The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-21 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, DECI?,MIIEit 21, 1849,

1)0.

Dittr.
f:fto. Q

,5 J. 1,

2,
C'••• 43y2
..

•••••• ...... .

,1`
..*

.1
6 • :.I.` ..............•
117' u
and 81.8. f. 5O .....
( P.qui UP•en) 10 - 314
99 99 .
Do. (PITA- 41 Wyre)
00. S;: :.rest.)... 10 9999.
Leet's .tel. i
••
Leeds 0r.,: •••••••• ......
DO. ; per Ct 3
No. 2 5 .........
Do., (-.J ......No. 3 5 . ........
i 8 'S 9 ..._
Li pool, i.;7e:, 3y yid
Soutii!A.,rt ..... . ........
Lindon 3d...
on ion, Eri,,,;lll:an, and
. ......
781
Du., New 5.., ' •an-
teed 6 Cs;nt IC3
Dpe • :A.. 9 9999 —
D pe e2r
oat. :lir; .t... 5?,..2 50 .........
1..,i;d0n and (I: e,_Aw :ch 12/16s 4d —
Ditto. Pie.ere,,,,. .. . 20
L): ;aid NW. -t,,,,
Qoarre,-s.. 12
, . 7 .-
. (M. & B.) C. 1 ..• o.
Loud. r W .-.. 50 ..... .....
Ditto, New .:0/.
ew 40!
Do., New scrip, 1C.!3
Pref. 7 per
.. 5
Londonoury&Co:o-.. '.nt 95
Do. 1,4 5hare5.......,... 5
Lonaanaerry and Er-J.-,
Do. U. q1a,•25 5 ...... --
Lowestctr, guar. 4 perct
Ditto (6 per ct.)
111 anchelter,Br
Matlock-.
lklanche'er, Sheffield,
end Lincolnebi.re -.100
Do. QuaU-ers (No. 1) 25 . —
Ditto dill-) (No. 2)... 25
Do. %a Shares (No. 3) 12%
Do. New 101. Pr0f..... 10 8
Ditto, Gt.Grire9by SO
Ditto ditto .
Ditto ditto
Ditto Sheffield and
Lincolnshlre ..... 25 . ...
Do., Grimsby Dock... 25 .....
Do., Blanchester and
Lincoln Union..... 41.2 a.
dlan.a •••..• •• ..... . ..100 ..•••• 461,4 46
L, Do. Clnsol'datedPreLloo
-Do., do., 501. Sh2res 30
erd Derby 100
Do.Consol.Bestol and
J per ct.... 103 1231,4•••••• •..•• ••
Ditto,B.Lst. w Wocat.r. 42
Litto ditty.... 22'.7a......
Do.,EreweshVal. 50
Ditto, Leieest.&Swr
ningt on 8 -100
Midland an
Irish -
Middlesbro' and Itedear,
6 per cent. 421 r.
Newcastle and C.rf,lsle 1C)

12314

......
NioNvinarket ...... ..... . 23 ...
Lo. Extrism ..... ... 2'. 12...... -
Newf. Jrt, L.,_:_f_;:,..viL_.):7,
and He.e..0..,./.- .. 6 ....•• --
No% ry end ED _.!: '.:_ • :.-... 7
Newly, W.:. :..;il. J: !..,
and Last. .. Qt.'
Norfo'k ..,..-- 't i
Do. New I.S.
DJ. Gl^7f1:1:. .e 3 5 p ct. :2)
Do. Gun: _mt.( .;(15, r)c. 5
Do. tic. Wi.Nenev v ti. 2
N ort`.: ern C ;an - _l3 a "on 4 ......
Ditto, H. Ive 3 .. ..,.. 121/4 4713
Ditto, c.,,L., -.A
Ditto, .1.ar.1 ' : •....o do. (: .. • ••••••• ........
DA' ) Pre .4renc 3 5
North S.et,o_. :1. -to ... 171/4 7W11:.-•
North Welts . ... 3' '2 —
North-Western ...
Uz.urd, Woizcota., 1-ai
Wolverhampton
Reading, U., :': ord, L lb
Re gate
Royston eu.d Hi -ch..l ... 41..... ....• ...
Scottish Cent.a I
Scottish Midiancl
Ditto, New - .. ...
Shrewsbury end IF-1.1... 12
Ditto ditto, Cla•is B. 8 ...... ..
Ditto, New Gucruatc..: 1 8
Shrewsbury and tiers, d. 6 .....
Shrewsbury & Chester
(Nor. W. ii12_1.)
Ditto Halves ... diVo 9
Ditto Uswesty •••••• 181/4
-
Ditto Now

SMITHFIELD.

A full average time of year supply of Beasts was on
*ale in to-day's market, in good condition. As the at-
tendance of both town and country buyers was small,
the Beef trade ruled heavy at a decline in the prices of
Monday of 2d per 81ba, at which a clearance was not
effected. The numbers of Sheep were seasonably large.
All breeds were very dull in sale, at almost nominal
currencies. The general quality of the Sheep w.s
prime, although there was a great scarcity of Old
Downs. We were well supplied with Calves, the demand
for which was in a very sluggish state, on somewhat
lower terms. In Pigs nent to nothing was doing. Mulch
Cows were dull in the extreme, at from 141 to 181 each,
including their small calf.

