The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-28 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Coax, APRIL 24, 1840.
SIR—A deep interest has been excited in the public
mind by the production of the documents that relate to
the first marriage of the Duke of Sussex, and the profes-
sional answer to the legal case, establishing, as it would
appear, the validity of that contract, has given general satis-
faction ; for on it only the claim of the children to legiti-
macy stems to rest ; as the subsequent ceremony in
England was clearly nullified by the Royal Marriage
Act, the operation of which, however, did not extend to
foreign parts.
But the case submitted for legal advice has not embraced
an objection which I have not seen urged in the discussion
of the subject, though, I apprehend, not without weight,
—lt is, that the marriage was performed at Rcme, while
the parties were minors, in 1793, when the Duke, born
in January, 1773, was only twenty, and the lady, as we
learn, not more than eighteen years old—both, conse-
quently, unqualified to marry without the consent of
their parents or guardians, in every country of Europe.
Indeed, at that time the period of legal majority on the
continent generally was twenty-five, and certainly was so
in Rome.

In this instance, however, the engagement would
have been equally invalid in England ; for we know
that the Duke's father did not pive his consent; and the
bride's mother, we are assured by his Royal Highness,
was not made acquainted with the marriage until three
months after its celebration. It was, therefore, null, not
by a special or local act, but by the universal jurisprudence
of Europe, as well as by the rational necessity of defin-
ing the competent age for entering into a contract which
is the basis of social order.

According to the then existing English law, no length
of subsequent cohabitation could impart cffic4cy to such a
marriage, as at present would be the consequence.
The solution to this objection by any of your professional
readers will oblige, Sir, Your obedient Servant,

J. R.

Madrid Papers of the 19th inst. have reached us,
but their contents arc unimportant. The Eco de
Aragon of the 21st states that CABRERA is still
at Mora del Ebro, in a state of debility, which gives
him the appearance of being more dead than alive.
No military movement had taken place of the least
moment. The Five per Cents., Active, were at
294 for cash on the Madrid Bourse on the 29th.

The illoniteur of Sunday, received along with
the other Paris Journals of the same date, Liives the
following account of the meeting of the Royal
family of France and the Princess VICTORIA,
whose nuptials with the Duke DE NEMOURS were
to be celebrated on Monday :
" This day at seven P. m., the Duchess Victoria of
Saxe Coburg Gotha, Duke Ferdinand, her father, and
her brother Prince Augustus, arrived at the Palace of St.
Cloud.
" His
there on the preceding evening. The Queen of the Bel_
Majesty the King of the Belgians had arrived
gians, owing to her advanced state of pregnancy, remains
at Brussels.
" Her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria arrived
yesterday evening at ten o'clock at the Chateau of Com-
piegne, with Prince Ferdinand, her father, and Prince
Augustus, her brother. The town was spontaneously il-
luminated, and presented the most brilliant coup ttosil.
During the entire journey the Princess had magnificent
weather, and received the most lively demonstrations of
the joy of the population. This morning her Royal High.
ness quitted Compiegne to go to St. Cloud, where she
arrived at seven, P. M., her arrival having been delayed
by the loyal testimonials on the road. She was met at
Peronne by the Duke of Nemours. The Royal Family
was all assembled, and as soon at; the Princess saw the
King, she bent her knee, but his Majesty raised her, and
embraced her affectionately. All the Ministers were pre-
sented individually to the Princess, whose modest grace
and remarkable beauty charmed every beholder.
" Prince Ferdinand of Saxe Coburg received from the
hands of the
King the Grand Cross of the Legion of
Honour.

" The young Princess, her father, and her brother, ap.,
peared quite affected and delighted at the reception given
to them by France. The King, the Queen, and his Royal
Highness the Duke of Nemours were r.o less affected at