The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 21, 1859.

PUBLICATIONS.

Now ready, at all the. Libraries, in 3 vols.,
THE LEES OF BLENDON HALL.
By the Author of "ALICE WENTWORTH."
" A powerful and well-sustained story, of strong interest."
—Athenaeum.
"A first-rate novel."—John Bull.
Hurst and Blackett, Publishers,l3, Great Marlborough-street.

This Day,
REVOLUTIONS IN ENGLISH HISTORY,
By ROBERT VAUGHAN, D.D.
The First Volume, REVOLUTIONS of RACE. Octavo, 15e
London : John W. Parker and Son, West Strand.

With 179 Illustrations, 75., •
FIRST LINES IN CHEMISTRY. By Dr.
ALBERT J. BERNAYS, F.C.L., Lecturer in Che-
mistry at St. Mary's Hospital.
London : John W. Parker and Sou, West Strand.

Third Edition, 95.,
aU Y LIVINGST ONE ; or, Thorough.
London : John W. Parker and Son, West Strand.

Foolscap Octavo, 2s. 6d.,
MANUAL OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY.
By W. L. BEVAN, M.A., Vicar of Hay.•
London : John W. Parker and Son, West Strand.

• LONDON AS IT IS.
With a Clue Map, lBmo., ss.
MURRAY'S HANDBOOK OF MODERN
LONDON ; a Complete Guide to all the Sights and
Objects of Interest in the Metropolis.
"Without a 'rival for intelligence and accuracy."--Times.
John Murray, Albemarle-street.

ONCE A WEE K.
Contents of No. IV., published thiS day, price 3d.

. _
Guests at the .Red Lion, illustrated by C. Keene.—Sponta-
neous Generation, by G. IL Lewes.—On the Water, illus-
trated by J. E. Millais.—A Good Fight. By Charles Relde.
Illustrated by. C. Keerie. An Old Church-Library, by C.
Knight. - Candle Making, by Dr. Wynter. . . .

`—'33radbury and Evans, 11, Fleet-street.

This Day, in small Bvo, 7s. 6d. cloth,

ULD FACES IN NEW MASKS. By R.
BLAKEY, Ph. D., with an illustrated Vignette and
Frontispiece, designed and etched by GORGECRUIRSHANK.

Contents : Fishwilies—An Autumn Day with some of the
Scholastic Doctors of the Middle Ages—A Few Words about
Eels—Hermit Literature—Notes of an Antiquarian—John
Paterson's Mare—The Dances of Death—Historical Sketch of
British Caricature—A Few Words on Pike—Dr. Paley's
Natural Theology—Oysters—On the Generalities of Litera-
ture and Art—Days on the Tweed Sixty Years Ago, &c.
" This is one of the most pleasant Books which has come
under our notice."—Atlas.

"An excellent volume, full of variety, ingenuity. shrewd
reasoning, fact, fancy, and logic."—Leader.
W. Kent and Co. (late D. Bogue), 86, Fleet-street, and
Paternoster-row.

Now ready, at all the libraries, 2 vols. post Bvo., 218.,
♦/j ILLICENT NEVILLE ; A Novel. By
1- JULIA TILT, Author of "May Hamilton," " The
Old Palace," &c.
Just published, 1 vol. post Soo., 10s. 6d.,
FALSE AND TRUE. By the Hon. Lena Eden, Author
of " Easton and its Habitants." _ _

Also, 1 vol., post Bvo., 10s. 6d.,
VARILT3I: A Novel. By
In a few days,

TWENTY YEARS IN THE CHURCH, By the Rev. J.
Pycroft, B.D.

L. Booth, 307, Regent-street, IV.

Just published, price 25., free by post, 2s. 4d.,
ON N SPERMATORRHCEA.
V By F. B. COURTENAY, M.It.C.S.E.,
And formerly Surgeon to the Metropolitan_ Infirmary for the

-Cure of Strictures of tile Urethra.
" The aim of the author is to present a common-sense view
of the Causes, Nature, Consequences, and Treatment of this
Disease; as also•to free these questions from the Professional
Fallacies, the Popular Delusions, and the exaggerations of
Quackery by which theyhave hitherto been surrounded, to the
destruction of the health and happiness of thousands. These
objects are discussed in a common-sense and highly practical
manner."—Medical Circular.
London : H. Bailliere, 219, Regent-street.

ELECTRICAL INFLUENCE IN HEALTH AND
DISEASE.