8%
16
4)

Do. 8 per Celt. err-r. !_t)
Illtropshire Union
South Loam
Do. Preference
South S-diure - iir, 8 js3
South E fis- Jr, ... .....
Do., N 0.2.
Do., No. 3 ...... ..—. 30 ...... IS% IA .
Do., Ree,isterc I .40. 4 10
Ik., berip .\ o 4
South ‘A alai
South Yorkshire, Don-
ca ster, and tiwole
ShAield, Hotherflo'n, N.
Goole (N. Div.) Gua-
ranteed 5 per cep t. ... 16
Do. do (Sou. Div.) ... 5 ...... ..... ... •• --
Sivans. it Loughor ti Ca-

1N
18
.6%

meron's Stui. ... 7
raw Vale Eaten:7'oa ... 8 - .........»...
'lames Haven Dock

and Railway .., 17 1/2 ......
Yale of Neatii ... .. lO
Waterford and Kilk enny 20.....
Water.ord and I. •ine! ~: i -171/2.
Wateia,Wxtrd,Wicklw
and Dublin .......
Wear Valley 6 per Cent.
Guaranteed ... ... ..... 50
Do. do. do. ... 25

Do. do. do. ... 15 ..... ..... „...
W est Cornwall
W hiteh aven & Furl: 18
Windsor, d
South ... 14
Wilts,Somars.3t,& Vii c~

...b
111.1•11
OEM.
III• 1.

mouth
York, Newc.-7, 'e, eau
Bervick..... " .•.-, .. i 5
Do. Ne7,7ea? e i,..:tee. •)3
Do. t.l.N.f..L're.7c. 7; s .... 3L/2
Do. Ear le-,,00' Dczk
... and I. ',iv:, ay ...-...1A ...... ... ......... ..,
I ork at a -,,'. u.: 1iI: .:. --.r.d ::u
oft, Pre:.
.;..:, ... 10
_I-' SIAM KA U. Wet. ia.
Ang ~ Italian (lEte itn-
„, Ilan and At--51.r: .n).... stAi
nOulognJ aid i'_ •dr.‘ as... 20 ...... ...
Central of 2rfance (Or-
leans and Vlerzon)... 20 -. ....... .....• ...
Demerara l7lh —
Dutch Rli.i&E„a ..• ,••••• 8 ••• •• -
East 1nd:::.:..., •••••••••••• 314 -
Ditto ..•
Gr- lath "-)an in SI 0 =

16%
11%
31/2

16%
6A

IMMO
••••.
=NM
WNW.
...

,aat Indian t.ir a ......
1.
, Do. „.. lU.s.
L.otivain e. ic. t-:-.l•2_tbre 71A1 —
Luxembourg
Ditto—
Madrid and Valentia 2 ......
"etnur and Liege 20 ...
Northern of frauce l4/.085... dis. ..
OrleEns Ind I!Jrdeaux.. 7 ...... 3 .......
Paris and Orleans
Parbi and Rouen.... 2O • .....
Paris and Strasbourg ... 12
"ouen and Havre
Sitrabre and Meuse 2O —•-• .....
Strasbourg and Basle
Tours and N en.
.13 .....
Tournay, Jurbisa,
den, and Ha Belt ..., 20
West Flaadatz
...____

(34
dis
3LA

...
MINES.
Arglo-Mexican lOO
A stuilan Mir. lug Coon-- 15
Azatralian... ---••••••• 4 ' **" '..
Bei;vora Range ..
••• 28s. •-•• ... ..... .. **
hlaenat von Iron & Co., ' 50
belonoe Scrip ...... —•— "'"
British
Iron • l2 ••••••
Brazilir -i Imper:: '
razilianex.zeti&CC•aba 30
Lobre C,pp..ir
General
heal Del Monte. Un:eg. - ••
De. Black Debea'ares —
Do. Red Ditto ...
Do. St. John Del Rey 15 ...... 10Ye
tantiago de Cuba... lO
united Mexican

10%

SIA

JOINT STOCK BANKS.
Anstral si
British Noah A mel.ea, :Ai
Colonial
t,,,,1i er
Adi of i , radon 20
‘,.....0.. 25 •41,111•• ••••••
k,
21 4
"U lou Joint Bock .... 10

24

'ilA

LLOYD'S SHIPPING—(THIS DAY.)
" OFF MARGATE, DEC 20. —Ore:st, Smith, China ;
. ldier, Thompson, NeW Or,pnns,
DEAL, DEC. 20.—Wind N.W. to W.N.E., strong aid
d. Unicorn, 13i eti, a iu. runt. Arrd. from
.elti?.ivand Mang,lore, Ceylon; Elizabeth,
(,r
lit" Elias, Jamaica; Cunda, New Orleans. Sld.
; x, tLirumulues.
NEWPORT, Dic. 20.—The Silurian, to Savannah, has
PM back very leskv.
°UM, onD, DEC. 20.—TheVlora. M'Donald, Liverpool
. Bombay, put 'la here 3esterdly. ith ight feet water
111 her hot), ha,,irg. struck on the flats and Binds
tumult, DEc. 20. —The James of Yarmouth, Hf' rtle.
nl to L. 4en, was in Contact and abandoned 18th inst.
thP
10:VAN/MEET, Dam 20.—A vessel was driven on shore
1,44 Y at Ingoldmills, with no hands on board, and
Cpedistely went to pieces; supposed, from a bill of
four :El, to be the Caroline, of Lynn.
th 44RYIOUTII- DEC. 20.—The Amelia, Shields to Car-
-404' W 34, AS ,il(.ontact in the road with the Prince
Th"t ri-oldori, head and hews stove, &c.
7811STA3LE, D2c. 20 —The Tweed, London for
conk 'no ground on th edge Sand, and makes
itfle water.
fiIfrALDIOROUGE, DEO. 19.—The Antelope brig arrived
Icu'llay leaky, after striking 011 Sisowell Dank ; took

