The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-14 00:00:00

upon the doors of the town-hail, the principal
churches and chapels, and to insert it in the newspapers
that circulated in the neighbourhood, for a vote to be
taken on the subject. He is then to appoint at least ten
days forward for taking the opinion of the inhabitants
on the subject. L will then require the assent of two-
thirds of the rate-payers to justify the Act being put
into operation. He trusted that the Bill, as it was now
framed, would meet the objections of his opponents.
The question having beers put,
Colonel SIBTUORP said, although this Bill might be
considered to be a new one, as compared with the former,
he felt bound to continue his opposition to it. These
wore not times for spending money in the way proposed,
when it might be much better expended in providing
food and employment fur the people. When they had
done this, it wee time enough to provide amusements and
recreation of the character to be provided for by this
Bill. Instead of endeavouring to afford them industrious
and profitable employment, he supposed they would be
thinking of supplying the working classes with quoits,
peg-tops, end foot-ball. They should first teach the
people to read and write. What would be the use
of these libraries to those who could not read
or write? He supposed that the lion. Member and his
friends would soon be thinking of introducing the
pet formances of Punch for the amusement of the people.
—(Laughter.) The Bill was wholly uncalled for. There
were no petitions presented in favour of it. Instead of
calling upon the unfortunate rate-payers to pay for these
amusements, he for one would be more disposed to put
his hand in his pocket in order to enable them to enjoy
them altogether free from taxation. The Hon. and
Gallant Member concluded by moving that the further
progress of the measure be postponed to that day six
months.
Mr. HUME thought the Honourable and Gallant
Member could not have read this Bill, or he would
not have opposed the measure on the grounds he had
stated. The Bill did not propose to tax the people
for these purposes without their full consent. He
agreed with the Honourable and Gallant Member that
it would be highly improper to pass a Bill at the pre-
sent time to increase the taxation of the people. If the
Hen. and Gallant Member had road the Bill with atten-
tion, he was sure he would be as forward as any one in
support of it.
Colonel SIBTHORP—Oh no.
Mr. HUME thought that if this Bill passed the Hon.
and Gallant Member would be the first to put his hand
in his pocket for the purpose of advancing 200/. for tee
establishment of one of these institutions in Lincoln.
There was no part of the civilised world in which these
institutions were more wanted than in England. In the
United States there were 10,000 such institutions.
What an advantage it would be for the poorer classes
of this country to have these libraries to resort to, in-
stead of public-houses. He hoped that the Hon. and
Gallant Member would not persevere in his opposition to
this measure.
Alderman SIDNEY said there wore great discrepan-
cies in the Bill. He did not think that these institutions
would be as much encouraged as the Hon. Member op-
posite supposed. They had a library and museum in
London which was very little used by the people. There
was no provision in the Bill for retracing their steps if
the people had reason to regret the establishment of the
then institutions. This, though nominally a small tax
upon the people, would become most serious in the course
of years.
Mr. HEALD thought it would be a great injustice to
the Right Hon. Member for Damfries if, after the dis-
position he had shown to improve the Bill and to render
it as perfect as possible, they should object to its going
into Committee.
Colonel CHATTERTON asked whether it was in-
tended to make it applicable to Ireland?
Mr. EWART said it did not apply to Ireland, but he
understood that an lion. Member had given notice of
his intention to introduce it into Ireland.
Mr. STANFORD did not object to the principle of
the Bill; but there was a great confusion in some of the
Clauses between the titles of the burgesses and rate-
payers. There was a great difference between taking
the sense of the burgesses and the sense of the rate-
payers. The former did not amount to one-fifth of the
latter. There was no provision in the present measure
for the prevention of a continued agitation of this sub-
ject, notwithstanding that it had been repeatedly de-
cided by the majority of the rate-payers that no such
institutio❑ should be established. This was a departure
from the principle of the former measure, which pro-
posed to enact, that if the question were once decided it
should not be again moved for a period of three years.
As far as Reading was concerned they had two literary
institutions, and a library containing about 3,000 or
4,000 volume', which was accessible to all upon payment
of a very small subscription. For these reasons he would
vote fir the amendment, although as anxious for diffus-
ing information amongst the people as the Hon. Member
for Dumfries.
Mr. KERSHAW supported the Bill, on the ground
that the people would derive great benefit from its adop-
tion. He was prepared to support it in every stage.
Mr. SPOONER did not consider it worth while to
divide the House on this question. The sense of the
}louse had born already twice declared in favour of the
Principle of this Bill.
Mr. FORBES said if his lion. and Gallant Friend
divided the House he would feel it to be his duty to sep-
port him He was opposed to the principle of the Bill,
avid he must say that the details were most objectionable.
Mr. .W YLD was surprised that the agriculturists shoull
oppose this Bill, as it was well known that wherever
museums and public libraries ware established, and be-
came acces,ible to the poorer clauses, public honeys
ceased to be frequented. As those institutions were
diffused crime diminished.
'I he house divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment ...
Against it