Just Published, price is., free by Post for Fourteen Stamps,
SZECOND LIFE : or ELECTRICAL NERVOUS
FORCE ; a MEDICAL WORK, intended for the special
Kegi3.4oAtl vdh op are
PHYSICAL
DEBILITY,f !
avna ?ire rms of
distress-
ing ulterior consequences to which they lead ; with practical
Observations on the great Curative power of ELECTRO-
GALVANISM in the treatment of these Disorders, by infus-
ing tone and vigour in constitutions relaxed or debilitated
from various enervating causes. Illustrated with Cases com-
piled from the Note-book of a Registered Medical Practi-
tioner of twenty years' standing.
Unlike many vaunted restoratives, Electricity is one which
commends itself to the medical man as being accordant with
the soundest teachings of physiology. By the most obvious
indication it admits of being shown that the Electrical and
Nervous energies are identical ; hence, that when the latter
fails, the former can take its place, and that when, from irre-
gularities of any kind, the nervous system has become debili-
tated, paralysed, or exhausted, and the patient brought to a
condition little short of -Mtn prostration, then by the action
of Electricity, imparting certainty and efficacy to medical
treatment, he can ba re-invigorated, and his health re-esta-
blished to a degree almost warranting the designation of
SECOND LIFE.

Published by Mann, 39, Cornhill. and of all Booksellers.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFS'S
SISTER.

TO THE EDiT.OROF THE SUN.
Sin,—The Committee of thellarriage Law Reform Associa-
tion are desirous of submitting to the attention of the British
public the following " Facts and Opinions," tending to Drove
the, Scriptural lawfulness of marriage with a deceased wife's
sister, and the necessity of legalising such marriages in Efig-
land, in accordance with the law and practice of other Chris-
tian countries. _ _

-----.
JOSEPH STANSBURY, M.A., Hon. Sec.
21; Parliament-street, June 20, 1859. .

FACTS and OPINIONS TENDING to PROVE the NE-
CESSITY of LEGALISING MARRIAGE with a DE-
CEASED WIFE'S SISTER.
" The Bible, the Bible only, is the religion of Protestants.
Whatsoever else they believe beside it, and the plain irrefra-
gable, indubitable consequences of it, well may they hold it as
a matter of opinion. I will take no man's liberty of judgment
from him ; neither shall any man take mine from me."—
Chillingworth.
" Bad laws are the worst sort'of tyranny. In such a coun-
try as this, they are of all bad things the worst—worse by
far than anywhere else ; and they derive a peculiar malignity
from the wisdom and soundness of the rest of our institu-
tions."—Burke.

a state of things which ought to exist ; and not being of
opinion that there is any moral objection to the contracting
of these marriages, and believing that the law as it stands is
the cause of a great deal of misery and social evil, especially
among the middle and lower classes of the community, I shall
with great pleasure give my vote for the motion."—Speech of
Lord Palmerston.
"I must say that I have satisfied myself that there is not
any religious prohibition of these marriages," "Itis a mis-

foitune that the feeling of relationshlinlich takes place by
marriage should be weakened by any alteration of the law of
marriage. But, while I admit that, on the one hand, I think
that there is a great and practical evil which we cannot very
well refrain from remedying. The evil is not among the
upper classes of society ; but there is no doubt, partly among
the middle classes, and much more among the lower classes,•
a feeling that, after the death of the wife, there is often no
person so fit to take care of the children as the beloved sister
of that wife." "It is not, perhaps, in a great number of cases
that these marriages would be contracted; but I think where
persons feel that they can without sernplecontract them, that
they should be allowed to, do 'so."—Speech of Lord John
Russell, M.P.
"I cannot bring myself to believe that the Divine law pro-
hibits a man from marriage with a deeeased wife's sister."—
Archbishop of York.
"I will undertake to say that in no part of the civilised
world is there to be found a more moral and intelligent people,
especially in regard to the intercourse of the sexes—than are
the people of tip State of Massachusetts ; and yet, my Lords,
in that State the marriages which the noble lord seeks to
legalise are consistent with the law. They are not only legal,
but they are of constant occurrence."—Speech of Lord Lynd-
hurst.

"Chafin, that hath married two sisters, upon his appeal
from your Grace and me, hangeth still before the delegates,
and, as much as I can perceive, is not likely to take any great
hurt at their hands. I would they would decree it were law-
ful to marry two sisters, so should the world be out of doubt,
as now it is passed away in a mockery."—Bishop Jewell, in a
letter to Archbishop Parker, dated June, 1503. From the
original in the Archiepiscopal Palace, Lambeth. (This opinion
of Bishop Jewell was given two years after the adverse
opinion so often quoted.)
" The view which he had heard taken in that House respect-
ing the operation of Scripture; must after all be a mere matter
of inference and construction, and, applying himself to that
view of the subject, he should say that such marriages as the
Bill was intended to legalise were not prohibited, but were
tacitly permitted by the words of the chapter which had been
so often quoted. lie protested against the opinions expressed
by those who contended that there existed any Divine pro-
hibition."—Bishop of S. David's Speech, 185 J.
" The Scriptures should be the rnle of life as well as of
faith, and, as I can find nothing that militates against such
marriages, I feel bound to oppose any proposition that inter-
feres with the liberty of the subject."—Rev. Sir Erasmus
Williams, Bart., M.A., Channellor of St. David's.
"The prohibition of taking two sisters was meant for the
lifetime only."-Milton. --
" The context also seems to suggest a more literal interpre-
tation, namely, the marrying of two sisters together. This
verse (Leviticus xviii. 18) seems not to contain a prohibition
of it (viz., marriage with a deceased wife's sister). Such re-
strictions as pride, covetousness, or human policy have super-
added, do not seem to have proved beneficial to mankind."--
Scott.