roasted, was made to tern round within tho cast-iron the inhabitants of the city, and is likewise ex-
, oven so heated with hot water, and in that way the trerrely unwholesome ; and the gas monopoly. The
coffee was roasted. candid,tes, end a any of the Electors took the most
Witness said in cross-examination—The deceased Mr. acral vi ,w o the question, and adopted resolutions au-
Dkin was formerly a coffee-roaster and tea-deriler at eordingly. The nomination of the following gentlemen
Birmin4haur. He was not a man with much knowledge to serve as Common Countrilinen, MICR took place,
in mechanic:A science, Previous to the accident, Mr. Messrs. Wright, liiibee, Heyward, Danf,rd, Christie,
Dakin had not roasted his own coffee; he had only began Thompson, Broker, Jutsum, *Vile, and 'Burroughs.
to i-oast his own ceffce a little bi fore the explosion. The show of livncs being in favour of the first eight, a
Witness understood the boilers of the delendaut were poll was demanded.
made of cast-iron, though nothing was said in the patent BASSISHAW WARD RETURNS FOUR MEMBERS.—Mr.
about cast-iron. Is a partner in the business of Dakin James declined the honour of again serving as Common
and Co., which has increased since the death of Mr. Councilman. The following gentlemen were proposed,
Dakin. Mrs. Dakin is carrying on the business. Wit- viz., Messrs. Bretton, Lister, Wilson, and Hardwick.
ne:.s entered into partnership with Mrs. Dakin, who is It is not expeosd that any ether candidate will come
his sister, a month or two after Mr. Dakin's death. forward; should such be the case the abovenamed gen,
Re-examined—The business was commenced by Mr. Omen will be the repre,entstives cf the ward.
Dakin in 1844, and he was killed in May 1848. He had Those marked thus * are new candidates.
not had his life insured; nor did he make a will before
he died.
( case was proceeding when our report left, with
the probability of ils lasting till a late hour.)

SECONDARIES'.—(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Secondary POTTER.
SMITH AND ANOTHER V. EDWARDS.
This was an action on a bill of exchange, to recover
81. ss. Gd.
The defendant suffered judgment to go by default.
Defendant's attorney applied to have the writ im-
pounded till next term, on the ground that the action
ought to have been brought in tl.e County Court.
The Learned SECONDARY, who has on previous occa-
sions held that he has no power to certify to deprive
the Sheriff of costs, said that he could not stay the writ,
hat all cases referred to him by the Judges he must try
and retura the verdict of the jury.
A verdict for the amount was then returned.

BOW-STREET..--(THIS DAY.)
An elderly woman named Foster, and a young one,
whose name did not transpire, were charged with steal.
ing a purse containing 41. 155., the property of a party
named Beacon, who described himself as being " in the
engineering line," and stated that ho resided in Great
Russell-street.

The prosecutor deposed that between ten and eleven
o'clock last night he met the younger prisoner at a pie-
house in Fleet-street, and having treated her to a couple
of mince pies, they repaired to a coffer-house opposite
the Temple and called for two cups of coffee. The
proprietor of the house, however, wanted to
charge them half-a crown for the two, and they
left the place disgusted with his attempted imposition.
The female then took him to the other prisoner's house,
in Newcastle-court, Strand, where they had some gin,
and for three shillings were accommodated with a bed
for the night. Before retiring to rest he carefully placed
his under-coat, in the pocket of which was the purse
and money in question, beneath the pillow; but upon
getting up this morning he was greatly annoyed to find
chit both were gone. Soon after he went to bed the
elder female came up into the room with some
water and a light, and he saw her fumbling
about the pillow, but it was not till he discovered his
loss that he suspected her motives for having done so.
He mentioned in conclusion that the younger female did
not leave either him or the room the whole of the night.

The prisoner Foster denied all knowledge of either the
purse or the money; and the younger one did the same.
Mr. JARDINE inquired if anything was found upon
either of them, or if search had been made for the
money? The constable who had them in charge stated
that the prisoners were given into his custody about
eight o'clock this morning. He bad searched the room,
but bad failed to discover the missing property.
Mr. JARDINE said there was no evidenee against the
younger prisoner, and she must be discharged; but sus-
picion certainly did rest upon Foster, and he must leave
it for a jury to decide the ease as against her.—She was
accordingly committed.

IVIARLBRO -STREET-(THIS DAY.)
James O'Brien, a p, ivato in the Royal Horse Artil-
lery, and James Brown, a private in the Foot Artillery,
were brought up in custody of Sergeant-Major Parkin-
son, of the Hon. East India Company's service, charged
with having deserted from their respective regiments at
Woolwich.