... 87

Majority ••• 660 ••• —66
The House resolved itself into Committee, Mr. BER
NAL in the chair.
Upon clause 1 being proposed,
Mr. BROTHEBTON moved that the Chairman re-
Port progress, in order that the discussion on the Mar-
riages Bill be proseded with.
The Committee divided, when there appeared—
Fer the motion... ... 68
Against it ... ... 40
Majority —2S
The Chairman reported progress.
EWART moved that the Bill be committed on
1, Wednesday next.
Mr. LAW moved as an amendment that the Bill be
Committed that day six months.
I Mr. HUME considered this a most ungracious pro.
seeding with respect to a Bill which had met with the
aPproval of the Home.
Mr. LAW said the Lion. Gentleman had himself voted
to stop the progress of the Bill.—(Hear, and laughter.)
Sir H. VERNEY, as one of the supporters of the Bill,
*Sid he had a right to complain of those who had charge
of the Bill, end who should have proceeded with it.
The House then divided. The numbers were—
For the amendment B5
Against it 47
Majority against the amendment —3B
It was then agreed that the Bill should bo re•cona-
,4 witted on Wednesday next.
MARRIAGES BILL.
On the order of the day being read for going into
, ‘'otninittee on this Bill petitions in its favour were pre-
Settled,, by Mr. Peto. Mr. J. Ellis, Mr. Harris, Mr. S.
„rvvortley, and Mr. C. Pearson; and against it by Mr. B.
st, or..
The House then went into Committee, and on clause
being proposed,
Mr. R. PALMER rose, and proposed as an amend•
!lent the insertion in line 18 of the following words:—
Nor shall any member of either of the said Churches
(Of England and Scotland) who may hereafter contract
arm,
such marriage, be exempted, by virtue of this Act,
y, tram any such spiritual or ecclesiastical censure or pu-
, lahraent; nor shall any sentence for restitution of con-
"gal rights be pronounced by any ecclesiastical court in
keY suit or proceeding between the parties to any such'
tarriagP." The Hon. and Learned Gentleman said that
t :LaY had now this Bill presented to them in an entirely
bew point of view, and consistently with a''viee which
e;.;rl been given by his Rie6t Honourable Friend (Mr.
ortley), and which bad been published in the Nuncon•
newspaper, a considerable endeavour had been
rtcle with a certain degree of success to obtain a
ltrge amount of e"
peculiar Dissentine• support" fur
tole
measure. Accordingly, when his Right Honour.
Friend applied for leave to bring in his Bill et
11,,e Commencement of the session, he took new eround.
u,u,tead of proposing it as a me,isurn equally and
Zrt,ifferently applicable to all hey Mejesty s subjects,
trl with reference to the wants and circumstances
th all classes, he now, for the first time, stated
14'4 he proposed it in a great treasure on the
Oolld of the conscientious opinions which were en-
rtaint by Dissenting Indies, and expressly said that he
tie
eetno -to the conclusion that it would be wise to
t...nit the provision to which objection had been made,
1:41 to leave the rules and discipline of the Church per-
; tt!lly untouched by the Bill. The amendment he (.Mr.
N'tler) had to propose was intended to carry the Rieht
aourable Gentleman's profession into effect, fur tin-
, titilie4ionably the clause proposed by the Right Honour-
' I.„;:„Gentleman would be ineffectual for that purpore.
eq. ''ing at the Bill as it now stood he found that this
ta4stituted all the difference between it and the measure
th St year. His Right Honourable Friend had adopted
Ith;4,tnendments of which he (Mr. Palmer) gave notice,
tkieo were to the effect that nothing in the Act con-
ued should be construed in any court to alter or affect
Itg, doctrine of either of the Established Churches,
vet the degrees of consanguinity and affinity within
Hteeh Marriages were prohibited were settled and de-
-14144,', But beyond all doubt this did no more than say
41°,0141,0 abstract doctrine of the Church upon the subject
not be taken to be altered. The next clause said
aethOo clergyman or officer of either Church should be
ill°rt'ed to solemnize any marriage of this description.
Mat, too, was of some value, but his Right Honour-
lie: Friend had qualified the amendment contained in
lelll (Mr. Palmer's): provision by the addition of an
;le e°lrtaot proviso at the end of the clause, which found
awls in his (Mr. Palmer's) proposition or the Bill of
th Yearandwhich •
proviso was in these terms—that
of tPtrties to any such marriage should not by reason
teit''.l4 Bill be subjected to censure or punishment by
tiro anY ecclesiastical court; so that the administra-
kt4Prer of the Church had not been saved. The
tiv,a "a:mA which he (Mr. Palmer) now proposed would
,C,?eeteitfeet to the principle asserted by the Right Hon.
;Ilin.e.ttlan and leave the rules and discipline of the
eeea entirely untouched, and as to the Church of
1314:,113d, leave the doctrine and discipline of that Church
Neti6dand inviolate. By the clause his Right Hon.
4tared. proposed the discipline of the Church was not
tilltose except with respect to clergymen solemnizing
oseiheularriages. With respect to all other cases of
„,4cieet'a of the Church contracting those marriages, the
c
trtgethe (l the Church would be interfered with and
t te% destroyed by the operation of the Bill. If the
Ihtlpti 540121 d not adopt his amendment they would
tits Church ?outs to decide in ovits for the

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