The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-30 00:00:00

nit

LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1853.

The discussion on the India Bill will be
resumed this evening. The anniversary of ,
her MAJESTY'S Coronation, coupled with the bap-
tism
of the youthful Prince, afforded an ample
excuse for an adjournment of the House of Com-
mons on Tuesday evening, of which Ministers,
notwithstanding the late period of the session,
and the large amount of business remaining un-
disposed of, readily availed themselves. Well, so
be it : every day's delay affords an additional
argument in favour of Lord STANLEY'S amend-
ment, and the passing of a simple continuance
bill for one or two years. Indeed, considering
that the debate on the second reading of the bill
will be proceeding, and very probably not con-
cluded, on the last day of June, it must be
obvious that anything approaching to a Fabian
policy on the part of friends or opponents, must
be fatal for the time being to the Ministerial
measure. The public have become so well accus-
tomed to what has been facetiously termed the
annual " massacre of the innocents," to feel
any surprise at the withdrawal or emasculation of a
proposition, however urgent might be its claims
for immediate legislation, more especially if intro-
duced in the sixth month of active business. In-
deed Sir CHARLES WOOD could scarcely have ex-
pected any other result on a matter of such para-
mount importance, and calculated to provoke such
determined opposition. When rising to make his
verbose statement, on the 3d of June, he could
not have anticipated the permanent settlement of
the intricate question before the prorogation. %F.
What, then, could have been his object in re-
fusing to comply with the earnest entreaties for
further inquiry, and for allowing the parties so
deeply interested to prefer their complaints against
the existing system, and to substantiate the same
by disinterested and impartial witnesses ? Such
conduct may appear inexplicable to those unac-
customed to party warfare, and unskilled in Par-
liamentat y strategy. But the initiated know
that the labours of the Danaid. es would not
appear so very irksome to. the Ministerial
minds. The fruitlessness of the toil would
constitute no objection whatsoever ; on the con-
trary, the heartiest thanks, the utmost gratitude
would be bestowed on any person who could en-
able them to imitate the system of. PENEXOPE, by
repealing, during the vacation, the enactments of
the preceding session. It is, therefore, sometimes
an object to consume the public time—to prevent
the discussion of inconvenient and disagreeable
topics and under such circumstances, such a
speech even as that of Sir CHARLEs WOOD may
be regarded with toleration by such of the Minis-.
try as were not compelled to listen to its dreary
details and prosy paragraphs. The game may,
however, be carried a little too far, the motive
may become too transparent, while the debate
teelf may place the matter in a totally different

point of view, exciting a degree of interest far
beyond any previously felt.
Mr.' COBDEN certainly threw an entirely new
light on the subject, when he declared that in
considering the problem "whether a single or a
double Government would be most advantageous,
he was met by this difficulty—that he could not
see that the present form of Government was a
double Government at all." The Hon. Gentle-
man, in his usual clear and straightforward style,
adduced very strong and conclusive testimony,
showing that it was impossible to ascertain the
exact powers of the Eastern "JOHN DOE" and
" RICHARD Ron," and that even the Directors
themselves were by no means agreed upon the
subject. There was certainly no substantial
power created by the rapidly-expiring charter,
save that connected with the distribution of pa-
tronage, or rather with the selection of the objects
among whom that patronage was to be distributed.
He also pointed out the evils arising from the
mystery attached to the subject, and the diffi-
culty of ascertaining the parties actually re-
sponsible for offences either of omission, or
commission, and illustrated his argument by
facts said to be connected with the commence-
ment of the Burmese war, which he declared to
have been initiated by Commodore LAMBERT, not
only without the assent of the Anglo-Indian
Government, but in defiance of Lord DALHOUSIE'S
express and positive instructions, and also by the
official complaints of the Noble Marquis as to
" the anomalous character of the relations sub-
sisting between the Governor-General and the
QUEEN'S officers, and which he hoped would be
corrected in the forthcoming Charter Act." It

appears that the nominal head of the Government
had no authority to give a single order to the
Commander of one of her MAJESTY'S vessels, inas-
much as ho was only tho representative of the
Company, not of the SOVEREIGN. Even the
Secret Committee, or the President of the Board
of Control, could not correct the evil. The officer,
whoever he might be, was only bound by the
orders of the Board of Admiralty, and might de-
spise and disobey instructions emanating from any
other quarter. Here, then, is a fourth body,
hitherto unheard of, that may exercise a very
powerful influence over the affairs of India, com-
mencing a sanguinary and expensive war, which
might largely increase the deficiencies of the re-
venue, already sufficiently large, amounting, as
the Honourable Gentleman proved, to nearly
28,000,0001. sterling since the last renewal of the
Charter, and which deficiency may be largely in-
creased by the falling off of the opium duties and
the salt tax.