The Sergeant-Major deposed that, about a quarter to
ten last night, he saw the two prisoners standing talking
together near the Company's depot, in Soho-square.
Ho went up to them and asked them it they were absent
from their regiments on leave? They replied that they
were, and had their pasaes'to show. He demanded to
see their passes, when they said that they had lost them,
and were then on their way to Woolwich. He then
called a constable to his assistance, and took them to the
station.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMASBOOKS,

LEILA; or, The Island. By Ann Fraser Tytler.
Fourth Edition.
LEILA IN ENGLAND.
MARY AND FLORENCE; or, Grave and Gay.
IViuth Edition.
MARY AND FLORENCE AT SIXTEEN.
Miss Tytler's works have all seen many editions,
and they still retain their prominent position among
the very best of children's books. Even Miss Edge-
worth's writings are less interesting, and less quali-
fied to benefit their youthful readers, than are
the delightful histories of Leila and Mary
and Florence. It is said that a really good
child's book is interesting to readers of all
ages, and such is certainly the case with these
charming volumes. Many a three volumed novel
is found on perusal less attractive in style, and less
enthralling in interest, !than these outwardly
unpretending, but actually beautiful works. "Leila;
or, the Island" relatte the history of a shipwrecked
family—a young child, Leis, her father, and old
nurse, the sole survivors of a shipwreck, who
live, like Robinson Crusoe, on a desert island. The
theme affords abundant room for romantic and in-
structive episodes. " Leila in England" has for its
heroine the same guileless, affectionate, and really
childlike Leila—not even Dickens has portrayed
a more charming and natural child. Leila comes from
her desert island totally unacquainted with the realities
of life. The most common-place incidents are to her a
matter of marvel, and her mistakes are of the most
ludicrous kind possible. A touching episode in this
history of Leila is the introduction of a dumb girl,
who not born dumb, but thus afflicted in consequence
of some accident, ultimately 'recovers the power of
speech in a moment of terror. These volumes, and
those of " Mary and Florence," are crowded with
incidents, and filled with natural conversations.
An air of actuality pervades them, always an attrac-
tive feature to young readers. Beyond this they are
so admirably, because so imperceptibly imbued with
the holy precepts of Christianity, applied to the every-
day incidents of life, that for this reason especially
every well .wisher of the young will gladly see these
delightful volumes in youthful hands. They are
books to be read not once but continually, and always
with new pleasure, and perhaps with lasting benefit.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED

WIFE'S SISTER.

The prisoners said they were not deserters from their
regiments. Tbey came up from Woolwich yesterday
with two friends, and were on the point of returning to
quarters when the sergeant came up and took them
to the station. They admitted being absent without
leave.

Mr. IlinDwicx said although they were not deserters
according to their own ideas, it was still a desertion
according to the Mutiny Act, and he should commit them
to the House of Correction till such time as the authori-
ties at Woolwich were communicated with.

WORSHIP-STREET,—(THIS DAY.)
Hairy Leuch, alias Cre-uley, a well. known associate of
thieves, was brought up in the custody of Policeman N
173, charged, under the following circumstances, with at-
tempting to commit a burglary, at the house of Mr.
Nicholson, linen-draper, High-street, Shoreditch.
The policeman said that about two o'clock that morn-
ing he was in High•street, Shorecliteh, when, on looking
down a passage adjoining the premises of Mr. Nicholson,
he saw a man against the wall, which is about fourteen
feet in height. Ho proceeded to the spot, when the
man ran away. He then observed a man's foot on the
wall, upon which he called upon him to descend. The
prisoner immediately came down. Witness seized him,
but the prisoner grasped an iron railing, and with dif-
ficulty was forced into the street, where ho became most
violent. He knocked witness down, and made a despe-
rate resistance. A quantity of Weiler matches were
found in his pocket.
Morel, N 135, said that shortli before the prisoner
was seen by his brother policeman, he observed him in
company with a number of convicted thieves. He
(witness) knew him to be a most desperate character.
He had been at that court on former occasions.
The prisoner was sent for a month to the Holum of
Correction.

CITY ELECTIONS.—(THIS DAY.)
This being St. Thomas s Day, wardmotes were held
throughout the City, for the purpose of electing Com-
mon Councilmen and other Ward Officers for the ensu-
ing year. The wardmotes were in general held early
in the day, in consequence of the Act, 12th and 13th
of Victoria, cap., 94 which limits the polling to one day
instead of three as heretofore,-coming into operation.
There is a total absence of that excitement which has
been apparent on similar occasions, and although several
vacancies, occasioned by death and resignations, have to
be filled up, the contested wards are comparatively few.
ALDGATE WARD RETURNS EIGHT MENBEos.—The
following gentlemen were returned : Messrs. Lake
(deputy), Massey, Fisher, Clifton, Turnley, Bucknell,
Freeman, and Whiteside. Thomas l'allattwas re-elected
ward beadle.

It will be remembered that a Commission was
lately issued to sift the evidence for and against an
alteration prayed for in the law of marriage. The
public has been waiting with anxiety for some time
past to learn what progress was made, and the Com,
missioners have now issued their First Report, with
minutes of evidence, appendix, and very copious
index.