" With regard to the Scriptural argument, it would ill be-
come him to give a confident opinion upon it, when he found
the Right Rev. Prelates having considerable doubt, and no
small discrepancy among themselves."—Speech of Lord
Brouotam.
2, Ilave an amendment to move to the second clause—it is,

That there be excepted from the operation of the Bill, cases
of marriage with the sister of a deceased wife where there is
a child or children under 12 years of age.' There can be no
doubt that there are many cases in which it may be of essential
importance both to the father and the children that such a
marriage should be permitted."—Speech of J, P. Plumptre,
Esq., M.P., 1835. ..
"The amendment proposed by the honourable Member is
one of very great importance, but I fear that, at this period
of the Session, it would be impossible to bestow upon it the
consideration to which it is entitled. Perhaps the better
course to adopt would be not to interfere with the Bill, by
persevering with this amendment, but to propose next Ses-
sion a short Act upon the subject to which it refers."—Speech
of Dr. Lushington, following Mr. Pluipptre, 183.5.
" Is the marriage of a widower with his late wife's sister
within the 'prohibited degrees ?" In all frankness and
honesty I am obliged to answer—No. It is interdicted neither
by express veto, nor yet by implication. Canonical austerity
is not to be identified, with moral pprity or matrimonial

fidelity."—Rev. Dr. Eadie, Professor of Biblical Literature to
the United Presbyterian Church, Scotland.
" It appears to me, therefore, that first, as Scripture shows
that there is nothing immoral in such a connexion ; and se-

condly, as it is obvious that much evil would be prevented—
many poor children saved from misery and ruin by having
that person over them who, in a majority of instances, would
be the next best substitute for a mother, my own mind is led
to believe that the law of man ought to tally in this respect

with the law of God."—Rev. CanOn Champlieys.
" But has it never occurred to you, my dear Wynn, that this
law is an abominable relic of ecclesiastical tyranny ? Of all
second marriages I have no hesitation in saying that these are
the most suitable, and likely to be the most frequent, if the
law did not sometimes prevent them. It is quite monstrous,
judges and lawyers speaking as they have done of late, upon
this subject."—Robert Southey.
" I have never heard upon what principle of policy the law
was made prohibiting the marriage of a man with his wife's
sister, nor have I ever been able to conjecture any political in-
convenience that might have been found in such marriages, or
to conceive any moral turpitude in them." Dr. Benjamin

Franklin.
" Having again carefully examined the question and con-
sulted some of the highest authorities in Hebrew literature as
to the meaning of the Scripture passages, I am confirmed in
the opinion formerly expressed, that marriage with a deceased
wife's sister is not only not prohibited, either expressly or
by implication,' but that, according to Leviticus xviii., 18
(concerning the translation of which there is not the least un-
certainty), such marriage is plainly allowed, "—Rev. Alexander
Professor of Divinity and Hebrew Literature in

