The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF CO.MMONS--LasT EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S 2ISTER.
A number of petitions were presented in favour of
legalising the marriage with a deceased wife's sister.
CASE OP TIIE CHILD STEALING A PENNY.
In reply to Mr. SHERIFF,
Sir G. GREY said he had called upon the magistrates
who had granted the conviction for a full statement of the
case, and they had transmitted to him a letter re-
specting the case of the little girl named Barrow,
who had been committed to prison for stealing a
penny from another child by the Rev. G. R. Grey, of
Worcester. He had sent the letter ho had received from
the rev. gentleman to the Lord Chancellor, with whom
rested the removal of persons from the commission of the
peace, without stating any opinion. His lordship had
taken into consideration the reasons given by Mr. Grey,
viz., his long service, and his acting from the most con-
scientious motives; his lordship, while expressing his disap-
probation at the occurrence of such an extreme case, had,
under all the circumstances, decided, on account of the
long services and the regret expressed by the rev. gentle.
man, abstained from taking the extreme measure of reliev-
ing the rev. gentleman from his duties as a magistrate.
MARRIAGE OF A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER
BILL.

Mr. T. CHAMBERS, in moving the second reading of
this bill, said ho had undertaken the duty of bringing for-
ward this bill from a sincere desire of doing all in his
power to obtain an alteration in the law, which was looked
upon by a large number of her Majesty's subjects as ex-
tremely desirable. He felt that the motion was one entirely
separate from party considerations, yet he had seen with
regret an advertisement stating that the bill was to be
opposed by the Conservative side of the House and the
whole of the Scotch members. He had been given to
understand that that was not an accurate statement,
and had rejoiced at it, because all classes had con-
sidered this subject, and the general impression
was that the prohibition was unwise and unnecessary,
and ought to be removed. He therefore had taken the
constitutional course of coming to that house and asking
it to give its assent to the abolition of a bad law. The
house had over and over again given its sanction to

a bill having the same object as that ho had now
the honour of submitting to Parliament. Ho could not
understand how such a determined opposition was raised
to this bill in some quarters, becaus3 all the authorities
were on one side, viz., in favour of the bill; and he was
certain the hon. member who opposed him that day (Mr.
Hunt) could not put his finger on the name of any writer
of eminence who had expressed opinions contrary to the
object of the bill. The Jewish law of marriage was our
law of marriage—it was the only marriage law, and was
binding on all. If it was decided that his proposition
was against God's law, there was an end of the question—
they could not discuss it—(hear); but he and a great number

of gentlemen who agreed with him, thought it was not so
—(hear, hear)—and upon those grounds ho asked the
_ _

house to enter into the subject. The honourable and
learned gentleman then proceeded to examine the authori-
ties on the subject previous to the Reformation, and said

he could not deny that the reformers left this marriage
within the prohibited degree, but ho believed that in doing
so they made a mistake, and the general opinion of
Christendom was of the same opinion—(no, no)—the bench
of bishops he knew was of that opinion, and it being so
th• supporters of his bill were not to be pushed aside in
their endeavours to obtain an alteration in law which was
so largely demanded. He then referred to the number
of eminent persons who were favourable to the measure,
and concluded by moving the second reading of the bill.
Mr. HUNT opposed the motion, and moved as an amend-
ment that the bill be road a second time that day six
months.

Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN thought that the
state of the law as at present existing operated injuri-
ously upon society, and that its alteration would tend to
confer great and lasting benefits, and so thinking and so
believing he could come to no other conclusion than that
he ought to give a sincere and hearty support to the second
reading of the bill.

Mr. C. J. MONK thought the provisions of the bill at
variance with the best interests of society, and opposed to
those higher and purer principles of Christian morality
which were introduced under the Christian dispensation.
Entertaining these opinions, he concurred in the course
pursued by the hon. member for Northamptonshire (Mr.
Hunt), and hoped the house would pause before passing
this measure.

Sir G. GREY said he had expressed his opinions on this
subject before, and he would not now repeat them. He
thought the balance of opinion was against tho existing
law. The Act of 1835 he held to be in itself indefensible
and contrary to what Lord Lyndhurst himself proposed. He

