The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-07 00:00:00

provide for the cless of persons refused I To many who
could not afford the expense of coming to Lon ion, and
bringing witne-ses, it was an absolute denial of justice.
Row were they to justify themselves for taking away the
access to justice which people in remote parts of the
country enjoyed under the
.ketion of the ecclesiastical
courts I In Sootland the persons who obta,neci divorce
were not scattered over the country in proportion to the
population, but were all near Edinburgh, showing that
the operation of central courts was a denial of justice to
those removed by distance.
S'r E. PERRY put a question as to whether some
words might not be added, to which
The CHAIRMAN replied that be could not answer
as to hypothetical words, but if they did not introduce a
principle in the clause, they might be admissible.
After a few words from Lord Lovaine, Lord John
Manners, and Mr. Ayrton
Mr. DRUMMOND said he would withdraw the
clause, and premised to bring on a new clause at the end
of the committee.
Mr. GLADSTONE said that, at all events, they
ought to have from the Government some statement as
to the machinery by whici the bill was to be worked.
The change of locality world prevent the middle classes
from resorting to the coatis, and so rob them of the re-
lief they had at resent.
Mr. BARROW said it was absolutely necessary to
negative the clause if the ircendinent was carried.
The CHAIRMAN sail the only questi in before the
•ornmittee was that of the original clause. The amend.
went could not be put.
After some burlier conversation,
Mr. H ILDYA RD said the silence of the Government
after the opinion expreesel on all hands, was not respect.
ful to the committee. He trusted they would not pass
the clause without some explanatioa from Government
of the course they meant to take.

Mr. COLLINS said the whole course of recent legis-
lation was to extend kcal jurisdiction, but this bill
would sweep away local :urisdiction.
Lord J. MANNERS hoped the committee would not
pass the clause without that explanation from the Go
vernrnent which they appeared to be so reluctant to
give.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was unwilling to ap-
pear disrespectful to the committee, but he bad nothing
to say. The intentions of the Government were ex-
pressed in the bill, and he that read c mid un&rstand
them. He Should be happy to consider any amendment
proposed by any member from the opposite side, or from
that side of the hove._

Mr. T. EGE RION complained of the flippancy of
the reply of the Att Tney-General. To say that be who
mllmlaiyttreeead;
.IfwGaos nut
ma eppenrtodidr nwoatyroepflyr,ephlyeinmgulsot
the
uenos
move to report progress.
Mr. GLADSTONE said the observation of the At-
torney-General implied a censure upon them for not un-
derstanding the intentions of the Government from the
words ef the bill, but the doubts which had arisen on
several points showed that the intentions of the Govern-
ment were not to be read in the hill. The Attorney-
General said he was ready to consider amendments, but
they did not appear disposed to consider that of the hon.
member for East Surrey. He hoped the cemmittee
would not pass the clause without Exp!anation.
Lord PAL VIERSTON said there was nothing more
surprising than the changes which took place in the
minds of bon. and right hon. gentlemen. The right hon.
gentleman the member for Oxford University had at one
period with great eloquence condemned the immorality
of divorce, and was now indignant that the hill did not
give greater facilities. (Hear.) The right hon. gentleman
re b
proeched the Attorney-General for not explaiiine the
views of the Government, but has his hon, and learned
friend had said, their views were to be read in the hill.
It was said tnat the bill would restrict certain facilities
not very often availed of, but still avail thole, for obtain-
ing judicial separation in the diocesan courts. But most
of the hon. gentlemen who had spoken seemed to be of
opinion that it was not desirable to invest the county
courts with those powers, and he certainly could riot
think that it was desirable to give greater facilities for
those separations, which placed the parties in a most oh-
jeotionabie position. If there were sufficient grounds
for a separation, the parties ought to be separated alto-
gether, as to be free to marry again. (Laughter, and
hear, hear.) The separation placed both in a situation
in which they were exposed to great temptation.
Attorney-General had said that he was willing to con-
sider an amendment, but there was no amendmerit b. fire
them, and those who wished to propose an amendment
had let the opportunity go by.
Mr. HENLEY said the noble lord knew quite well
that what the right hon. gentleman the member for Ox
ford Univer-ity was contending for, was not an abolition
of the judicial separation, but against the dissolution of
marriage, aed those two things were adroitly mixed ue
by the noble lord under the general name of divorce.
and
thnaotbloeflhoirsdGboavdersatainteednt that
that it was desirable
Tiie his deliberate opinion
to restrict the facility which existed for obtaining the
lesser separation, a fact which the country was now told
for the first time. (Hear.) It was clear that. the mean-
jug of the bill was to throw all the difficull it could ie
the way of lesser separatioe, and to give greater facilities
for the dissolution of marriage.
(Hear.)
Mr. HARDY said the noble lord the member far the
city of Louden had left the house under the impression
that the Government would bring more words to be
added to the clause for the purpose of rendering the
court more efficient than it would be under the bill as it
stood, but now it appeared that that was not to be the
case. There was in the bill as it stood no provision for
any local jurisdiction whatever. He did not say that
county court judges were the proper persons to whom
the duty should be entrusted, indeed be was of a con
trary opinion ; but he centended that there shoul i be ,a
local jurisdiction composed of duly qualified persona,
and that the Government should not confine the benefits