King's College, London.
" Are you of opinion that there is any prohibition in Scrip-
ture against such marriages ?"—"N o ; 1 am quite satisfied to
the contrary."—vidence of Rev. .T. Garbett. "
People in general do not consider such marriages impro-
per. They cannot be proved to be improper by Scripture. The
question is therefore one of expediency, and my experience as
a parochial minister induces me to think the measure expe-
dient. On these grounds, it ever a Convocation be called, and
I be elected one of the proctors, I shall move for an alteration
in this regard in the table of kindred and affinity. Until this
the-eivil rite."—Dr. Hook, Dean of Chichester.
question
the case I shall be glad to see such marriages legalised by
" From all I have been able to learn on the questl
' whether a man may marry a deceased wife's sister,' my
it, nor ever did the Jews."—Rev. Dr. Lee, late Professor of
opinion is, that neither does Holy Scripture anywhere forbid
Hebrew in the University of Cambridge.
" Were the prohibitions founded on Scripture we ought, at
whateyer sacrifice, to obey God rather than man; but I cannot
observed only by the scrupulous evaded b f the'wealthy, and
,
see the expediency of a law whicla,thaving no such sanction, is
defied or disregarded by the poor."—Rev. Canon Dale.
" It is not only not considered as prohibited, but it is dis-
tinctly understood to be permitted ; and on this point neither
the Divine law, nor the Rabbis, nor historical Judaism, leaves
room for the least doubt. I can only reiterate my former as-
vocal words, Lev. xviii., 18,
• in her
life time.
sertions that all sophistry must slit on the clear and unequi-
Dr. Adler, the Chief Rabbi of the Jews in England.
"'Phis text, expressed in this manner, shows
that it is not
• "—Evidence of
permitted to have as wives two sisters at the same time, as
Jacob had Rachel and Leah, but only in succession ; and this
is the sense which appears the most
clear and the most prob-
able. . . . Analogy is not always a means of judging re-
specting positive laws." —Calmet.
" He asked them to reflect that the parting request of many
a dying wife was that the man
should marry her sister, which
was the bestt testimony to the feelinge of woman in this matter.
Such ages were not r p itt to nature nor to Scrip-
ture ; and if they did but calmlylookun at these facts, sure he
was that the day was not far distant when the obnoxious law
would be repealed,"—Speech of the Rev. J. C. Miller, D.D.
"Within the meaning of Leviticus, and the constant prac-
tice of the commonwealth by tho Jews a man was prohibited
As no clear and strong to marry his wife's sister only during her life; after he
might—so the text is. This perhaps is a knot not easily un-
tied, how the Levitical degrees are God's law in this king-
dom, but not as they were in the commonwealth of Israel,
when first given."—Chief Justice Vaughan.
tint advantage to the public from such restriction, I take my
stand on the broad general principle, that every restriction is
an evil in itself—the burden of proof upon the advocates
of any restriction to show its necessity.' • • • • "You
are at liberty to refer to me roving
of the abolition of
the restriction on marriage as
which you allude."—Archbp.
case has been made out of impor-
Whately, in a letter to. G. A. Crowder, Esq.
"I speak advisedly when I say that I come here prepared to
offer my opinion, that, I
theologically, it is correct that such
marriages should take place ; see no ground whatsoever on
account of which such marriages may not be legalised."—
Evidence of Rev. J. Hatchard.
"In the Indies—if a husband has lost his wife, he does not
fail to marry her sister ; and-this is extreme y natural, for his
new consort becomes the mother of her sister's children, and
not a cruel step-mother."-3lontesquieu.
" I admit that a marriage with a wife's sister is not forbid-
den in Leviticus."—Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. Kay).
in breach of the divine law, because
" Has never had occasion to Observe, either in the mid-
dling or poorer classes, any in jury or immorality arising from
such marriages ; never admonished he any of those parties
that they were acting
never believed it. The great inducement to these marriages
is, that these pirties have a better oppirtunity than is gene-
rally afforded of being acquainted with each other's real cha-
raztter and disposition."—Evidence of the Rev. J. F. Denham,
M.A., F.R.S.
--" Such marriages, I
apprehend, are nearly as frequent as
the circumstances which usually gave rise to them. I have
not known any social disadvantages attending them."—
y
Bishop Wllvane, United States.
"I do not know—l never heard of any social disadvantages
such marriages of an
am totally at a loss to conjecture what ' disadvantages' can
be referred to."—Rev. J. L. Pomroy, United States.
" As far as you know, the general moral feeling of the
people would notbe offended by a relaxation of the law and a
permission for these marriages to be had ?"- - " I know of no
description whatever, and
objection to it. I never met with a person who had an objec-
tion to it ; I never met with a person out of Parliament who
joined with t'he law, and took the same view which the Legis-
lature does of these marriages."—Evidence of R. Cobden,
Esq., 31. P.

"In 1835 a most important statute had been passed by that
House, under somewhat peculiar circumstances, and•he might
also say, of haste and want of due deliberation, materially
affecting a portion of the marriage laws of this country. In
this case the voice of Heaven was silent, and that of man
had been given with a hesitation and confusion of utter-
ance that deprived it of its due authority."—Speech of Lord
Francis Egerton (now Earl of Ellesmere), in the House of
Commons.

" Thar Our Established Church should select one point of
the Canon law, and establish an arbitrary limit without giv-
ing any power of dispensation, was, he was sorry to say, a
very great tyranhy, and one which he felt convinced that the
true principles of the Church of England did not sanction."—
Speech of R. Monckton Milnes, Esq., M.P.
" It is remarkable that while there is an express injunction
against the marriage of a man with his brother's widow, there
is no such prohibition against his deceased wife's sister. In
verse 18 the prohibition is only against marrying the wife's
sister during the lifetime of the first wife, which of itself im-
plies the liberty to marry the sister after her death."—lieu.
Dr. Chalmers.
"Nothing is more common in almost all the States of Ame-
rica than second marriages of this sort ; and so far from being
doubtful as to their moral tendency they are among us
deethed the very best sort of marriages. In my whole life I
Beier heard the slightest suggestion against them, founded
on moral or domestic considerations."—Chief Justice Story,
United States.