trusted this now Parliament would settle the question, as,
owing to the present state of matters, parties were con-
tinually contracting illegal marriages in the hope that the
law would be repealed.
Sir W. HEAT 11COTE believed the great majority of
the people were in favour of the existing law, and expressed
his grief that the Secretary of State should have changed
his viows on this question. Ho understood the right
hon. gentleman to state on the last occasion that it was
before the house that this was not a subject that ought to
be continually before Parliament, that on that occasion
he would vote for the bill, but that if it was unsuccessful
he would make up his mind to support its opposers.
Mr. CHARLES BUXTON said the fact of there being
1,000,000 signatures to the petitions in favour of the bill
was sufficient to show that there was a wide-spread feeling
in favour of an alteration of the law. The real reason why
there was so much opposition was, because there was a
feeling against having the law of the land at variance
with the canons of the Church. He supported the bill on
the ground that it was an act of simple justice to carry it.
Mr. B. HOPE said the supporters of the bill could not
stop short at the point proposed. In all the Protestant
countries in Europe—England, Scotland, and Ireland ex-
cepted—marriage with one's own niece was allowable, and

if they appealed to these countries, they could not help
going further. If they did not do so they at once belied
their own assertion that they wore practical men. What
guarantees had the house, if this bill were passed, that they
would not be called on to accommodate themselves to the
condition of the other States of Europe, and not standalone
in an insular singularity.
Mr. PIM spoke against the bill.
_ _ _ _

Mr. LEAT HAM maintained that by far the larger part
of the women of England disliked the idea of a marriage
with a deceased sister's husband, and that this was a suffi-
cient reason to make the house pause before altering the

Sir W. JOLIFFE supported the bill, and held that ii
was a poor man's question.

Mr. COLERIDGE said he would vote for the amendmeni
of the hon. member for Northamptonshire.
Mr. HADFIELD supported the bill.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought it was prepos-
terous to make such a law as was proposed by this measure,
whereby all who had been breaking the law for the last 33
years should be deemed to have been obeying it. (Laugh-
ter.) He maintained that if the bill passed it would no
longer be possible for a husband to treat his wife's sister as
his own.

Mr T. CHAMBERS having replied, the house divided,
with the following result—

For the motion 155
For the amendment 174
Majority
-19
The motion that the bill be " now" road a second time
was accordingly negatived.
The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the
house adjourned.

THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.—At the
meeting of the members of this society on Tuesday
evening, the Ist inst., Mr. J. Fowler, president, in the
chair, five members and 11 associates were balloted for and
declared to be duly elected, including, in the former class,
Mr. James Richardson Forman, Glasgow ; Mr. William
Husband, Hayle, Cornwall ; Mr. Thos. Meik, chief engi-
neer to the harbour and docks, Sunderland; Mr. William
R. Morris, resident engineer to the Kent Waterworks
Company ; and Mr. James Muir, chief engineer to the New
River Company ; and in the latter class, Mr. H. Bessemer,
Mr. Wm. Brookes, Chancery-lane ; Mr. Rowland Brother-
hood, Chippenham ; Mr. Jos. G. Cooke, locomotive super-
intendent of the Imperial Mexican Railway, Vera Cruz ;
Mr. J. Cundy, Surbiton; Mr. F. C. Finch, 8.A., Blaenavon
Iron Company ; Mr. Chas. Goolden, M.A., Fernley Iron
Company ; Mr H. G. C. Ketchum, St. John's, New Bruns-
wick ; Mr. W. C. Leechman, Hultsdorf Mills, Ceylon ;
Mr. M. Smith, late of the Cape of Good Hope; and Mr.
M. E. Wesley, Westminster. The number of members of
all classes now on the register of the institution is 1,338,
as against 1,239 at the Ist of January last. The number
of elections into the institution since its first establishment
in 1818 has been 2,138, from which it appeals that about
62 per cent. of all those who have joined the institution
still belong to it.

PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM FIRE.—From the
returns presented by the Secretary to the Quarterly
General Court of the committee recently held at the So-
ciety's offices, Ludgate-hill, it appears that during the three
months ending 31st March last 160 fires were attended by
the Royal Society's escapes and conductors, and 22 lives
saved—viz., two at the firo in the Whitechapel-road, on
Jan. 4; four at the fire in Langley-place, on the 25th of the
same month; two at the fire in Church-lane, Spite Melds,
on February 18 ; four at the fire in Wilderness-row, on the
15th of March ; and, on the 26th, seven at the fire iu St.
George-street, St. George's-in-the •East ; three at the fire in
Southwark-bridge-road, on the 27th of same month. The
rewards voted by the committee for presentation at the
public meeting, usually held at the Mansion-house, under
the presidency of the right hon. the Lord Mayor,
comprisedsilver medals, clasps, and testimonials, accompanied sv.:th
sums of money according to the merits of the various cases.
The return for the month of April showed 46 attendances
at night fires, the conductors on one or two occasions prov-
ing of essential service in securing the safety of end angered
persons, and in three instances the escapes were used by the
Metropolitan Fire Brigade in aiding them to subdue the
fire.

