The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-30 00:00:00

could be idly political reason for its retention, or.
danger to the community by the alteration of the law.
If there were any divine or natural law against
such unions, any distinct and unequivocal prohibi-
tion, the matter would be different. Then all persons
would be bound to conform to the regulation, which
would command an almost universal consent. But
the argument drawn from the 18th Leviticus, v. 18,
has been long since practically abandoned. It cannot
for a moment be asserted with a shadow of truth that
it applies
to the sister of a deceased wife. On the
contrary, the words "in her lifetime," expressly limit
the period, and by inference show that such a mar-
riage would be lawful after the death of the first wife.
Besides, a reason is given for the direction. It is not
that there would be any natural objection to the mar-
riage with two sisters, but it is to spare the feelings
of the first wife from the mortification of being sup-
planted by her sister. " Neither shalt thou take a
wife to her sister to vex her beside the other in her
lifetime."

Any religious objection can, therefore, be only
founded on certain canons of the Church,
which we believe were equally opposed to
any second marriage wbatscever, or to a
marriage with a widow, or en actress, or a
slave—regulations which have been long since aban-
doned and set at nought. But even were it other-
wise, and that the rule were binding on every member
of the Church of Rome or of England, why should it
be permitted to affect the great and influential body
of Protestant Dissenters, men who judge for them-
selves, and refuse to be bound by any supposed autho-
rity of the Church ? The most conscientious and
moral men, persons:who would not permit their passions
or wishes to influence them in a matter of right or
wrong, see no objection to such marriages, and yet
they are to be fettered and restrained in a matter
in which even the members of the Established Church
are divided in opinion—many of the most eminent
and pious prelates and clergymen, as well as a large
portion of the laity, believing that the enactment
rendering such marriages null and void, is highly
inexpedient, and should forthwith be repealed.

The state of the case and the position of the ques-
tion should be borne in mind. There was a majority
of the House of Commons in favour of the repeal, but
the Bill for that purpose was practically twice re-
jected in the Lords. It will not be enough, there-
fore, to return a mere majority of representatives in
favour of the change. That majority must be so
considerable in numbers, and zealous and determined
in feeling, as to enforce respect to their wishes from
the other branch of the Legislature. Let all, then,
who are desirous of removing this blot from the
national statute-book, of abrogating an enactment
which is habitually disregarded, and which only in-
jures innocent and helpless children, call upon every
applicant for their suffrages to pledge himself to spare
no efforts to abolish this, one of the latest and most
indefensible vestiges of religious intolerance.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The leading journals contain no word of comment
on the message of the PRINCE PRESIDENT closing the
session of the Legislative Body. The following para-
I graph, however, in the Moniteur, although only pro-
fessing to be descriptive of the manner in which the
Speech was received, is highly significant :
All applauded these words so simple, which define
with so much correctness the immense result of the
policy of December 2—' Power is no longer that im-
movable mark against which the different oppositions
directed their arrows.' Like plaudits hailed the passage
which refers to the faculty accorded to the secret of
correcting such imperfections as may be revealed by ex-
perience, in which was seen a new proof of the modera-
tion of e Prince and of the force of the Constitution."
The passages dwelt on by the Moniteur do clearly
indicate that the PRINCE PRESIDENT has no intention
of changing :his title to one which would make him,
e' kings were, the " immovable object for parties to
fire at." The Constitution is by him regarded most
seriously, while the principle of its revision by, and
through, the legitimate channel of the Sedate is not
only recognised, but pointed at as likely to be prac-
tically brought into operation. This is a mark of con-
cession to the Legislative Body, which complains of
the want of some provision in the fundamental act for
enabling it to have amendments proposed by members
explained and defended before the Council of State by
their authors or their delegates.
The Patric says—
" It appears by our correspondence from Constanti-

nople of 15th that the Sultan, having learned the,
the refusal to admit into the Bosphorus the French 90-
gun ship the Charlemagne was considered in France as
a meek of disrespect towards our Goveraiment, imme-
diately issued u. fit man which opens thotßoophorus to
this ship."
A paragraph in the Pays would seem to have been
introduced for the purpose of removing all hope of
ABD-EL-KADER. being liberated. A conspiracy beg
been discovered at Bona and Constantine for a gene-
nil insurrection, which wes supposed to ba favoured
by the concentration of the French troops around the
mountains of Collo. A prompt and terrible repres-
sion had, perhaps, already been effected by the three
columns which had marched from Bathue, Constan-
tine, and Ghelmsb, so as to surround the insurgent
district, having on their way defeatld all opposition.
As it wrs during the year 1852, a prophet WI ex-
pected to bring delivery from the yoke of the
Christians, the writer trembles when he thinks what
might have been the consequences of the appearance
of ABDEI,KADER amongst the insurgents, end
blames those imprudent councillors who were urging
the Government to let him loose.

The Echo de la Froraiere states that on Sunday a
gendarme on duty at the railway terminus, at Va-
lenciennes, saw a young man who appared to be la-
bouring under considerable agitation. He spoke to
him, and in a short time discovered that he bad
several sealed letters in his hat. The gendarme at
first supposed that the affair wes a mere infraction of
the postal regulations, but on examining the addresss
of the letters they were found to be directed to the
principal demagogical leaders in the south of France.
The hearer of the letters, who is the son of M. ROUET
(de la Nieve), one of the expelled ex-representatives
of the Mountain, was immediately arrested and
handed over to the authorities. Some of the letters
are said by the journal to have been written by M.
PASCAL DUPRAT, who is now in Brussels.
SIDI-MAUMOUD DEN•AYET, Minister of the Bey
of Tunis, arrived s.t Marseilles, on the 26th, from
whence be will proceed to London via Paris.
The French fleet, before sailing from Algiers, re-
mained for ten days at Tunis, in daily communication
with the Government and population. On the day
before that fixed for the departure of the fleet, the
BEY sent a present of oxen, sheep, fowls, eggs, oil,
and vegetables to the squadron, the value of which was
estimated at not less than 20,000 f. During the stay
of the various vessels before Tunis, the chaplains of
the fleet several times performed mass in the Chapel
of St. Louis, the enclosure of which now serves as the
burial place of the Roman Catholics of the country.
The BEY also sent to Admiral DE LA SUSSE, and to
the several captains, the insignia of the Nichan of
Tunis.

The dividends declared by the Tribunal of Com-
merce, in " concordats" (arrangements with credi-
tors) in the course of last year were from 5 to 10 rar
cent. in 9 cases ; 10 to 15,per cent. in 34 ; 15 to 20 par
cent. in 18 ; 20 to 25 per cent. in 32 ; 25 to 30 per
cent. in 19 ; 30 to 35 par cent. in 11 ; 35 to 40 per
cent. in 4 ; 40 to 45 per cent. in 7 ; 50 to 55 per cent.
in 3; 60 to 65 per cent. in 2; the whole capital in
7; and the giving up of the assets 25. The total
number of bankruptcies in the latter half of last year
was 245.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Julta 29.
Great Indian Peninsula, 65/B—Luxembourg, 4%--Paris
and Rouen, 341,E—Paris and Strasbourg, 233A—Sambre and
Meuse, s%—Tours and Nantes, 121 A—West Flanders, 314—
Western of France, 8.