•• Whence, 1 pray you, is this ri

Just ma

- ig_our of man aga..
which- God has not raquired ? Who has given to men this
'power (of annulling or prohibiting marriage)? Be it that
they were holy men, and influenced by pious zeal : why should
another's zeal infringe my liberty ? Let any one be as zea-
lous and as holy as he will, so that he does not injure his
neighbour or rob him of his liberty. Let them arm themselves
with the Divine law, and say, What God bath joined to-
gether let not man put asunder.' The union of husband and
wife iS 01 Divine right, which is binding, however contrary, it
may be to human laws, and the laws of men ought to yield to
it without reserve. For if a man leaves father and mother to
cleave to his wife, how ninth rather shall he trample under
foot the contemptible and unjust laws of men, and cleave to
his wife ? And PoPe, Bishop, or officer, if he dissolve any
marriage contracted in opposition to merely human law, is
Antichrist, a violator of nature, a traitor against the Divine
Majesty ; for that sentence still stands : What God bath
joined, let no man put asunder.'—Perish. therefore, those
cursed traditions of men, which have been brought in only to
multiply dangers, offences, and miseries in the Church."—
Luther.
"His first duty was to ascertain whether there was any-
the Word of God which forbids the marrying of a
widowerany-
thin;
ngin with a sister of his deceased wife. Ike looked care-
fully, be endeavoured earnestly to come at the truth, and be
was perfectly convinced that there was nothing in the Scrip-
tures Speech of B. Spooner,
cm pinion of the lawhas long been that it is an impolitic
restriction. of Derby.
you wish to make lawful
" I believe such marriages as are
already lawful, according to the letter and spirit of holy
m which.p prohibited that act"—
yo