The whole, then, of this anomalous system—
the maintenance of this complicated and useless
machinery—is Of not for something worse that
cannot be avowed) solely for the distribution of
patronage, that 24 gentlemen may be enabled to
provide handsomely for their own friends and
relatives, and the friends and relatives of those
by whose suffrages they were placed in such
enviable positions. And the part of the Bill
which has elicited the greatest portion of praise,
in favour of which the eloquence of Mr. MACAU-
LAY was most brilliant, was that which deprived
them of the civil appointments and the scientific
and medical branches of the military depart-
ment. If it was well to throw open so valuable
a portion to public competition, would it not be
still better to bestow the whole patronage in the
same manner ? And if the patronage were taken
away, what would be the advantage of retaining
even the name of the Company, and leading the
inhabitants of India to suppose that they owed a
double allegiance? Would the officers of the Indian
army be less respected if they served her MAJESTY
in place of the Company ? Would justice be less
pure if -administered in the name of Queen
VICTORIA ? No ; the "sham" must be abolished.
" JOHN DOR" and "RICHARD ROE" cannot be per-
mitted to retain their sway over the wide-spread
territories of Hindostan.

The session is now rapidly approaching to its
termination, but no vigorous effort has as yet
been made to remove the unwise and impo:iitic
restrictions on marriage—restrictions that have
been so loudly and so justly complained of by
many persons of religious and moral character,
and which are felt to be opposed to the universal
toleration on which Englishmen so greatly pride
themselves. The absurd pretext that there is
any Divine law adverse to contracting marriage
with the sister of a deceased wife has been almost

universally abandoned. The prohibition rests
exclusively on a disputed dogma ; and it is too
bad to attempt to bind those who conscientiously
differ in opinion, and to interfere vexatiously in
the exercise of the most sacred and the most
cherished privilege belonging to mankind. We
say advisedly that. Parliament has no authority to
legislate in such a matter, or to abolish the unre-
stricted freedom of choice of a partner for life,
which is the undoubted right of every free citizen
of a flee State. The great Reformer, MARTIN
LUTHER, declares, in reference to such an unjusti-

liable prohibition—" Let them arm themselves
with the Divine law, and say what GOD hath joined
together let no man put asunder ! The union
of husband and wife is of Divine right, which is
binding, however contrary it 1;1,c,y1)6 to human laws,
and the laws of man ought to yield to it without
reserve." The laws of man have yielded to it
without reserve in other countries, and even in
some, degree in this. Such unions, if contracted
in Prussia, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, or Nor-
way, or, indeed, in any Protestant nation of
Europe, or in the United Sates of America, or by
dispensation in any Roman Catholic country, are
perfectly valid and binding. They will, under
such circumstances, be recognised in England, and
the children will inherit property, and become en-
titled to all the other rights and privileges belong-
ing to the legitimate offspring of a lawful mar-
riage. The principle so clearly laid down by Lord
STOWELL has established this important point,
as the undoubted result of all former de-
cisions on the subject, "that a foreign mar-
riage; valid according to the law of the place
where celebrated, is good everywhere else."
How absurd, then, is it to declare that nuptials
solemnised according to the likes of the Protestant
Church in any part of Germany shall be to all
intents and purposes effectual, when, if the same
ceremony should be performed in any part of the
United Kingdom between the same parties, the
contract will be null and void ab initio, and the
innocent children deprived not merely of their in-
heritance, but branded with disgrace, so far as an
unjust law can reflect disgrace upon any save those
who permitted it to remain a blot on the National
Statute Book.
What, we ask, can be said in favour of an
enactment that can so very easily be evaded, as by
a short and not very expensive or disagreeable trip
to the continent, where the expenditure of a few
pounds, and the sacrifice of a few weeks' time, can
remove the prohibition, and render it as ridiculous
in practice as it is in theory. No law should be
sanctioned that could safely be disregarded. The
power of enforcing obedience or of punishing dis-
obedience is an indispensable requisite of every
enactment ; inasmuch as, without that power, i:,
would be a mere brutum, fulmen, ridiculed raMie:
than respected. What can be more unwise and
impolitic than to let it go abroad that thew is
one law for the rich and another for the poor. But
in the case of the unjust and unwarrantable re-
striction on marriage, any person possessed of
fifty pounds and a months' holiday can laugh the
feeble prohibition to scorn, and insure the validity
of his marriage and the legitimacy of his offspring;
while the poor man, who can spare neither the time
nor the money for the excursion, can violate the
law, and set the statute at defiance with impunity,
the only victims, if any, being the innocent and
helpless children.