LIME STREET WARD RETURNS FOUR MEMBERS.—
The following gentlemen were returned :—Messrs. D.
Cook (deputy), T. R. Simpson, T. Symonds, and W.
Simpson. George Rawson was re-elected .ward beadle.
BISHOPSGATE WARD RETURNS 14 ILENSER3.—A
wardmote was held at the Ward Schools, Peter street,
Sun-street, for the choice of Common Councilmen and
other ward officers for the year ensuing, and also (in
pursuance of a requisition, unanimously and respectably
signed, addressed to the alderman) to propose and dis-
cuss certain resolutions relative to the inadequate supply
of water to the inhabitants of London, and also to the
introduction into the city of London of the pipes and gas
of the Great Central Gas Consumers Company. After
the precept from the Lord Mayor had been read, the in-
quest was appointed, and Nathaniel Harden and C.
Case elected beadles of the ward, a discussion arose on
the matters above alluded to, in which the deputies and
others took a prominent part. Eventually resolutions
were carried, and the election of Common Councilmen
was proceeded with. Mr. Sharland, in an appropriate
speech, declined the honour of again representing the
ward, and returned thanks for the support he had re-
ceived at previous elections. The following gen-
tleman were then proposed.--Messrs. W. Stevens,
W. A. Peacock, J. R. Carr, B. Ashby, H. Pat-
ten, T. Hull, W. H. Filcher, T. S. Owden,
R. Thomt.s, W. Jones, C. Gilpin, M. Hopgooti, George
Taylor, *B. C. Lambe, *J. C. E:imiston, W. F. Ross. It
is expected that ti.e two last-named gentlemen will re.
sign in favour of Mr. Lambe.
BREAD STREET WARD, RETURNS EIGHT MEMBERS.
—The following gentlemen were returned:—Masers, T.
Carney (deputy), B. W. Jepp, C. Wharton, T. W.
Foster, F. Gadsden, S. Baker, Henry Brown, *J.. Hum-
phrey. The latter W 53 elected in the room of Mr. Mar•
riott deceased.

As the subject will again be broached early in the
next session of Parliament, it is desirable to refer to
the Report, and also to lay before the public such
parts of the evidence as hear the most pointedly on
the question at issue. The friends of the anxiously
expectant petitioners, together with the petitioners
themselves, will now redouble their exertions, under
a confident hope that their labours will speedily be
crowned with success.

COLEMAN-STREET WARD RETURNS EIGHT MEM-
BERs.—Mr. Allen, the late deputy of the ward, resigned,
and the following gentlemen %ere proposed:—Messrs.
Hale, Johnson, Bracher, Davis, Perkins, Webster,
*Valance, and Carson.

The Commissioners commence their First Report
by directing attention to the question of marriages
within the prohibited degrees of affinity, and to the
law affecting such marriages. They then proceed to
observe—

"That they do not conceive it necessary, in discharge
of the duty entrusted to them, to attempt to enter into
any examination of the law or practice, in respect to
such marriages in the early ages of Christianity. In
reference to this it may be sufficient to state, that for
several centuries marriages within certain degrees of
affinity were prohibited by the Church, but that by the
authority of the Pope dispensations were granted,
though to what extent and in what cases we do not in-
quire. In England we apprehend that this was the
state of the law up to the time of King Henry VIII.,
and marriages within the present prohibited degrees of
affinity were null and void, unless dispensations had been
first obtained."

" The question, whether marriages within the present
prohibited degrees of affinity were permitted by the law
of God, was the subject of much discussion when King
Henry VIII. sought to be relieved from his marriage
with Queen Katharine. This marriage was pronounced
null and void by Archbishop Crunmer. From that
period the Ecclesiastical Courts dealt with these mar-
ut first by pronouncing them null and void, not-
withstanding one or both of the parties might be dead
when the suit was sought to be commenced. But in the
time of James I. the courts of common law interfered,
and prohibited the spiritual courts from prccecding to
pronout,ce them bull and void after the death of one of
the parties. Hecce all these marriages came to be calltd
voidable marriages, iu contradistinction to those which
were void, as in the case of a marriage where there
was a first husband or wife living at the time of the
second marriage ; or where one of the parties was a
lunatic at the time of celebrating a marriage. Mar-
riages, therefore, within the prohibited degrees were
only voidable; and if they were not pronounced null and
void by the competent ecclesiastical tribunals during the
lives of both parties, their validity could not be after-
wards qnestioned, nor the legitimacy of the children be
impeached."

This state of the law continued unaltered in Eng-
land until the year 1835, when the statute 5 and 6
William IV., chap. 54 (commonly called Lord Lynd-
burst's Act) passed. The effect of that statute was to
prohibit the Ecclesiastical Courts from entertaining any
suit for the purpose of pronouncing null and void mar-
riages within the prohibited degrees of affinity, celebrated
before the passing of the Act; and all such marriages
celebrated after the passing of the Aat were declared by
it to be null and void."

The Commissioners proceed to observe—
" That they find from a mass'of evidence, that mar-
riages of this kind are permitted by dispensation or
otherwise in nearly all the continental states of Eurepe."
In some cases in the Roman Catholic Church they
are prohibited as matter of discipline, but such pro-
hibition may be and is dispensed with by the Pope ;
and upon this principle—" that the Church, and not
the law of God, has imposed the prohibition, and
therefore that the Church for fitting reasons may dis-
pense with it.''

