The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY.

-
The Lord Chancellor took the chair at five,o'clock, at
Which hour there was a very full attendance of peers. A
amber of ladies being also present in the side galleries.
MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WiFES

SISTER.
Lord HOUGHTON moved the second reading of the bill,the
object of which was to render valid marriage with a deceased
!lie's sister. The noble lord referred at some length to
the endeavours that had been made to procure the passing
°f a measure such as that now under consideration, and
the number of times the House of Commons had
Riven its assent to the principle of the bill. He
strongly urged their lordships to agree to the second
reading of the bill, and set at rest a matter that had
caused the greatest unhappiness to a large number of
ser Majesty's subjects. One great reason that ought to
?duce their lordships to read the bill a second time was
at the present law was quite inopportune in preventing
thesell marriages taking place. It had been said that these
unions took place but rarely ; but if that was the case, he
knew that the unhappiness that was occasioned by the
Present uncertain state of the law was the source of great
serY to thousands. He implored their lordships
‘° read the bill a second time, and thus give comfort to
conscientious men, fair fame to honest women, and peace
and happiness to many a home.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH, as an amendment, moved
that the bill be read a second time that day six months.
lie denied that the law as it now stood rested upon the
(10Ctrilles of one persuasion which the Prime
,
-inister had declared ought not to be enforced upon
th°Bo who differed from it. He denied that it was
doctrine peculiar to the . Church of England.
colt was based, as all the laws of England were, upon the
rinnon principles of Christianity, and examining into
lordships
social results that would follow, he trusted their
I°lxiships would not sanction a breach of the mar-
riage tie, in order to bring this country into har-
jaenY with the disgraceful scandals and laxity
Which prevailed in America and other countries.
11 their lordships passed this bill it would bring down the
state of morality in the country, and therefore he hoped
they would not consent to read it a second time.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, on the part of the Govern-
'tient, supported the bill.
; The Bishop of ELY opposed the bill. He believed the
;tareense majority of the women of the country objected to
'ts provisions, and he hoped their lordships would respect
their feelings. The bill dealt a death-blow at the pdrity
;41,:i sacredness of the homes of England, and if it became
"aw it would but produce discomfort. sorrow, and any-
thing but happiness.
The Earl of KIMBERLEY and the Bishop of RIPON sup-
ported the second reading. The right rev. prelate said
he could not, after the most patient consideration, come
t: the conclusion that these marriages were prohibited by
'eriPture ; on the contrary, he believed the word of God
allowed them. The right rev, prelate also read the opi-
nions of the late Dr. Dale, dean of Rochester ; Dr. Hook,
dean. of Chichester ;, Dr. Close, dean of Carlisle ; and Dr.
12tatnpney, dean of Lichfield, each of whom expressed
the strongest opinion in favour of legalising the marriage
With a deceased wife's sister.
Lord LYVEDEN said he should give his vote. against the
BecollCl reading of the bill, as he considered it a very im-
nloral one.
The Bishop of LINCOLN strongly opposed the bill.
Lord WESTBURY, in an argumentative speech, inquired
Into the religious reasons for the prohibition, which, he
contended, was one of ecclesiastical polity rather than a
Divine command, which the Church had always assumed
the Power of dispensing with, and which the Legislature,
at the dictation of Henry VIII., had at one time declared
not to,be the law of this country, and a' few years after
had asserted that it was. He then proceeded to criticise
the arguments of the Bishops of Ely and Lincoln, and
insisted that the law as it stood was based upon an
erroneous interpretation of the Scripture, continued by a
spirit of bigotry, and framed in the utter violation of the
l'erY spirit of civil and religious liberty.
The Bishop of PETERBOROUGH thanked the noble and
learned,i lord for the lecture he had given to them on
'Lindence, while he was sorry he had not illustrated in his
person and approached the subject with more learning,
t' not with fess levity. He contended that these mar-
riages of affinity were forbidden by the highest authority,
and if their lordships passed this bill they would establish
a most dangerous principle, which would, by the logic of
events and the force of men's passions, result in the abo-
lition of the tables of affinity. He opposed the second
reading of the bill, and it seemed to be one that would be
likely to produce serious domestic, evils to secure a very
doubtful gain.
After a lengthened debate, in which it was admitted by
all the speakers that the present could not be looked upon
as a Party question, their lordships divided, when there
i•PPeared—
For the second reading 73
Against it •• •

Majority against the bill 4
Their lordships adjourned at twenty minutes to twelve.

HOUSE OF COMMON S.-THURSDAY.

The Speaker took the chair at five minutes to four
o'clock.

The Sheriffs of London presented a petition from the
ford Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses.

KEW MEMBER.
Alr. GREVILLE NUGENT took the oaths and his seat for
the county of Longford.

ARMY STORES.

I\ll% MILLER asked the Secretary of State for War,
I°°l'ing to the condition of some of the Admiralty stores,
a"1 described in this house by the Secretary to the Ad
Intralty, whether any inspection of the stores for the use
of the army had been made since he came to his present
offi
ee ; and, if so, when ; and whether he had any objection
‘`) state generally the condition in which they have been
f°4ll{l; if not, whether it would not, in his opinion, be of
111Portance to follow the example of the Admiralty and
have the army stores forthwith inspected, so that their
condition might be ascertained.
Ur. CARDWELL said an inspection of the army stores
took place at regularly fixed periods. The date of the
last inspection was March 31, 1870, on which occasion the
Stores were found to be in a good condition, and fit for
mediate use. The greatest care was taken with the
Purchase of stores, and with respect to any surplus the
Precaution was taken not to press them for sale when a
'44r Price could not be realised.