We had hoped that under a Ministry of which
Lord ABERDEEN was the Premier, and whereof
the Earl of ST. GERMANS (the able, consistent,
and disinterested advocate of the repeal of the
obnoxious law) was a prominent and influential
Member, some attempt would at least have
been made to induce the House of Lards
to reconsider the question, and to come into
accordance with the views of the popular
branch of the Legislature, repeatedly shown .by
largo and decisive majorities. Their Lordfaiips

should not forget the circumstances under which
the iniquitous law of 1835 was hurried through
Parliament.' It had been introduced for a per- _
fectly legitimate purpose—to prevent the possi-
bility of the marriage of a peer of the highest
rank, the representative of one of the most dis-
tinguished families in the kingdom, with the niece
of probably the most respected member of the
Upper House at the time, from being impeached,
or called in question, and the heir to a dukedom
of the seventeenth century,' and a peerage of
more than five centuries' duration, from being
rendered illegitimate. This was not merely a
justifiable but a very laudable object, and it was
intended to have been fairly carried out ; for
although introduced with reference to a particular
case, it would have been universal in its applica-
tion, preventing any suit from being thereafter
instituted in the Ecclesiastical Courts. It should
be borne in mind that up to that time such mar-
riages were only voidable, on the absurd
pretext that it was for the soul's health
(pro salute anima;) of the party that the
union should be dissolved, and that if either
husband, or wife, should die before the decree for
dissolution was obtained, the marriage could never
afterwards be questioned ; the children would be
legitimate, and entitled to every right as such.
This was, however, rendered prospective as well
as retrospective, by the introduction of a clause
at the eleventh hour, which declared that all
future marriages of the kind, which for the sake
of a leading Member of their order their Lord-
ships were legalising, should be absolutely null and
void abinitio. This obnoxious provision, which was
literally smuggled through the House, was very
reluctantly accepted by the Commons rather than
endanger the measure, and in the belief that it
could be repealed in the following session. The
result has, however, shown the magnitude of the
error into which the popular branch of the Legis-
lature were then seduced. Eighteen years have

elapsed, during which the obnoxious and inde-
fensible enactment has occasioned distress and

misery to many perms of rnimpeachable charac-
ter, has defrauded, helpless children of their
birthrights, and its repeal has been resisted with
a dogged perversity that has foiled all the efforts
made for its abolition.
We cannot conclude our observations on this
very interesting subject wi'clout referring to a

short but very able pampl'et* which has just
emanated from the pen of the Knight of KERRY,
the objects whereof are—" Ist, To make it evi-
dent to such members of the Legislature as have
not yet considered the question, that there is a
strong prima facie case for an alteration of the
present law ; and 2dly, To direct by marginal
references those who wish to examine into the
question more thoroughly, to such documents as
deal most fully and distinctly with the various
points noticed therein."
These important objects have been fully accom-
plished by this very able brochure, which (dedi-
cated by permission to the Earl of ST. GERMANS)
contains an immense body of information, that
must be very valuable to any person desirous of
arriving at a correct conclusion on the subject.
The talented author at one period was led astray
by the fallacies promulgated on this subject, until
he close and accurate research of which such
abundant evidence is contained in the pages re-
ferred to led him to the adoption of sounder views.
We earnestly commend the little pamphlet to the
notice of every disinterested person. It will be
found well worthy of perusal.
* A Brief Argument against the present Law affecting
Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister. By the Knight
of Kerry. London : Hatchard and Son, Piccadilly.

THE Nnw INCOME TAX ACT.—This act, which received
the Royal assent on Tuesday, will take effect from the
sth April last,-from which day incomes beginning at
1001. a year will be taxed at sd. in the pound. For the
first two years the tax will be on incomes of 1501. 7d. in
pound ; for the next two years 6d. in the pound ; and
for the last three years sd. in the pound. With respect
to lands and tenements, other than a dwelling-house
occupied by a tenant, distinct from a farm of lands, the
duty will be for the first two years, in England, 31d.,
and in Scotland and Ireland, 2/d. ; for the second two
years, in England, 3d., and in Scotland and Ireland,
21d. ; and for the last three years, in England, 24d.,
and in Scotland and Ireland, 11d. The act is to remain
in force from the sth April last to the 6th April, 1860,
and "no longer," as expressed therein.
TFIE SOAP DUTY.—On' Wednesday next the duty will
be taken off soap, and not on Tuesday, as erroneously
supposed. The words of the repealing act are " from
and after the sth July," making Wednesday (the 6th)

