The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-24 00:00:00

1.. c. God, so far from expressly forbidding these unions,
went far to tsanction them, had been very severely
dealt with ; but what would those who attacked say
of the right reverend prelate now deceased, who
it appeared was the author of the clause in the ex-
isting law which provided that these marriages should
no longer be voidable ? He had had the honour to pre-
sent a number of petitions in favour of this bill, bearing
the signatures, amongst others, of 500 clergymen, of a
great number of municipal authorities, of men of the
highest moral principle, who would never have supported
the bill if it contained anything contrary to the law of
God ; and it had been repeatedly sent up by large ma,
jorities from the other house, which more immediately
represented the feelings of the people. As to the social
question, if he consulted his own heart he could not find
any instinctive feeling against these unions, and he also
felt bound to support the bill, as he believed the exist-
ing law was producing a large amount of moral evil, and
inflicting the grossest injustice on a large class. He also
felt bound to say that the language of some right rev.
prelates that evening Lad been most injud cious and un-
- _ _

wise.
The Bishop of LINCOLN wished to correct an im,
pression which seemed to prevail as to what took place
when the present law passed. It was first proposed
to enact that these marriages should be declared valid
if not voided within two years. The right rev. prelate
now deceased objected to give even such a legislative
sanction to these unions ; but when a clause declaring
them absolutely void for the future was introduced,
he assented to the rest of the bill confirming all past
marriages which had not been voided. He had
heard the declaration of his right rev. friend in favour of
these marriages with surprise and sorrow, although he
could not but respect his boldness in expressing his oPi-
nione. From his experience he did not think there was
much feeling in favour of this bill. It was easy to get up
petitions, and even the constant agitation of the question
bad a tendency to lower the standard of moral feeling.
The opinion of the women of Eo gland was decidedly
against it, and in their name he implored their lordships
not to assent to the second reading.

Their lordships then divided—
Contents
Non contents
The bill was consequently lost.
The Police (Scotland) Act Amendment Bill and the
Lunatics (Seotland) Act Amendment Bill passed through

committee.
REFORMATORY SCHOOLS (IRELAND) BILL.
Loid MONTEAGLE moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to extend to Ireland the
provisions as to the establishment of reformatories now
in force in this country, with some variation rendered
necessary by difference of circumstances.
The Earl of CLANCARTY opposed the bill. He ad-
mitted the importance of these institutions, but consi-
dered the subject was one which ought to be dealt with
by the Government on their own responsibility, if at all.
The Earl of DERBY said it was true that this bill
bad not been introduced into the other house on the re•

sponsibility of the Government, but by a private member.
In adopting it, however, the Government had duly con-
sidered what was the effect and purport of the measure.
His noble friend (the Earl of Clancarty) had admitted
that this was a matter of great importance ; but for some
special reason, which it was hard to understand, he
seemed to think that what was useful for the reform of
juvenile offenders in England would be quite the reverse
in Ireland. It was said there were excellent schools in
Ireland in the workhouses, and that now there would
be excellent schools in the reformatories, and that
there would be a tendency in the poor to instigate
their chiliren to crime for the sake of an education which
they could not otherwise obtain. But the fact was that
Ireland was exceedingly well provided with schools. It
had then been objected that these schools would be vir-
tually under the control cf the Roman Cathclic clergy ;
but at the same time it was said that 9.10.hs of the juve-
nile offenders were Roman Catholics. The ollection,
therefore, was that the clergy and the offenders whom
they were to teach would be of the same religion. It
had also been said that there was no provision for inspec-
tion, but the fact was that it was provided for by the
very first clause. He agreed that there might be an ad-
vantageous alteration wade in the clause giving an ap•
peal, but that was a matter of detail, whilst all they
wcre now discussing was the propriety of introducing
into Ireland a system which had been found to answer in
England and Scotland. Without pledging himself to every
detail of the bill he would support the second reading.
The Etrl of C UILISLE trusted that their lordships
would give a favourable reception to thin bill. He con-
sidered that Ireland in reformatory institutions for adult
criminals bad much the start of England, but at present
it was quite unfurnished with reformatory schools. He
trusted that their lordships would remedy that evil. He
had witnessed the happy results of reformatories in Eng-
land and Scotland, and ho trusted to see that system ex-
tended to Ireland.
Lard DUNGANNON thought the want of juvenile
reformatories was very severely felt in Ireland, but he re-
gretted that the matter was brought forward at so late a
period of the session. He t. bjected to some matters of
detail, but he should be exceedingly sorry to throw any
impediment in the way of this measure.
The bill was then read a second time.
RAILWAY CREAP TRAINS BILL.