CRIPPLEGATE WARD WITIIOET RETURNS EIGHT
AIEMBERS.—The following gentlemen were proposed,
viz., Messrs. R. E. Jones, W. Kit g, John Johnson, W.
Reed, *Ceehty, *Cuthbert, *E)ke. Mr. Richard Baker
was re-elected ward beadle.

- Regarding the law on this subject in the United
States of America, it cannot be better illustrated than
by quoting the following passage from the late Mr.
Justice Story :
"In many, and indeed in most of the American States,
marriages between a man and the sister of his former
deceased wife are not only decreed in a civil sense law-
I ul, but are deemed in a moral, religious, and Christian
setae lawful, and exceedingly praiseworthy. In some
few of the States the English rule is adopted. Nothing
is more common in almost all the States of America than
second marriages of this sort; and so far from being
doubtful as to their moral tendency, they are in America
deemed the very best sort of marriages. In my whole
life (says the late Judge), I never heard the slightest
suggestion against them, founded on moral or domestic
considerations."

QUESNHITHE WARD RETURNS SIX MENBERS.—Late
members resigned. The following gentlemen were
elected, viz , Messrs. Goss (deputy), Tyler, Rose, Rath-
bone, •APDougall, and Acock.
WALBROOX WARD RETURNS SIX MEMBERS.—The
following members were returnLd, viz., Messrs. T. Wet
kins (deputy), F. Hale, D. W. Wire, Ed wd. Conder, W.
Dawson, Thus Rowley. Robert Butt, ward beadle.
WARD OF CRIPPLEGATE WITHIN RETURNS EIGHT
MEMBERS.—The following were elected, viz, Messrs.
Frost, Smiih (eb put)), Dewey, Bannock, Briiss, Houle,
Brown, and Lest.

Such, then, is a brief history of the prohibitions
attached by human authority to marriage with a de-
ceased wife's sister. It will be observed that the
church which was the first to institute them, and
which still maintains them over great part of Europe,
claims no Divine authority for its command, but
gives it as a matter of discipline only, voidable by a
dispensation from the Pope, or where, from distance,
resort could not be had to Rome, then by others em-
powered by him to hear the " fitting reasons."

MUNITICENT DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS.—About
two years ago William Long, Esq., of Queen-street,
Cheapside, transferred to the trustees of the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts the
sums of 19,4001. in the Three per Cent. Consols, 10,8001.
in the Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., and 3,0001.
Bank Stock, subject to the life interest of imself and of
Mrs. Fowler, his sister, and to certain life annuitants
for small sums, amounting altogether to about 1501.
Mrs. Long and Mrs. Fowler both departed this life in
the month of January last, and sufficient to cover the
small annuities having been retained in hand, the so-
ciety, therefore, has come into possession of Mr. Long's
munificent donation, which, at the present prices of the
stocks noted, will amount to upwards of 30,0001. In
addition to this splendid donation, Mrs. Fowler, by her
will, bequeathed the sum of 550/. to the same society;
to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
550/.; to the School for the Indigent Blind. 5501.; to the
City of London National School, 5501.; and to the Home
Missionary Society, 550 L

DONVGATE WARD RETURNS SIX METIDERS.—The fol-
lowing genti, wen were eiceted :—Messrs. John Brown, J.
C. Yritir, Thames White, Henry Kk:bbel, George Hat ker,
and W. H. l‘lui timer. Juhu Brown, Esq , was then
chosen deputy 01 the ward, and G. H. Wrigglesworth
re• elected ward beadle.

BREAD•STREET WARD..--A meeting took place in
this ward e,n Wednesday last, for the purpose of paying
a well merited tribute of respect to Thomas Corney,
Esq., for his long and valuable services to the ward as
its deputy aLd treasurer of its schools. The inhabitants
have caund his portrait to be taken by J. P. Knight,
E q., R A. (who has produced an admirable likeness),
and it is now placed in the board-room of the school-
house, London-wall, where it was exhibited on Wednes-
day in the presence of Mr. Alderman Musgrove and a
few friends assembled in honour of the occasion. The
children of the schools (80 in number) were admitted,
and after wards partook of a substantial dinner provided
for them in the board-room. The worthy alderman, in
an excellent speech, passed a well-deserved encomium
on the integrity and character of Mr. Deputy Corney,
.nd then addressed the children, pointing out the ad-
vantage of the education they were receiving, and wl,ich,
aided by indu,try and perseverance, might place them in
elevated positions.

PORTSOKEN WARD RETURNS EIGHT MEHRERS.--A
wardinote was held at tha Three Nuns Inn, High-street,
Aldgate, for the purpose of selecting common council-
men, and other ward officers for the ensuing year. and
also to discus, other matters relative to the ward; F. W.
uldorint.n, in the chair. The precept from
t',, Lord Ma) or having bten read, a discussion ensued
r-lative tv tho sanitary condition of the ward—an im-
provtd and increased supply of pure water, in place of
the filthy liquid, teeming with organic matter, which
is very insufficient to supply the domestic wants of

THE FOUNDERS OF RAGGED
SCHOOLS.