The Fenian Muddle.

Fenian affairs still continue in a wonderful state

of complexity. If the grand expedition hat sailed,

there are no further statements of its destination:
It is certain that O'AIIAIIoNEY has not sailed with it,
as the head-quarters of that chieftain are open,
and the business of selling Fenian bonds has, on
the strength of the reports, been resumed to a lively
extent. O'AlAllosEv, with admirable financial tact,
says nothing, but pockets all the money that is
brought him. He increases the furore by publish-
ing a statement that STEPHENS is in Paris, having

left Ireland on important business connected with
the nationhood (" nationhood " is good) and " not
because he had been forced by the enemy." He is
also to go to the United States "for the purpose
of restoring harmonious counsel and well-concerted
action among all true friends of Ireland," &c., &e.
He will " make a last appeal for his suffering coun-
try," &c., which means that he will ask for more
money. On the other hand, the ROBERTS and
WEENEY party pronounced the " expedition " a
hoax,S " cut out of the whole cloth." But they say
that KILLIAN, with a corporal's guard, has gone to
organisation by some point on the Canadian frontier, to distract the
startling
r
certain Captain despatches, "full of
sound and fury,signifyingn othicg.,,
A c •
JAMES F. MONTAGUE, who
claims to be an • •
original, unadulterated, and
freshly imported I. R. 8., •
just from the very atmos-
phere of the mysterious STirENs
the New York journals with the
denounces in
e utmost virulence
the O'M F
ATIONEY faction of the enians. He accuses
deception
the eminent Head Centre of ; says he
never sent one hundred rifles to Ireland • that he
pretended to send twelve pilots to conduct a moon-
shine fleet to the shores of Erin, discharged
them d
n
them while abroad without the means to get home.
He says that O.IIAIIoNEY never intended to fight,
and asks what has become of the tremendous
amount of money contributed to that chieftain.
These assertions and insinuations are bad enough,
but there is one matter in Captain MoNTAGuE's
letter which shows that the Fenian game in Ireland
is lost. He says:—" I should like to know what
can an unarmed, undisciplined people do in Ireland
without arms after the suspension of the Habeas
Corpus, sixty thousand soldiers, and a strong mili-
tary police force in every part of the country. The
time for fighting in Ireland has gone by. To try
it there now would be slaughter and the eternal
ruin of our race. There are more than enough of
sorrowing women and children there at the pre-
sent."

This is a candid confession, and it is sufficient
to show that the British Government has been
too much for the I. R. B. But Captain MONTAGUE,
whilst making this exposure, lauds the Canadian
invasion plan of ROBERTS and SWEENEY as much as
he deprecates the strategy of their rivals. He says :
—" Your only way to obtain satisfaction, hostages,
and the redemption of your country, is Canada
first and Ireland afterwards." The time must
come when some other MONTAGUE will exclaim as
MERCUTIO did, " A plague o' both your houres."—
Anglo-American Times.

NEWS FROM ADULLAM.—Ur A TREE, May 1,
1866.—Dear Owl,—l write from a new hiding-
place I read in the Times to-day a letter from an Adul-
lamite. He has still stuck to the Cave, as it appears, and
seems very well satisfied and contented. I can't say the
same. You must know that there was a regular stampede
at first after the division. Lots of Care men ran out afraid,
I suppose, of their former masters, I among them, and I
climbed up here where I am now, regularly up a tree.
You see lamin a fix. I don't quite believe in the awful

