The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

NATIONAL FAST.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the 24th
of this month havirg, by command of her Majesty, been
fixt:d for a general fast, he begged leave to move that
the Bishop of St. Asaph (who was present) should on
that day preach before their Lordships House in West-
minster Abbey.
LAW OF MARRIAGE.

The Earl of • CLARENDON presented a petition
from some bankers, merchants, &c., of the borough of
Devonport, praying for an alteration in the law
which regulated marriages. The petitioners complained
that many irregularities had arisen from the operation
to this law, and they thought that it might be extended
to a degree that would enbrace the sister _of a deceased
wife and others us remotely connected. The Noble
Earl presented a petition to the same effect, from the
corporation of the borough. He agreed with the prayer
of both -peti:icna.
Lord CAMPBELL said that, notwithstanding the
opinion of the Noble Earl, which was entitled to great
weight, he felt himself bound to come forward and say
that he entirely disAltted from the prayer of the peti •
tion, and from the opinion expressed by the Noble Earl.
He thought that any alteration of this law would
be a great blow to domestic happiness, and he
c uld not help saying, that in his own mind, the
phrase of incest would be well applied to
a marriage between a man and the sister of his
deceased wife. It might be true enought that inconve-
niences had arisen from the operation of this law, but he
thought that even greater inconveniences would arise from
anyalteration ()fit. He entirely approved of the law brougt
in by his Noble Friend (Lord Brougham) last session.
It was a most iniseh4.vous state of the law, and he
thought the state ..f things necessitated that incestuous
marriages should be rendered null and void. He thought
that this was a great improvement in the law, and he
should certainly support its continuanc'.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUG II said that the ques-
tion really was what were the prohibited degrees.
Lord CAMPBELL—That was not the question.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH begged the Noble
Lord's pardon, for that really was a questicn which-had
excited ranch comrneet, and great doubts in the minds
of persons perfectly competent to form an opinion. If
this matter were to be discussed, they had no alternative
but to go to Scripture : for, if the Noble Lord were to
state all his reasons for opposing the repeal of the law;
and if others were to. do the same for carrying such a
measure, the debate would last till midnight; and it was
a matter on which even lawyers d-ffered.
Lord CAMPBELL said that there was not a lawyer
in the kinedem aho doubted that it was necessary to

make laws within the prohibited degrees null and void.
Lord BROW-LAU entirely agreed with his Noble
Friend that this was a most important question, and he
was quite ready to allow. that, in one part of the Act, a
sufficient distinction had not been drawn to show

the objects of the Act. The promoters had cer-
tainly no desire to interfere with the marriage
of relations, but only to prevent those between certain
degrees of affinity, and, it was certainly very desirable
that the question of the marriage - law sitould be
settled, as in its present state of uncertainty it WRS
productive of great mischief. The marriage between first
cousins was prohibited by the canon-law, although not
prohibited by our law. The marriage between an
uncle and niece was also prohibited by the canon-
law, but the Pope could, and frequently did, grant
,nsatioes for such marriages, and taking the
usual principle that "per legem loci contractus," the
law of the place justified and confirmed the
controct, he did not see how the Marriage of
a man with the rizter •of a deceased wife, when cele-
brated abroad, could be dissolved in this country. At
any rate it was very desirable to settle the law with
respect to marriage.
The subject then droped.
The Earl of CLARENDON moved the second read•
ing of the fo:lowing Bills
Fairs and Markets Clauses Bill.
Gas Works Clauses Bill.
Water,lWork4 Cluses Bill.
Commissiot.ers Clauses Bill.
The Duke, of RICHMOND said he had several times
been in Committets upon utv,ppo.ed waterworks Bills,
and he lilt the want of some clause to re4alated the
prices to b. charged for the water, so that the poor
should not pay more for it than the rich. Ile begged
to calfe I the attention of the Government to this con-
sideration.
The Earl of CLARENDON acknowledged that the
suggestion of the Noble Duke was well worthy of
attention.
The Bills were then read a second time, in order to be
committed tomorrow.
DRAINAGE OF LAND BILL.

On the motion of the Eerl of Clarendon this Bill was
read a first time.
Thtir Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
SECOND HEADINGS.

The following Bills were read a stcund time:—
Eastern Counties Railway (Enlargement of Stratford
stations, and Amendment of Acts).
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Act Amend-
ment and Branches.

South Devon Railway Extension and Amendment.
INCOME-TAX.

Petitions from the collectors and assessors of the
income-tax and property-tax, complaining that their
remuneration was very inadequate, and praying the
House to take sups to remedy the grievance, were pre-
sented by the following Members:—Mr. Sheppard, Mr.
Muntz, Mr. Kemble, Mr. Escott, and _Mr. Johnstone.
Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from the High
Sheriff and grand jury of the county of Sligo, praying
the House to take means to develop the resources of
Ireland, and encourage trade and agriculture.
HORSE-RACING IN IRELAND.

Dr. BOWRING pre;ented a petition from Kildare
against the impropriety of allowing the public money to
be used for the purpose of encouraging horse-racing.
LAW OF MARRIAGE.

Mr. 11. BERKELEY presented a petition from the
merchants and bankers'of the city of Bristol, stating that,
in their opinion, the present law preventing marriage
with a deceased wife's sister might be repealed. Also
another petition signed by between thirty and forty
Dissenting ministers of Bristol to the same effect.
Mr. Bit OTHERTON presented a petition against the
use of grai❑ in distilleries.