The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-24 00:00:00

secular knowledge was good in itself?— (Cheers.)
Where was our boasted superiority over Frenchmen,
Germans, Danes, and Italians, when the American
Minister could come to our Town-hall and taunt us
with the ignorance of our people, no one daring to
rise up and say we bad done as much as they had in
America? He agreed with Mr. Lawrence that
there was danger in such a state of things, and that
not a day should be lost till it was remedied. The
Hon. Gentleman advised the association to pursue its
own course steadily, showing no opposition to any-
body, but inviting the concurrence of every one; and
if he could be of service on any deputation, even to
the new body who bad come forward in this town,
to aid in removing any difficulties to unity of effort,
he should be most happy to give his services. He sat
down amid great cheering.
Mr. AlimsEa GIBBON afterwards addressed the
meeting in seconding the resolution, and it was car-
ried unanimously.

Se.veral other speakers also followed in proposing
and seconding routine resolutions.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED
WIFE'S SISTER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sia,—There is an account in your admirable paper
of the 17th inst., of a meeting of the inhabitants of
Birmingham in the Town hall of that important
town, to consider of the propriety of again petitioning
Parliament for the abolition of the law which prohibits
a widower from marrying the sister of his deceased
wife; there was a considerable attendance of ladies
" The Mayor occupied the chair, and was supported by
the Rev. J. C. Miller, Rector of St. Martin's, the
Rev. J. B. Owen, Vicar of Bilston, R. Spooner, Esq.,
M.P., the Jewish Rabbi, resident in Birmingham,
and Dissenting ministers, representing various con-
gregations of the town and neighbourhood. Letters
were read from Mr. Scholefield, M.P., Mr. Muntz,
M.P., and the Rev. J. A. James (Nonconformist),
expressive of their concurrence in the object of the '
meeting, but regretting their inability to attend. The
Rev. J. C. Miller and the Rev. J. B. Owen moved and
seconded the adoption of a petition to Parliament,
praying for the legislation of the marriages of the class
above mentioned. The Rev. Prebendary Gray, warden of
Queen's College, moved an amendment to the effect—
'That no petition upon the subject under discussion
be presented to Parliament; that the marriage of a
man with his deceased wife's sister was especially
prohibited by Scripture, by the practice of the uni-
versal Church, and by the opinions of divines and
theologians of all ages until a very recent period.'
The Rev. Mr. Mackenzie, of the Scotch Church, se-
conded the amendment. Mr. Spooner, M.P., sup-
ported the petition, and the Rev. J. C. iller having
replied, the Mayor proceeded to take the sense of the
meeting. A very inconsiderable number (if hands
were held up in favour of the amendment, and the
original motion was carried almost unanimously, and
amidst great applause."
• With your permission, Sir, I feel a burning desire
to speak a few words to the Reverend Prebendary
Gray, warden of Queen's College, and to the Reverend
Mr. Mackenzie, of the Scotch Church, the mover and
seconder of the amendment.

You say, most reverend gentlemen, " that the
marriage with a deceased wife's sister was especially
prohibited by Scripture,—by the practice of the uni-
versal Church,—and by the opinions of divines and
theologians of all ages until a very recent, period '."
to the whole of which assertions I very respectfully
beg leave to dissent, and to answer that yon do not
assert the truth.

Jolhnn Bththe
chapter g
and
d
tieoyiul;offi; and
a yhooumteolygilvaen
verse which especially prohibits such marriages.
Let us have no shuffling, gentlemen, but speak out
language
ge
the of
like honest men. I have read my Bible as thoroughly
and attentively as you have; and Ido not find the sub-
ject alluded to anywhere, but in the 18th chapter of
Leviticus, and the 18th verse, and that applies only to
the wife during her lifetime,—" Neither shalt thou
take a wife to her sister, to vex her, during her life-
time ! " Now, most Reverend Prebendary, Warden
of Queen's College, and you also, most Reverend Mr.
Mackenzie, of the Scotch Church,t rsubmit that you
are bound to prove the authority you speak of, or, if
you cannot do so, then common decency ought to
compel you for ever afterwards to bold your peace !
What do you mean by " the practice of the uni-
versal Church, and by the opinions of divines and
theologians of all ages ?" I suppose you mean by
" the universal Church" the Roman Catholic Church ;
and there you are wrong, for in that Church the pro-
hibition was removed by procuring a dispensation,
which was granted on payment of so much money,
which varied in amount according to the wealth of
the party, and the "divines and theologians" of all
ages, until a very recent "period," which means the
canons of the Romish Church. You might as well, I
think, gentlemen, at this enlightened period, preach
to the winds of heaven as to expect\ making converts
for re-introducing the opinions of "divines and theo-
logians of the dark ages' again amongst us.
It is now well known that the virulent and un-
heard-of opposition to the new Marriage Bill, both in
1849 and 1850, was headed by the Puseyites at Ox-
ford.
Their wings are, however, in 1851, a little
clipped, and few people will now attend to them ; and
as to the members of the Kirk of Scotland, base and
unnatural descendants of the pious and brave Cove-
nanters of old—bah! it is an abomination.