-
dente of my pupils, ar,d to attach them to me; this
main point once atta'aled, all the rest appeared to me
easy. The deserted state in which I tuund myself,
all painful as it was, and the absolute want of assist-
ance,.were precisely what contributed the most to the
success of my entcrprise. Cut off from the rest of
mankind, I turnA all my cares and all my affections
to the children ; to me they were indebted for ail
• the relief they received. I partook alike of their
pains and their pleasures ; I was everywhere with
them when they were well, and when they were
sick, I was constantly at their bedside. We had the
same nourishment, and I slept in the midst of them;
and from my bed either prayed with them, or taught
them something."
Extraordinary success attended the labours of
Pestalozzi at Stantz ; but these were rudely interrupted
by the troubles of the times, and he then removed to
Buigdorl, in the Canton of Berne, where he founded
another school, which was equally successful with the
former. But this too was broken up by the revolu-
tion of the period ; and still persevering, he founde4
again a poor-school in the country, sonic five miles
from Berne, where he was joined by Fefienberg„ and
• again he succeeded in attracting around him a large
number ofpupils, and bringing them to en extraordinary
pitch of improvement. Shortly after he removed to a
place called the Castle of Yverdon, where he founded
tin academy for the education of all classes. His
plans by this time attracted great notice from the
leading minds of all countries ; numerous schools
were founded throughout Germany and England on
his plan ; and the leading features of his system are
now adopted in all the best schools in this and other
countries.