The Earl of CLANCARTY objected to one clause in
this bill.
The Earl of HARDWICKE, however, explained that
it was intended to meet an evil wl ich might arise from
railway companies buying up canals, and so becoming
masters of the whole water traffic in their district:.
The bill was read a stc-...nd time.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL.
- - -

The E:irl of DERBY proposed one or two verbal al-
terations in this bill, which were agreed to, and the bill
was read a third time.
Lord WROTTESLEY moved that the 10th clause
should be restored to the form in which it stood previ-
ous to the amendment of the Earl of Shaftesbury, pro.
Tiding that the 10 years' residence in India imposed as
a qualification on nine members of the council should be
recd
After a short conversation, the amendment was nega
tived. _ _

The Earl cf DERBY moved to insert after clause 62
a proviso enabling a newly-appointed Governor-General
to exercise his powers immediately after reaching India
and before taking his seat in the council at Calcutta.
Agreed to.
Some additional amendments, for the most part of a
routine character, having been adopted,
On the question that the bill do pass.
Toe Archbishop of CANTERBURY said he hoped he
might be allowed to say a few words on a subject which
formed no part of the bill itself, and to which very little
allusion had been made in the various discussions upon
it. lie was aware that this was a bill, the object of
which was to provide the requisite machinery for the go-
vernment of India, and he had no objection to offer to
the principle-which bad been so often laid down that
India must be governed in India, and not from England.
At the same time the subject to which he had to allude
was one upon which strong conscientious convictions
were entertained by a very large part of the community,
relating as it did to the anomalous and responsible posi-
tion in which we were placed as a Christian nation ruling
over a vast population of idolaters. It could not be sup-
posed that tbose to whom he referred wished for any ac-
tive interference on the part of the government with the
religion of the Ilindoos ; that they had the least desite
that the government should either overthrow that
iwhich
they knew to be false, or establish that which they Anew
to be true. So far from that, they would think that
nothing %vice gained even by the conversion of the
whole peninsula if it were brought about by bribery
or compulsion. There was, however, a strong opinion
prevailing that the course which had hitherto been pur-
sued might safely and wisely be modified. He would
mention two or three particulars in which an alteration
was required. In the first place, he considered it most
desirable that all distinctions of caste should cease to
be recognised by the Government in the administration
of the affairs of India. In the next place, he was of
opinion that all the remaining connection betweec. the
Goeernmect and the rites and cust nes of an idolatrous
religion should be entire ly abolished, even if the object
of such connection were simply the preservation of order;
that those lands which had hitherto been employed for
idolatr U 3 purposes, and of which he believed the com-
pany had been trustees, should be made over entirely
to the natives themselve', so that this nation might be
altogether released from any participation in things
which were detectable in themselves, and scandalous to
the reputation of a Christian country. Agaie, he would
express a hope that in all the schools which ..vere under
the patronage of the Government the B.tle might be
read. Lastly, be trusted that the natives would in future
be 'Omitted to any employments for which they were
fitted. If what be bad thus suggested were done, no one
could fairly charge the Government with any active in-
terference for the propaga'ion of our religion in India.
It was poa,ibla to observe the greatest toleration for the
religion of the natives without either concealing or cora-
pram sing our own. In conclusion, be trusted that the
blessing of Alinignty God would rest upon the efforts
which were bring made far the benefit of India, and
that that vast country would not long remain one in
which falsehood prevailed over truth.
The Eerl of DERBY said that whilst of course every-
thing that could be fairly done for the promotion of
Christianity ought to be done, he must on the other
band say that it was essential to the interest-,sa p cedieinad
the wellbeing of India, it not to Government of India,
last the Gevernment should abstain, most carefully ab-
stain, from adopting any rule of conduct than that of an
indiscriminate and impartial protection of all sects,
creeds, and religons, for nothing would be more di.
erect and dangerous than by any open and ati system
of fraud or violence to attempt to convert men from their
religion. (Hear.) He hoped that he misunderstood the
most Jie, prelate v. heel he said the Government ought
not to recognise the distinction of castes. Certainly, if
tie Datives of India voluntarily entered the public ser-
vice, be did not thiek that the same punctilious defe-
r f caste should be given as had
ranee to the prejuelXee
been the case in late years ; but to say that they should
not recognise eaete at all was to sayithat they would not
recognise that which was not only _nterwoven with the
Piajudicee, but with the daily life of the people. ( ear.)
There was another subject on which he was di'poeed to
concur with the most rev. prelate. Wherever property
or land was assigned for purposes of worship he thought
that, however repugnant to their feelings those pur-
poses might be, the property should be maintained
strictly applicable to those purposes; but he thought it
desirable that, as far as possible, the Government offi-
cials should keep themselves separate from any active
interference in the management and application of the
property. (Hear, hear.) NV hen at the head of the Colo-
nial-office be acted on that principle in regard to Cey-
lon, and be hoped that, as had been the case in that
island, so with regard to India, this abstinence from any
interference in the management or control of the pro-