Scripture, and I hope the civil and ecclesiastical law will
speedily be made conformable to the Divine."—Dr. Close,
Dean of Carlisle.
"Moses ,does not prohibit marriage with the sister of a
deceased wife.?'—Rosenmuller.
' In her lifetime,' because when she was dead he might
marry her sister."—Menochius.
" 'ln her lifetime.' This sufficiently indiCates that he per-
mitted it when the wife was dead, otherwise than in the case
of two brothers."—Jansenius.
" Thou shalt not marry two sisters' at the same time, as
Jacob did Rachel and Leah, but there is nothing in this law
that rendered it illegal to marry a sister-in-law when her
sister-was dead."—Dr. Adam Clarke.
"The meaning therefore is this :—Thou shalt not take a
woman as a wife at the same time with her sister ; for when
'the wife was dead it was allowed to marry her sister"—
Fagi us.
"Certainly after the death of the wife, it was permitted to
the .husband 'to marry her sister, because she (the sister) is
not among the other enumerated kindred of the wife."—
Rabbi Levi.
"Both sides use various arguments to show what degrees
are prohibited from analogy with those forbidden in the law
But unless it be a manifest thing, and the inference altogether
undeniable, it is something presumptuous, from mere analogy,
to add to the Divine law."—Joannes Clericus. -
"The three grounds upon which the petition proceeded
were in perfect accordance with his own convictions, as he
fully believed they were also with the mind of England and
the general sentiment of society, upon the subject to which
the petition referred, The three points upon which the peti-
tion was especially groundkd were these—first, that such mar-
riage was not forbidden by the Word of God ; second, that
there was no consanguinity or blood relationship existing
between the parties; and third, that such a marriage was
wholly unobjectionable on moral considerations."—Speech of
Rev. J. B. Owen.
"You are understood to state that you are of opinion that,
so far as the interpretation of Scripture goes, either in the
Mosaic or Christian dispensation, there is nothing repugnant
to those marriages?"—" There is nothing repugnant in my
opinion."—Evidence of Rev. R. C. Jenkins.
"The petition was probably entrusted to me inconsequence
of my having declared without hesitation that the marriage
of a sister of a deceased wife was not prohibited by the Levi-
tical Law."—The late Bishop of Llandaff. •
" I shall only add, that all persons who voted for the Act of
Parliament which legalised such marriages of that descrip-
tion a's had taken place, nay, all who had an opportunity of
opposing that Act, and did not oppose it, must be regarded as
suoscribing to the declaration that those marriages were not
in opposition to the Word of God."—The late Bishop of
Meath.
"Without pursuing the subject further, -I shall give it as
my opinion that the marriage in question is not against either
nature or the law of God."—Rev. T. Binney.
"My opinion is certainly in favour of the relaxation of the
law prohibiting the marriage of a widower. to. his late wife's
sister."—The Chancellor of the Diocese of Exeter.
"Seeing that it was not against the law of God—seeing the
great social evils which arose from the restriction, and be-
lieving that there was no comparison between the social ad-
vantages and the social disadvantages arising from this cause,
he should give the measure his cheerful assent."—Speech of
the Duke of Norfolk.
"The ancient Roman law permitted the marriage of two
sisters in succession."—Heineccius.
"Are marriages of this description considered in Germany
to be at all contra bones mores ?" " Not tit all. So far from
their being considered contra bonos mores, the feeling of the
people of Germany is undoubtedly in favour of such mar-
riages.".... " It frequently happens that a widower marries
his decased wife's sister out of a pious and affectionate feel-
ing for his departed wife. And the feelings of the women of
Germany are so strong in favour of such marriages, that it often
occurs that the last parting request by a wife on her death-
bed to her husband is, to marry her sister in case he should
feel inclined to marry again. This arises partly from affec-
tion for her surviving husband or relations, that he may not
become estranged from her conmexions, and partly from affec-
tion to her sister, and very frequently, where there are young
children, for their 5ake."...." Are you aware of any evil con-
sequences from the celebration of marriages of this descrip-
tion ?"—" None whatever. I have spoken with several of my
friends, and I have written to some others, asking them
whether they are aware that this power of dispensation is the
cause of any immorality in families, and their answer is, none
whatever. I am not at all aware of any."—Evidence of A.
Bach, Esq.
" Though a man might not marry two sisters together, it
seems a natural conclusion, from the phrase in her lifetime,'
that he might marry the sister of his deceased wife—and thus
we learn from Selden, the Jews in general understood it"—
Dr. Dodd.
"The very strongest -reasons for engaging in a second mar-
riage contract is, frequently, to provide a suitable female head
for a :amity of shall children. In such cases, who is so likely to
exercise the requisite maternal care and affection as the sister
of the deceased mother? To prohibit a marriage under such
circumstances seems to me inhuman."—Hon. Judge Mason,
United States.
"If the founders of our Church have incautiously adopted
a canon prohibiting that which of its own mere authority it
had no right to prohibit, and which Scripture does not war-
rant it in prohibiting., now that the evil has become apparent,
it is surely time for that Church to rescind such canon, and to
cease opposition to the repeal of any secular law founded upon
it."—Speech of Viscount Gage.
" Having to deal with persons of other communions, who
did not recognize the same ecclesiastical law, with the Roman
Catholics, who by dispensation tolerate such marriages—there
being also Protestant churches in Europe, and Protestant
denominations in this country, who recognized the validity,
ecclesiastically speaking, of such marriages. ~ . . It was
impossible not to feel that the civil law which declared the
illegality of such marriages, and bastardized the children, im-
posed a heavy penalty on persons who, by contracting these
marriages, did not contravene the tenets of their religious
persuasion." . . " Socially speaking, if a case was made
out that morality would be endangered by the Bill, that
would be a reason for rejecting it; but he had net heard it
established that such danger could arise. Marriage Ix iag a
civil rite, they were bound to make that Livil rite co-extensive
with the feelings of the country. He had, therefore, come to
the conclusion that it was his duty to support the second read-
ing of the Bill."—Speech of Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P.
"Doubtless it was very gratifying to our national pride to
be told that a higher standard of morals prevailed in this
country than could be found elsewhere ; but surely it could
not be denied that the 'rules of chastity were as strictly ob-
served in the North of Germany, Switzerland, and the United
States of America, as they were in England. He was entitled
to say that the evils anticipated from permitting these mar-
riages here had not manifested themselves in those countries,
for, if they had, the law which authorised them would not
have been suffered to continue for 12 months."—Speech of
Lord Chief .Justice Cockburn.
" He had before stated his belief, that if the matter came
to be investigated before the Courts, it would turn out that
the marriage contemplated in this Bill was in Scotland a
lawful marriage ; and be had good reason for saying that that