consequences which Lowe and the Times' Adullamite say
will be the result of the success of the Government mea-
sure; and I want to get back to my old diggings. My
constituents are very angry with me ; but what's to be
done ? I can't say right off that on the whole I like Go-
vernment better than Adullam fare, particularly as I pro-
mised in the confusion to dine next Wednesday in the
Cave, with all the other fellows. They gave a dinner to
their chief to celebrate their escape, and I must wait till
after that. So here I am. If the Colonel—what am I say-
ing ?—I mean, if Gladstone is in earnest, why then, like
the American 'coon, I shall come down; but, otherwise, I
should like to stay up hero just for the present. What do
you think—is he in earnest 2—Yours truly, ANOTHER
ADULLAMITE.—[WO beg to inform our correspondent that
we think Mr. Gladstone is terribly in earnest.]—
" HIGH ART" IN NEW YORK.— The frauds that
are carried on at our popular picture auctions are far
greater than those which used to be carried on in jewellery
by the Peter Funks. The two sorts of knavery are very
much alike. The old style of Peter Punks sold brass
jewellery for jewellery of " real genuine gold, eighteen
carats fine ;" the new style sell the most preposterous
daubs for works of the great European masters, " just im-
ported by a celebrated connoisseur." The old style always
took pains to inscribe upon their watches the name of some
celebrated house, usually in Switzerland, as maker ; the
new style are no less careful to attach to the canvasses the
name of some celebrated artist, usually in Germany, as
painter. The jewellry auctioneers onChatham-street "took
in" chiefly verdant and unsophisticated folks from the coun-
try, who knew so little about gold and diamonds that they
could not tell the real a_•ticle from the most flagitious coun-
terfeits ; the bogus picture auctioneers in like manner flourish
by the patronage of artistic greenhorns, who do not know
enough about art to tell a great work by an eminent
artist from a feeble abortion by some oily char-
latan. Those who were " by the brass auctioneer
had an advantage, however, over those who get
sold by the canvass auctioneer; in that the former
soon discovered for themselves how they had been taken
in. The watch would fall to pieces, or the works decline
to move, or the brass unmistakably indicate its brazen
character. But those who are sold in the purchase of
sham-pictures are not apt to discover the fact so readily.
They display the pretentious hypocrisy on their walls for
the admiration of friends and visitors ; and years may
elapse before they discover, to their mortification, that
they have all the time been displaying, as it were, a
sort of brass-jewellery in their mansions. We have
seen of late large numbers of the most execrable pic-
tures on exhibition previous to being auctioned, with the
names of the most distinguished artists in Europe
attached to them. Their drawing, their colour, and
general treatment gave unmistakable evidence to all con-
noisseurs as to the falsity of the claims of their origin, and
yet such pictures have been sold, and others of like
character will be sold, for hundreds and even thousands of
dollars. And the auctioneers will even display certificates
that they were painted by those whose names they claim,
The fact is there are now in Germany, France, England,
and especially in Belgium and Italy, large paint shops in
which pictures are manufactured wholesale for the Ameri-
can market. The works are made by poor apprentices, and
poor women, and poor journeymen, on very small wages ;
and few have any idea of the enormous extent of the busi-
ness, or the enormous market for such trash that this
country furnishes. Thus our unsophisticated citizens are
swindled, our native artists outraged, and the national
taste for genuine art degraded. We advise all those who
attend picture sales to exercise more discretion in purchas-
ing than our picture buyers have hitherto done.—New
York Times, April N.

THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS.—
The fifteenth annual report of this society consists
of 367 closely printed pages, and almost equals in size one
of the ordinary parliamentary blue-books. Some of the facts
made known by the report and the numerouspages of figures
aro very remarkable. It appears that during the past year
the Amalgamated Society has added nearly £28,500 to
the previous accumulated fund, owing to the reason that
during the year trade has been exceedingly good; 3,583
new members have boen added, and at the close of Decem-
ber there were in all 30,978 members. The accumulated
fund of the society at the close of the year amounted
mto
no less than £115,357 13s. bid., or £3 14s. sid. pour, Itileure
ber, apart from the arrears, although the espe d
2d. About
during 1865 was as much as £49,172
to about
,‘ many
70
Post-officeo f the bsraavnicnhgess
Banks,ha ve depositedam 0u nt
ingthei raCbfsou. sx2i4,notohoe.
" And I believe," writes the genera
v..ege_a
privilege
more will avail themselves of thoifs pri
obtained through the kindness
• whoilar institutions." During
thanks of this as well as all
Exchequer, Mr. Gladstone,
per member, has been
the year £14,070 4s.
richithye
dCelasaenryceelslotrheof
bestthe
9d., "10 mew., being ..£2,335 less than
paid to members out of employment,
On sick benefit there has
that paid in the previous
sum than
superannuated l7,
been paid , 9or Bs. id. per member expended
855
19s. Gd. to support of £5,184 17s. 4d. has been paid, being
members the sum
—the twoXbie3ne76Bststhlr4eemsqudiurfrninggntohelyesesara.
£1,282 •
9d. more than in the previous year. This dif-
fernce is caused by the increased benefit now allo'ved to
the members who, through old ago or infirmity, are under
the necessity of claiming superannuation. That is a most
important benefit of the society, and one that cannot be
too highly appreciated by the members generally, for it
proved a great solace and relief to many old and deserving
members, 260 of whom were is receipt of its benefits at the
close of the year. In cases of accident the sum of £l,BOO
has been expended, being £5OO more than the amount paid
in 1864. The funeral benefit amounted to £4,887 or £985
in excess of the previous year, so that the sum of £39,728
2s. 10d. has been expended in payment of•the five principal
benefits—namely, donation to unemployed members, sick,
superannuation, accident, and that of funeral, during the
year.

SPORTING ,INTELLIGENCE.

