no objection to the noble and learned
Lord's clauses.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then proposed his first clause.
in substance that nothing in the act was to render valid a mar-
isge which, before the passing of the act, was void.—The
amendment was agreed to. The noble and learned Lord then
said it was usual, when questions where right and title were con-
cerned, for Courts of Equity to direct an issue to try the fact. and
if upon the trial of such fact the invalidity of marriage was niade
mu, the court decided that the child or children were legitiniate.
In order to provide against any alteration of such legal decisions,
he moved Ms second clause, namely. that the act should not ex-
tend to any marriage, the invalidity of which had been affected
by any issue in competent Courts of Justice. The clause was
agreed to and added so the bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then observed, that he was
about to propose a clause, which he did riot expect the House
would agree to ; but it was his duty to propose it, and stand by
it. The clause would relate do titles to property acquired by
valid consideration. If the House ma c marriages good, it did
not follow that they ought to alter titles to properly. Wills had
been made by parties who never expected such a bill as that be-
fore Cie 'louse to pass. If they had amtemplated the operation
of the bill, they would have made d.tferent wills. and perhaps
the House wou!d not interfere with rights so acquired. The
noble and learned Lord concluded by moving that, parties, the
holders of rights and titles to teal and personal estates, should
not be affected by the bill.
Lord LAUDERDALE strongly opposed the clause.
Lord ROSSI.YN said, the clause proposed was an unfair mode
of defeating the retrorpeetire clause.
The LORD CHANCELLOR defended the clause ; but on
Ile qu ration being put. it was negatived.
Several other amendments were made by Lord Ellenborough
and Lord Perk...dale ; after which the report was agreed to, and
bill ordered wbe read a third time on Tuesday. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
mun Dav, :TINE 24.
Mr. Quarme, the Yeoman Libber of the Black Rod, summoned
the House to attend in the House of Peers to hear the royal
assent given by commission to suudry public and private bills.
[See Lords.]
Mr. MONEY brought in a bill to amend the laws on the
subject of ballast on the River Thames, &c. Read a Grit
time.
Doyle's Divorce Bill went through a committee. Counsel
appeared, and witnesses were examined at the bar.
Mr. LUSH INGTON presented the report of the committee
on the colonial audit. It was rather bulky.
MG BEN NIT moved that the report be printed.
Mr. LUSHINGTON adverted to the voluminous contents.
and said, from the nature of the documents. perhaps the prints
ing of selections from the report would answer every useful
purpose. (Hear.)
Motion withdrawn for the present, to afford the opportunity
of making the selections.
SA LT TAX.—Mr. CALCRAFT presented a petition from
Greenwich on the subject of the salt tax ; and in doing so, he
invested the right hon. gent. to abandon the whole of the tax,
as no much had been done.
Mr. COM EN enquired whets the right bon. gentleman
was likely to bring forward bin resantions on the subject of the
salt tax?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that as
the bon. and learned gentleman's (Mr. Broughasn'e) motion
would this evening have precedence, be thought there would
not he opportunity to bring the question forward before Friday
it, however. should then have precedence of the budget.
Mr. cAbcßArr understood, that it was positively to be
brought forward on Friday. Ile was sorry, however, that the
budget was not to have precedence ; for otherwise, he thought
the flourishirig state of the income would have shown that this
remnant of a tas wan not required. The tax was not to he
abandoned now ; it was to last Mr six months longer, till Ja-
nuiry next ; he therefore hoped that it would be seen that such
remains of a tax would riot be required at that period.
Mr. WILLIAMS (of Lincoln) also hoped that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer would SIAM a the whole of the tax, and
thereby relieve the manufacturing proportions of his Majesty's
subjects Cr on' the visitations of the excise. He had trot too
much regard for the regulations ut the excine. The salt trade
required certain bonds to be given under perticalar circum-
stances; frequently they exposed the parties to the excise,
•• from the mercy of which God deliver him !"
Mr. CU RW EN repeated his hope, that the whole of the tax
would be abandoned ; if it were not, he should be prepared to
prove that to get 150,0001. tax, it would cost the country
450,0001. or, tl.al the poor Mari would be compelled to pay
dove linlipebee instead of one halfpenny.
Petition ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. S. RICE presented a petition from the Grand Jury of
Kerry,.eomplairring of unequal assessments, lie said he should
submit a motion on the subject, on July 4. Petition ordered
to be printed.
Mr. W ILMOT presented 111 c ripert of the committee on the
Canada trade acts. The resolutions were read.
Gen. GASCOYNE asked whether these resolutions . mcerned
the consolidation of the Canadas.
Mr. 11 lI.MOT answered, that the nehjects were to be in-
corporated in one bill.
Mr. lIHIGII r said the measure was of great importance.—
Resolutions ar geed to.
IF OF llt ILA a 11.—The report of the committee of supply
was presented. The resolution parried 100,0001. for the relief
of Ireland.
Geo. GASCOYNE said, be did not mean to object to the re-
solution, bat he did think it might to hare hero proterled by
enquiry. From all he had beard (rum Itelaud, he did ant

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