was the opinion of an hon. Baronet, than whom no person
ever stood higher in the Church of Scotland—Sir li. 3lon-
crier. For himself; having come to the deliberate opinion
that the marriage in question was not forbidden by the law
of Leviticus he came also to the opinion that the
was not a crime, and that the marriage was effectual forconnection civil
purposes."-Speech of the Lord Advocate of Scotland (Ruttier-
,
" I have known probably several scores of such marriages.
I have counted a doz within the last three or minutes.
Most of these dozen b en
elong, to the highest classfour of society.
One of them is a doctor of divinity. Several of them are
ministers of the Gospel. One is a member of Congress. Am-
brose Spencer, the eminent Chief Justice of this State, died a
few years ago. He married two sisters of Dewitt Clinton, the
distinguished Governor of this State. The Presbyterian
Church of this village has probably not more than 50 members.
Two of these married sisters of their wives."—Gerrit Smith,
Esq., United States.
" I express my conviction that Scripture says "not one word
against marriage with a deceased wife's sister. Surely it is
not a crime, and, if it be not, the law that constitutes
lso must
be, for the worst of all crimes is an evil and unjust aw."—
Rev. Geo. Gilfillan, Dundee.
" The prohibition of such marriages is, in my judgment,
sanctioned neither by Scripture, nor by physiology, nor by
expediency."—Rev. H. Renton, Kelso, Scotland.
" He declared, most conscientiously, he could find no prohi-
bition of this marriage in the Holy Scriptures."—Speech of
the Right Hon. Stuart Wortley, M.P., Recorder of London.
" If this marriage be lawful in the sight of God, then I go
upon the broad ground that, in such a case, no man has a right
to impose a restriction on his fellow-man which God has not
imposed ; that the doing so can only bring a snare upon the
conscience, and be the occasion of sin ; and that no sanction
of human law can be expected ultimately to succeed in enforc-
ing what a man feels is no transgression of the law of God."
. . . . " That it is lawful, according to the Word of God,
I consider incontrovertibly proved by the passage in Levi-
ticus, of which I feel sure I have established the only correct
translation."—Rev. C. J. Goodhart. M.A.
" After all the consideration he had been able to give the
question, his conclusion was, that in no sense could the mar-
riages proposed to be sanctioned by this bill be said to be op-
posed by Scripture."—Speech of T. E. Headlam, Esq., M.P.
" The petition from the city of London, in favour of this
marriage, was signed by a large number of persons, and among
others by the Lord Mayor, the Governor and Deputy-Gover-
nor of the Bank of England. and a considerable number of the
Directors of that establishment, by private bnkers, by the
Chamberlain of the city of' Lendos9 n, 'by 237 macrchttnts, 140
solicitors, 124 barristers, and 01 physicians. It was hie good
fortune to be acquainted with a large nu fiber
of the persons
who signed this petition, and he could gay from his knowledge
of their characters, that their opinions Were entitled to the
greatest weight and attention."—Speech of Lord Overstone.
"That the enactments of the Levitical law are entirely mis-
interpreted when applied in condemnation of marriage with
Mr.
a deceased's wife's sister was the decided judgment of
that
'Wesley, the founder of our Societies; and I believe
similar views have since been enter
among us who have been led by citained by manyfully to
of those
rcumstanees care
examine the matter, and whose competency to judge of such a
question has given great weight to their conclusion."—Rev.
Dr. Bunting,
" He had given his best attention to the arguments adduced
to show that there was a divine prohibition against these
marriages, but he was satisfied in his own mind that no such
prohibition existed. . . . Then came the question as to
the effects of this measure upon society, and he thought that
the great preponderance cf arguments; and facts upon which
are
were grounded, were in favour of the alteration of
this law."— Speech of Sir George Grey.
" He was sincerely favourable to the object of the Marriages
Bill."—Speech of the Earl of Ellenborough.
" I shall endeavour to show that the marriages it is sought
to legalize are not forbidden by the Word of God ; that they
are not contrary to the law of nature ; and I
hat they are not
inconsistent with the interests of society. am happy to be
able to inform the house that Lord Denman is desirous of
supporting this Bill."—Speech of Earl St. Germans.
" I believe all restrictions upon the nuptial union, unless
founded upon the law of nature, or the express authority of
Scripture, unwise and unjust; in neither of which sources
have I found this interdict of marriage with the sister of a
deceased wife."—John Quincy Adams, late President of the
United States.
" Everything that I have read upon this subject, for the last
20 years, has satisfied me that the objection is utterly un-
scriptural and unfounded."—Justice Story, Massashusetts.
"As far as I can judge, I do not believe one syllable of the
unlawfulness of this marriage under the Christian dispensa-
I tion." Chancellor Kent, New York.
" There is no law forbidding such marriages in the state of
Massachusetts; and, other things being equal, they are re-
garded with favour. I have never heard of any disadvantages
attending, or supposed to attend them ; and I make this re-
mark in reference to apprehensions which, as I perceive from
the public discussions, prevail in England."—Hon. Edward
Everett, late American Ambassador to Greet Britain.
" Such marriages, in Brazil, are s frequet as they can be.
They inspire no repugnance, buta, on the contrary, are con-
sidered extremely advantageous where there are children of
the former marriage ; for it is always to be presumed that the
aunt, who already knows the children of her brother-in-law,
and is connected 'by the ties of relationship, will prove a better
mother to possiblyh a stepmother, who is an entire stranger
to them can be."—His Excellency the Brazilian Am-
bassador,
" I have perused, with much pleasure, your letters on the
marriage of a man with the sister of a deceased wife, which
not only confirm me in the opinion which I had long enter-
tained, but must, methinks, satisfy every candid mind, that
there is not even a pretence for the assertion that such a con-
nexion is prohibited by the law of God."—Judge Livingston,
United States.
"'There was no prohibition of the wife's sister, except
during the lifetime of the wife."—Rev. Professor Robinson,
New York, Author of " Researches in Palestine," &c.
From the fact that the prohibition of marriage with the
sister of a wife is restricted to the lifetime of the wife, it is
evident that under this prohibition is notcomprehended mar-
riage with the sister of a deceased wife, the limitation, in
her lifetime,' leaving the marriage free after her death."—
Cardinal Cajetan.
" Moses, in Leviticus, prohibited certain marriages and per-
mitted othersin the same degree. For he prohibited marriage
with the wife of a brother even after his death, and did not
prohibit marriage with the sister of a wife, unless in her life-
time ; and, consequently did not prohibit it with a sister of a
deceased wife."—Cardinal Bellarmine.
" Do you construe that passage in Leviticus (xviii., 18) as
prohibiting marriage with a deceased wife's sister, or merely
as saying that a man should not take two wives together, at
the same time being so related?"—" Certainly., that verse
appears to have the latter meaning, that two sisters should
not be living together in the same house as wives of the same
person." • • . "Is such a marriage held by your Church as