the operation day.
DEPARTURE OF THE AMERICAN MAlLS.—Yesterday
afternoon, shortly after two o'clock, the United States
mail steam-ship Atlantic, Captain West, sailed from
the Mersey for New York with the usual bi-weekly
mails for the United States and British possessions in
North America, 145 passengers, and a large and valu-
able cargo of merchandise on freight.
DETERMINED SUICIDE BY A YOUNG FEMALE.—Be:
tween five and six yesterday morning a young female,
respectably dressed, was observed walking rapidly, and
in an excited state, along Boothe's Stone-wharf, College-
street, Camden-town, and, making for the Regent's-
canal, flung herself into the water, before several work-
men, who were standing by, could even prevent her
making the attempt. Not a moment was lost in pro-
curing the drag,s but some time elapsed before the life-
less body of deceased was recovered and brought to
land, when the police conveyed it to the dead-house, but
nothing was found to lead to its identity. Deceased,
who was apparently between 17 and 18 years of age,
and well proportioned, possessed even in death rather
interesting features, being of very fair complexion, with
light brown hair. She wore a lilac dress, brown straw
bonnet, with blue ribbons, and laced-up boots.
KING'S COLLEGE.--The annual distribution of prizes
to those students who had distinguished themselves
took place yesterday. Shortly before two o'clock, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, who bestowed the honours
on the successful candidates, arrived at the institution,
and about the same time the Bishops of London, Oxford,
&c., came, with a numerous and most highly respectable
company. Soon after the carriage containing the royal
family of Hanover made its appearance, in which were
the King of Hanover, the Queen, and the Crown Prince,
who were attended by Baron Issendorff,•Major-General
Buckley, and suite. They were received on their en-
trance into the Great Hall by Dr. Jelf, Principal of the
College, with the various professors and masters of the
institution ; and there were present the entire body of
the students, who most respectfully acknowledged the
high honour that had been conferred upon them. His
Majesty, accompanied by the Queen, Crown Prince, &c.,
proceeded to the dining-room, where they partook of a
clejeuner ala fov,viteVe. They afterwards entered the
large room, where the distribution of the prizes took
place, which was presided over by the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
?'WAITERS' PROVIDENT ASSOCIATION.—A. meeting was
held at the National Assembly Rooms, Holborn, on
Saturday evening last, for the purpose of forming a
Provident Association for the waiters of London. Alfred
Fairchild, Esq., presided on the occasion. Resolutions
in conformity with the objects of the meeting were
unanimously adopted, and an association was formed.
The waiters of the metropolis are a much-neglected
class. Their means of livelihood are exceedingly pre-_
carious, while no body of persons are more helpless in
sickness or old age.
FIRST OF AUGUST MEEING IN LONDON.—A meeting
will be held on Monday, August 1, to commemorate
the anniversary of negro emancipation in the British
West Indies, and to give information upon American
slavery. Mr.i M‘Kim, secretary of the Pennsylvania
Anti-Slavery Society, Professor Allen, of New York,
and Mr. William Wells Brown will be among the
speakers. Due notice of the place will be given in the
daily and weekly papers.—An'i-Slave? y Advocate.
WHITE TROUSERS.—A eiretilar letter from the Adju-
tant-General, dated Horse Guards, June 27, 1853, says :
"The use of white linen trousers by general and staff
officers is henceforth to be discontinued within the United
Kingdom, as well as in the North American colonies,
and the blue and Oxford trousers, prescribed by the re-
gulations, are to be worn throughout the year, with the
dress and undress uniform respectively."
CREMORNE.—The first juvenile fete of the season was
held here yesterday, and the weather proving fine large
numbers of youthful visitors, as well as visitors of a
larger growth, crowded the spacious and beautiful
grounds from an early hour ; in fact, the largest assem-
blage of the season was gathered together to enjoy the
attractions of this favourite place. The entertainments
afforded abundant gratification to the delighted visitors,
amongst whom the most animated and hilarious were
the boys of the Duke of York's School, who, with
their excellent band, attended upon the occasion, and
added not a little to the gaiety and pleasure which
everywhere prevailed. •
CONTINENTAL ADVICES.—The continental advises con-
tain nothing of a new or positive character, although
telegraphic intelligence was looked for from St. Peters-
burg via Stettin and Berlin. It appears that the iuniours
of a, loan to Turkey, or for the proposed new bank at
Constantinople, are still circulated, and that the an-
nouncement recently male of the necessary subscriptions
having been completed in London, has now given place
to an equally preposterous assertion that the English
and 'French Governments are about to offer a guarantee.
Happily, recent events have carried with them some
compensation in utterly putting an end to all schemes
of this sort, not only as regards Turkey, but other
countries. The project of the great Russian Railroad
from Charkoff to the Black Sea, for which a loan of
4,750,0001. has been talked of, would probably now
have been nearly ripe for introduction, if capitalists had
not received from the late conduct of the Emperor a
warning
which it is to be hoped will not speedily be
forgotten. _ _