I am, Sir, yours, ice.,
Regezit's•park, Jan. 20, 1851. ALFRED.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, JAN. 23.
The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
took their usual early morning walks.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise
,a the grounds around the Castle.

Her Majesty rode out on horseback this morning,
accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Albert.
The Hon. Miss Seymour (Maid of Honour in Wait-
ing), Major-General Wemyss, and Lieutenant-Colo-
nel F. H. Seymour were in attendance on the Queen
and Prince.

His Excellency the Baron and the Baroness de
Brunnow, the Earl and Countess of Minto and Lady
C. Elliot, the Marquis and Marchioness of Worcester,
Lord and Lady Ashburton, and the Right Honour-
able Fox Mauls are, expected to arrive at the Castle
to-day, on a visit to her Majesty and the Prince.
The Royal dinner party, at the Castle this evening
will include her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent, the Baron:and Baroness de Brunnow, Lady
Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Earl and
Countess of Minto and Lady C. Elliott, the Marquis
and Marchioness of Worcester, the Earl and Countess
of Hardwicke, Lord and Lady Ashburton, the Right
Hon. Fox Maule, and Colonel Wilde.
The band of the Coldstream Guards will attend
during dinner. The Queen's private band will after-
wards attend in the Castle.

Her Majesty's private band attended yesterday
(Wednesday) in the Castle, and performed the follow-
ing selections:—
Overture—"Muletier" ..... .. ilerold.
Selection—" Fidelio"
Des deutschen Vaterlands
Fantasia on Welsh airs.

The Governor of the Bank of England, and the
Deputy Governor, had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday.
Mr. W. H. Lindsay had an interview with the
Right lion. Henry Labouchere yesterday at the office
of the Beard of Trade.

The Rev. Daniel Wilson had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday, at the Home•ffice.
The Transatlantic Packet Station Commission held
a meeting yesterday, at the Board of Trade. Present,
Earl Granville (Chairman), Hon. William Cowper,
Sir James Gordon, K.C.8., Sir John F. Burgoyne,
K.C.8., and Captain Stephenson Ellerby. Lord
Hobart (Secretary to the Commission) attended.
The Marquis of Lansdowne (Lord President) left
town yesterday, for his seat, Bowood Park, Wilts.
Mr. Green and Mr. Wood, Commissioners of Coal
Whippers, and Mr. Tyrrell, City Remembrancer, had
en interview with the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere
yesterday.
Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, had an interview with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer on Wednesday. The Hon. Col.
Anson had an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet
yesterday.

Faith, Hope, and Charity, or Love, are three such
inseparables that they have been likened to a plant, Faith
being the root, Hope the upward rising stem, and Love the
bright and glowing fruit. —Eliza Cook's Journal.
CAUTION TO GAMBLERS —Some excitement was
caused in Stourbridge on Friday evening last, Irons the cir-
cumstance of a man having killed another at a beer-house in
the immediate neighbourhood of the theatre, while in the act
of gambling. It appears that Elisha Loveridge, stated to
belong to the gipsy tribe, and a man named John Clark, with
others, were at a beer-house situate close to the theatre, kept
by Jeremiah Knowles, where they had been drinking for
some time, and where Clark and Loveridge were playing at
a game called " Railway Bell," when some words ensued
about some money which Loveridge said Clark had lost. On
asking Clark for the money, the latter remarked that he had
not got it to give him, upon which Loveridge rejoined, "If
you don't pay, I'll knoi k your neck out," and immediately
struck him a violent blow with his fist on the neck, which
felled him to the floor. The poor man was quickly disco-
vered to be severely injured. He was unable to rise, but Wag
heard to exclaim, "Oh, 'Lijah, don't strike me egal%
Medical aid was sent for, but the poor man expire,elsicnap ac, out
le
minutes. Loveridge directly afterwards made his
of the beer-house, when a diligent pursuit Was instituted,
but as yet without success. The deceased
.. On Monday
ed was a glass-
cutter, and has left a wife and a largeteam ]:sq., and a jury,
an inquest was held before Ralph Doc
kr, l
.0 es•
at the Talbot hotel, and was adjourned till Friday.—
ter Chronicle.
A HINT TO QUICK KirEas.—Locke says that
the faster a man writes the slower others read what he has
written. Napoleon could write fourteen pages in a minute;
unfortunately, however, each page consists of eight blots and
a splatter.
Some of hie lines to Maria Louisa appear to
have been scattered over tue paper by an explosion of a
bombshell, they are so knocked into cocked hats and mashed
cockroaches.