The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-20 00:00:00

INDIA.

The Earl of ALBEMARLE moved for the appoint-
ment of a select committee to examine into the adminis-
tration of the Indian empire. The noble earl supported
his motion by some prolonged comments upon the
anomalous conditions and injurious results with which
the existing government of India was now carried on.
Earl GRANVILLE opposed the motion, which, after
some further remarks from the Earl of Ellenborougb,
was negatived v. ithout a division.
MARRIAGE LAW AMENDING BILL.
Lord BROUGHAM, in moving that their lordships
go into committee on this bill, explained that he pro-
posed to strike out the two clauses relating to divorce
and legitimacy. Tile one simple object, therefore, of the
bill would be, not to alter the marriage law of Scotland
at all, but to give protection to the marriage law in
England, by preventing the gross and scandalous
evasions of it which the conflict of the two laws occa-
sioned. According to returns that had been supplied
to him, it appeared that last year no less than 747
border marriages took place, while he had seen a state-
ment signed by 19 reverend clergymen of various sects
officiating at Berwick-on-Tweed, in which it was declared
that the moral taint created there was such that it was
impossible to credit the degree of bigamy, seduction,
and bastardy that prevailed in these border towns.
(Hear, hear.) This hill he hoped, however, would go
far to remedy the evil, while it would disturb the law
of neither country • and he trusted their lordships would
experience no difficulty in passing it. (Cheers.)
Lord CAMPBELL admitted that the system of
border marriages was scandalously demoralising to
society, but at the same time he very much doubted
whether this bill would remedy the evil. It simply
provided that before a marriage could be solemnised in
Scotland there should be.the condition precedent of a
three weeks' domicile. Now it was difficult enough
under the existing law to establish the legality of a
marriage, and this question of residence would only
tend to increase the difficulty. Strictly speaking, none
but a minister of the Established Church of Scotland
could, according to ecclesiastical law, celebrate a mar-
riage, but the whole question of the marriage law
of Scotland was involved in so much doubt and un-
certainty that he very much feared this bill would
have the effect of increasing rather than modifying the
evil it aimed at meeting. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN had no -wish to see the
marriage law of Scotland disturbed, nor did he desire
that it should be allowed to invade that of England, but
he thought that something ought to be done to correct
the evils of the border system. Now, in his opinion,
this bill was highly calculated to reduce the evil com-
plained ef, and in its amended form he should be quite
ready to support it. With regard to what had just fallen
from the noble and learned lord, it was wrong to sup-
pose that none but members of the Established Church of
Scotland could solemnise marriages, because provided
the banns were regularly published clergymen of any
denomination could perform the marriage service with-
out being at all amenable to the ecclesiastical law. (Hear.)
After a few words of reply from Lord BROUGHAU, the
bill was passed through committee and reported to the
house, with amendments.
The Procedure Before Justice (Scotland) Bill and the
Bankers Composition Bill were read a second time and
ordered to be committed.
Their lordships then aljourned at a quarter to seven
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTMDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
The following hills were read a third time and passed :
—Antrim and Coleraine Roads; Banbridge Junction
Railway ; Dewsbury, Batley, and Redmond wicke
Water ; Eastern Union Railway ; Glasgow Court
Houses and Offices, and the Glasgow Paving.
SLIGO ELECTION COMMITTEE.
The members elected to serve on the Sligo Election
Committee were called to the table and sworn:
MILITARY BANDS IN THE PARKS.
In answer to a question from Mr. OTWAY,
Sir B. HALL said that a few days since he received
orders to discontinue the playing of the bands in the
parks on Sunday, and that was all he knew of it.
Lord PALMERSTON said he received last week
a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury, containing
reasons why it Tlas desirable the playing of the bands in
.the parks should cease. He replied that he concurred
in the arrangements made for the playing of the bands
in the parks, and that his opinion was, and is, that it
afforded innocent recreation and amusement to the
inhabitants of the metropolis—(hear)—but finding the
opinion of the head of the Church and that of others
was against it, he was led to ask himself whether the ad-
vantages to be derived from it would compensate for the
evil of6running contrary to the religious feelings of so large
a number of the people of this country, and he was bound
to believe it would not, and therefore be gave orders for
the discontinuance of the bands playing on Sundays.

(Hear.)
Mr. OTWAY gave notice that on the first opportu-
nity on the house going into supply he should, move for
copies of the correspondence alluded to.
THE DEFENCE OF KARS.

In reply to a question from Mr. OLIVEIRA,
Lord PALMERSTON said that, with regard to
granting pensions to those offizers who defended Kars
with General Williams, there was no precedent for ex-
tending such marks of distinction to them.
ASSAULT ON MISS ARCHER.
In reply to a question fro* Mr. PEACOCKE, relative
to the assault on Miss Archer, on the day of the pro-
clamation of the peace, by a policeman of the D
Sir G. GREY said that every inquiry had been made,
and every facility given to Mies Archer to identify the
policeman, but she had not been able to do so.
THE PARKS AND THE BANDS.
Mr. ROEBUCK asked the Prime Minister if it was
true that a deputation of the Scotch members had
waited on him with reference to the discontinuance of
the playing of the bands on Sundays ? (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON said that no such deputation
had waited on him. (Hear, hear.)
Major REED asked if the order for discontinuing
the playing of the bands on Sundays would extend to
garrison towns ? -
Lord PALMERSTON said it related only to the
playing of the bands in the parks on Sundays.
THE FIREWORKS.
In answer to a question from Mr. LINDSAY,
Lord PALMERSTON said the fireworks would com-
mence as soon as the "light and darkness" would per-
mit—about 9 o'clock. With regard to the illumination
that was only a private matter, resting entirely with in-
dividuals.

WAYS AND MEANS. —THE BUDGET.
The house having resolved itself into a Committee of
Ways and Means, Mr. FITZROY in the chair,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and
said—lt will be in the recollection of the committee that,
in a previous statement which I made in a committee of
ways and means towards the end of February last, I stated
the difference that existed between the estimates of re-
venue and expenditure which I made last year and the
amount as realised in actual receipt and actual expendi-
ture. It will not be necessary to trouble tho committee
with a repetition of the statement I then made ; and I will
content myself with stating to the committee that it
appeared that the receipts Were something less than was
anticipated, and that the expenditure was somewhat
greater than the votes of the committee of supply in the
pr,:viou,4 so;:si,)n, tkna that the reAilt, on comparing
that exo,..ss aul that defieichey, was that there would
be an estimated deficiency for the service of last year
of 3,560,000/. In order to [coyer that deficiency, I sub.