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD ON
CONVICTION.
The fearful dangers to invalids from spurious imitations of
DU BARRY's invaluable HEALTH-RESTORING REVA -
LENTA ARABICA FOOD led to an investigation, and,
upon application in 1854 for protection, the High Court of
Chancery granted an injunction restraining Alfred Hooper
Nevill, and his agents, under a-penalty of £5,000, from selling
any article resembling or being a colourable imitation of Du
Barry's Revalenta Arabica, of which we are the sole pro-
prietors. Now, therefore, this is to give notice that the above
reward will be paid, upon conviction, to anyone giving infor-
mation of any breach of the injunction. An intelligent
public requires no admonition to shun all shopkeepers who
may attempt impositions. London : BARRY DU BARRY
Sr C 0 ,
NO MORE SICKLY OR ILL-CONDITIONED HORSES

OR -OTHER CATTLE.
RAREY'S HORSE and CATTLE-IMPROVING FOOD
restores the efilciency, vigour, endurance, and muscle of in-
onditioned or apparently worn-out Horses, Cows, Bul-
ocks, Calves, Sheep, and Pigs. In a short time it improves
heir appearance and value by 20 and 30 per cent. RAREY
and Co., 77, Regent's Quadrant, London. In tins at 35., at 65.,
at lls. ; in casks, of about 4.50 feeds, 50s. ; of about 1,000 feeds,
£5, being about lid. per feed,
Forwarded on receipt of Post-office orders. The casks free
of carriage.
NO MORE MEDICINE
Price 2d., free by post, a popular treatise, sixty-four Panes,
THE NATURAL REGENERATI
,ON of the DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
practically illustrating the effectual Cure, without Medicine,
of Indigestion (dyspepsia), habitual Constipation, Flatulency
Acidity, Palpitation of the Heart, Torpidity of the Liver,
bilous Headaches, Nervousness, Biliousness, General Debi-
ity, Cougl:, Asthma, Consumption, Despondency, Spleen, &c.,
without Pill, Purgatives, or Medicine of any kind, by a
simple, pleasant, and infallible means ; adapted to the general
reader. London : Barry Du Barry & Co., 77, Regent-street.

'S TO

-
ON DISQUALIFICATIONS ANL) IMPEDIMENT.
MARRIAGE.
New Edition, enlarged to li;13 paps, illustrated by 100 Ana-
tomical Engravings on Steel, Just publishedN,of.rfe,e,
Bbeyrnpoorssti:
on receipt of two perm/
street, Oxford-street, ondon,;
stampsdirect!rom 1
THE SILENT FRIEND; a Medical Work. ono
f 3 indulgence,feronf.y
and the injurious consequences from
ftliffiarurfseago,
and direc-
with observations on the obligations o
us .
, and containine.
tions for obviating certain disqualiticati
a valuable prescription of a Lotion to pre°Lvent Infection.
DISCOVERY
THE GREATEST MEDICA
OF THE AGE.
.CESSFUL MODE
A NEW, MILD, AND 40_ST_SNUTC
OF TREAT.am
, y'S justly celebrated Patent 3le-
The Proprietors of r.uu
dicines have confided tpiefurn.Pnre. serfrions to a
the
of the
an Member of the Royal Col-
Royal Universityof
lege of Surgeons lF.nsgliined (who is registered under the
New Medical and attends daily at No. 19 Berners-street
Oxford-street, between the hours of 11 and 2, and from 5 till 8'
vs excepterlto advise Patients on their Diseases d
(Sundays add to the speedy certainty Of cure.an
Treatment, and thus
pERErs PATENT CONCENTRATED ESSENCE OF
COPAIBA and CUBEB SACCHARATED GLOBULES, a
Preparation of the essence of the Balsam of Copaiba und
tastele.ss, retaining its
.curative powers.
Cubebs. PerfectlY
In all cases of Gonorrhoea, Gleet, Stricture, &c., a single
trial will prove the efficacy of this invaluable remedy ; as it at
once acts upon the Urino-Genital organs, restoring them to
their healthy state. Price 2s. 9d. (by post 3s. 3d.), 4s. &I. (by
post ss. Cid.), and lls. per box (by post 135.), sent direct from
No. 19, Berners-street, Oxford-street, London.
The CORDIAL BALM of SYRIACUM, a remedy for
spermatorrhcea, is employed in both sexes to renovate the
powers of life, when exhausted, reinvigorates the frame in
all cases of sexual debility, and to those persons who are
prevented entering the married state it is invaluable. Price
4s. 6d. and lls. per bottle, or four quantities in one for 335.,
which saves lls. ; or in £5 cases.:
The CONCENTRATED DETERSIVE ESSENCE, for
syphillis in all its stages, and is recommended for secondary
symptoms, blotches on the head and face, enlargement of the
throat, tonsils, and uvula; its benbficial influence on the
system is undeniable. Price 4s. 6d., lls. and 335. per :bottle,
also a saving of lls.
HEALTH DEPENDS UPON PURE BLOOD.*
PERRY'S PURIFYING SPECIFIC PILLS a cure foro iisll,
ceases of the skin, such as scurvy,' scrofula, ulcers,..b 4.,
diotches and pimples on the face and body. rrioe z"
bl. 6d., and Ils. ox.
4sTn be had directper frbom No. 19, Berners-strecti oxfurd-street,
Loudon, upon receipt of PostOfiloe Order.