(From Eliza Gook's Journal.)
Every man has his own special work set for him to
do in the world, if he will but do it. No one can
justiiy himself in sitting down with his hands folded
end doing nothing, because of his fancied insigni-
ficance. Each is in possession of his own distinct
in..),ividuality; and he has the power within himself,
to a large extent, of developing his own nature. and
of acting upon the beings around him, beneficially or
otherwise. He is a part, and a necessary part of
society ; and fills a place in it, which would be in-
complete without him. As are his capabilities of do-
ing, so are his obligations to do. He has his work
appointed, which he must perform, if he would
fulfil the end of his being, and glorify the creation
of which he is a part. In God's works nothing is
superfluous; each individual atom is necessary, is in-
dispensable, to the integrity of the whole. Let a
man, therefore, he true to himself, cultivate his best
instincts, rely upon his own efforts, and labour with
a will and a purpose, and the humblest is certain to
find a place ready for him in the world, in which he
will be a useful, honoured, and worthy labourer, in-
fluencing beneficially, not only his own time but all
time coming.
Who would have expected to discover the founder
of English Ragged Schools in the person of a poor
cripple cobbler of Portsmouth ? one, apparently, the
meanest of human brings, labouring in the most
humble vocation, in a dingy little weather boarded
workshop, in one of the poorest streets of his native
town, poor and uneducated, yet with true and noble
impulses ; for such was John Pounds—his life afford-
ing only another iltustration of the fact, that it is
not wealth, nor honour, nor birth, nor even high in-
tellect, which determines a man's beneficial influence
in the world, so much as his moral purpose, the true-
ness of his aims, and the diligence with which he
labours at the work he has undertaken to do.
The life of John Pounds contains no striking in-
cidents ; spent as it was at his cobbler's stool, at work
amongst his little ragged children. He was the son
of poor parents, his father being a workman in the
Portsmouth Dockyard. At fifteen, he met with an
accident whith crippled him for life, and he was
put to the trade of a cobbler. When he carried on
business upon his own account, he lived for the
most part in a small boarded tenement in St. Mary-
street, Portsmouth, his workshop measuring about six
feet by eighteen; and here he might be seen, day
after day, seated on his stool, mending shoes, and
administering his humble instructions to the crowd of
ragged children clustered around him, filling his little
stall to the very door. Indeed the candidates for
admission to John Pounds' shop were always very
numerous, more than could be admitted ; and conse-
quently he had to make a selection, generally choos-
ing the poorest and worst among them—" the little
bl..ckguards," as he called them. When, in the
course of his strolls about the streets, he chanced to
meet with some one more destitute or profligate
than ordinary, he would use all his efforts with
such a one to induce him to come to his school.
He would follow him to the quay, and hold out the
bribe of a " nice roasted potato" to tempt him ; and
if he succeeded, was not John Ponnds then a more
than usually happy man
This humane and generous-hearted individual was
first induced to set up his " Free School" by a happy
kind of accident of Providence. In early life he
adopted a young nephew of his own, whom he
thought he could educate better with a companion,
so he enlisted in his service the son of a neighbour-
poor woman. Another and another poor child was
added, until John found himself engaged in a great
work, though perhaps he knew it not. It was the
duty and the work nearest to him, and he did it.
Here was the true life of the man. Doubtless there
are free schools, so called, in Portsmouth, as there
are in nearly all our great towns—schools
formed by the pious benevolence of good
men and women of past times, intended
by them to teach poor children ; but, perverted from
the will of their founders, and grown rich, they are
now little better than so many useles3 institutions, to
furnish fat livings for idle " learned" men, while the
children of the poor may go untaught and untrained,
but for the active and truly Christian heroism of
such men as John Pounds. We know of many such
rich and useless "Free Schools,"—useless so far as
the children of the poor are concerned, in many large
towns that we could name; and we are not aware of
any more urgent duty at the present time on the part
of our public men, than that of restoring the megni-
cent funds of the Free Grammar Schools of England
to the purposes for which they were originally de-
signed by their benevolent donors, namely, the free
education of the children of the English people.
To return to John Pounds :—He established his
nephew comfortably in the world, out of his slender
means, and went on adding to his school until it
became famous Many a poor child did he rescue
from vice, and educate into usefulness. He watched
with anxious interest the progress of his pupils in
life, and helped them when he could. Many useful
and industrious citizens, who otherwise might have
been outcasts and beggars, does England owe to this
humble man. He was a parent to the destitute ; be
was the father who bound them to society. His
labours at his stool earned him bread enough for his
wants ; but his labours on the minds and hearts of
his little pupils—that was the great work of his life,
the value of which can scarcely be overestimated.
Besides " book learning" and industrial habits,
John Pounds taught his poor little children humanity,
and implanted in them a love of natural objects. Ile
was fond of all kinds of birds and domestic animals,
singing-birds, jays, parrots, cats, and guinea pigs;
and he might sometimes be seen at work in the midst
of his pupils, with a canary perched on one shoulder
and a cat on the other. His was a happy family on a
large scale, and to him might not inappropriately be
applied the beautiful lines of Coleridge—
" He prayeth well, who loveth well
All things both great and small;
He prayeth best, who loveth best
Both man; and bird, and beast;
Fur the dear God, who loveth us,
He made and loveth all."
It may be imagined what sorrow of young hearts,
what weeping and shedding of tears, there was at the
death of this truly good man, on New Year's Day,
1839, at the age of 72. England had lost one of its
best and most useful citizens; but as for them, they
had lost a father, friend, and playfellow, all in one.
" Were we," says Mr. Guthrie, in his Second Plea
for Ragged Schools, "to make a pilgrimage any-
where, as soon as to the lowly heath where the mar-
tyr reposes, we would direct our pilgrim steps to the
busy streets of Portsmouth, and, turning aside from
the proud array of England's floating bulwarks, we
would seek out the humble shop where John Pounds
achieved his works of mercy, and earned an im-
perishable fame. There is no poetry in his name, and
none in his profession ; but there was more than
poetry—the highest, noblest piety—in his life. Every
day within his shop he might be seen cobbling shoes,
and surrounded by some score or two of ragged ur-
chins, whom he was converting into useful members
of the State. Honour to the memory of the patriot
cobbler, beneath whose leathern apron there beat the
kindest heart—there glowed a bosom fired with the
noblest ambition, and who, without fee from scholar,
or reward from man, while he toiled for his hard-
earned bread with the sweat of his brow, educated
not fewer than five hundred outcasts before they
laid him in the lowly grave! Honour, we
say again, to the memory of this illustrious
patriot! Nor is there in all the world any
sight we would have travelled so far or so soon to
see, as that self-same man, when he followed some
ragged boy along the quays of Portsmouth, keeping
his kind keen eye upon him, and tempting the young
savage to his school with the bribe of a smoking
potato. Princes and peers, judges and divines,
might have stood uncovered in his presence, and now
marble monuments might be removed from the
venerable walls of Westminster—poets, warriors,
and statesmen, might give place to make room for
him."
Another founder of ragged schools, who lived
before John Pounds, and in another country—of
whom, perhaps, John Pounds never heard—was
the benevolent Pestalozzi. He began his labours
towards the close of last century, devoting
his whole time and means to the instruc-
tion and elevation of the poor. The idea which took
possession of his mind, and strongly influenced his
conduct throughout life, was that of the brotherhood
of man ; and that the great obstacle to the elevation
of the For was their ignorance. He therefore sought
to elevate their independence by increasing their
knowledge; and by placing them on a level, as re-
garded their intelligence, with the more affluent
classes, he thus looked to education as the best means
of realizing the great Christian maxim of human
brotherhood. Assisted by his devoted wife, he invited
poor, and even beggar-children, to his home, for the
purposes of instruction. His efforts were treated by
his neighbours, and by the world, as utterly absurd,
and even insane. Yet he persevered, through misfor-
tune, loss of means, ridicule, and opposition of all
kinds. In the midst of the turmoils of revolution and
war, this true hero held to his purpose, and went on
educating. He was in advance of his age, and the
world was yet to come up with him, and acknowledge
the wisdom and benevolence of his plans. Ihe
local Government of the Canton of Unterwalden at
length recognized his efforts, and placed him at the
head of a school at Stantz. Here he laboured
with immense success, almost compelling the pupils
to love and admire him, so devoted was he to their
happiness and their interests. No materials could
have been Jess favourable than those committed to his
care—children whose minds had been corrupted by
the habits of begging and stealing, to which the
miserable necessities of the times had driven them.
But how could children, no matter how vitiated by
habit, resist such methods as those which Pestalozzi
employed ?
" My first task," says he, " was to gain the confi-

Such were the first founders of Ragged Schools—
among the most valuable and beneficent institutions
of modern times. To found a Ragged School is a
greater work than to found a College ; for the rich
are never without the means of an adequate educa-
tion; but the poor—how are they to be educated,
unless by some such instrumentality as that above
described ? and, without education, what can the poor
ever continue, but miserable and degraded ? To pro.
perly and efficiently educate the poor—such is the
greatest problem for the solution of our age ; and to
accomplish this work, to some extent, is the glorious
mission of the Teacher in Ragged Schools.