ASCOT RACES.-WEDNESDAY.

I HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES OF 10 SOVS.
each, with 100 added, for 3-yr-olds and upwards; the win-
ner of the Bralant 71b extra ; all other winners after the
weights appear to carry 51b extra. Swinley Course.
Mr. J. Stephenson's Kingfisher ......... (Kenyon) 1
Mr. Payne's Beadle (Challoner) 2
Baron Rothschild's Guinivere (Morris) 3
The following also ran :—P.rovisor, "Vixen, and
Hasketon Maid.
Betting-2 to lon Kingfisher, 4to 1 agfit
Beadle.

THE SUNNING HILL STAKES
of 10 sons each, with 200 added, for 2-yr-olds ; rzolts gst
101 b, fillies Bst 71b ; winners of 100 SON'S Sib extra ;
maidens at starting allowed 3lb ; second to receive 25
sovs out of the stakes. Half a mile. 70 subs.
Baron Rothschild's Hippia, sister to Hippolyta... 1
Sir J. Hawley's Faker (IVeils) a
Clairvoyante's dam colt came in first, but was
disqualified for crossing, and Hippia gets the stakes.
The following also ran :—Turpin, Satyr, Rescue,
Miss Middleton, Kathleen, Huntsman, Ajax, Mis..
fortune, Verulam, Plunder, Miller's Maid, Lavinia,
Blush Rose, Man of Ross, and Lady Craven.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Plunder, 4to 1 agst Mis-S
fortune, 6 to 1 agst Hippia, 8 to 1 agst Clairvq_
ant's dam c.
HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES OF 10 SQVS,
each, with 100 added, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. T.Y.C.
Mr. J. Palmer's Little Gentleman (Carroll) 1
Mr. Hodgman's Confederate ......... (Ileartfiold) 2
Baron Rothschild's Dalesmau ...............(Peak) 3
Vabalathus, Grapeshot, Harlequina, and Gay
Tom also ran.

Betting-3 to 2 agst Little Gentleman, 3 to,
agst Confederate, 5 to 1 agst Vabalathus. Ncou
by a neck ; bad third.

A PLATE OF 300 SOVS. ;
for 3-yr-olds 7st, four Bst 121 b, five 9st 41b, and aged
9st 61b ; winners of 1,000 sovs to carry 71b ; of the Good-
wood, Ascot, or Doncaster Cup, or the Derby, Oaks, and.
Doncaster St. Leger, 101 b extra; m and g allowed 31',a,
and maiden 4-yr-olds and upwards allowed 71b ;
tLord raMr. nce, 2
girlhtess,
sosi
nvncos,
ijotitotri
ihsta,hsi erssecond horse. The Cup Course.
,14
John
urnDonatvoins (Cov(q) 1
Mr. (Wellk 2
(Cannon) 3
Betting-6 to 4on John Davis, 6to 4 agst.
Sydmonton, 8 to 2 agst Corsair.
A PLATE OF 50 SOUS. ;
for 2-yr-olds 6st 121 b, three Bst 121 b, four 9st 61b, five, six,
and aged 9st 81b; the winner to be sold for 300 so.vs, if
for 200 allowed 51b, if for 100 91b ; entrance, 1 soy to the
second horse. Half a mile.
Merry Sunshine ..........................................

Soiled Dove
Usher ...................................................... 2
....... ......
Seven ran.

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY PLATE
of 100 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 10 sovs each ; for
3-yr-olds Ost 71b, four list, five list 71b, six and. aged
list 101 b ; five and upwards which have never w,on 50
sovs on the flat allowed 141 b, pure Barbs and. Arabs
allowed 211 b, mares and geldings allowed 41b ; the win-
ner to be sold for 300 sovs ; if for 500 51b extra, if not for
sale 101 b extra; second to receive 40 soya out of the
stakes. Once round the course.

Hazaldean
Guinivere

1

Darabouka ....

A PLATE OF 50 SOUS. ;

for 2-yr-olds Est 101 b, three Bst 121 b, four 9st 101 b, five
six, and aged 9st 121 b; maiden 2-yr-olds allowed 31b,
three 71b, four and upwards 121 b; entrance, 1 soy- to the
second horse. T.Y.C.
Saccharometer
Raven
Primrose 3

Eight ran.

LY.

Radcliffe 23
Spilsby
Winchester '24
Southampton 25
Huntingdon
Caen
Goodwood 3l

rRES FOR 1866.
Y.
West Drayton
Manchester
Wye
Paris
Ascot Summer
E.
Chelmsford l9
Liverpool Summer
Ipswich
liungerford
Newcastle on-Tyne 26
Worcester