The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-11 00:00:00

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LIQUID MAN „".&%--,_
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TO THE EDITOR OF 7' K ,K-" ---,---
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SIR,---1 trust you will pardon me foyr ti elfeiku3K9r w-:,
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the following observations, a libert i. Ifernilre-40. 71
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from a conviction that every new disCevery in a 5....4 -;
cultural pursuits will tend to advance the beneWto
_,...if :Ii
be derived from a free trade in corn, a_nieatikre-7 '.'t•
.
so long and ably advocated. Having' hPpin, illitzle
to institute some experiments in farming conOerti ; *.
conjunction with a professional person of great intel- •
ligence and practical information, the issue may not '
be unworthy of notice. The 6rat was the substi-
tution
of pointed lightning conductors for training
vines, instead of the ordinary mode, by which instru-
mentality the electric fluid is drawn down from all
transient thunder clouds, that known and powerful
agent in promoting vegetation. This plan was tried
with perfect success, and the result exceeded- the '
most sanguine anticipations, the vine encircling a
conductor, far surpassing in luxuriance of growth
any of its adjacent neighbours, bearing a profusion
superior r both in quality and flavour.
of grapes
Hence I was led to examine the qualities of the
different descriptions of manure, and found that the
animal kind, when completely decomposed, is totally
devoid of electricity, and is best adapted for agricul-
tural purposes. The case is similar with regard to
1 stable or con-house liquid manure, which is equally
efficacious. An inference may fairly be deduced that
the pointed and tiny blades of corn, as well probably
as all plants, serve like small conductors to establish
the equilibrium between positive and negative
electricity, stimulating capillary attraction, and aiding
theprogresslof germi nation until they arrive at maturity.
Should this conjecture prove correct, some important
changes in husbandry may be introduced, by which
much of an invaluable article might be saved that is
now improvidently wasted or lost, and cultivation
extended at a diminished expense.
The preservation of liquid manure is' an object
that deserves the utmost attention and care. The re-
quisite drains and tanks, or cesspools, can be cheaply
constructed in convenient spots, according to ap-
proved designs, either on a moderate or a large scale.
At the same time, nothing contributes more to the
cleanliness of the cattle, or the improvement of their
condition. It will be no longer necessary to dispatch
ships to remote parts of the globe in search of guano,
when a preferable substance lies abundantly within
reach, and is easily procured. There is, then, little
reason to fear foreign competition, or to dread the
depreciation of the landed interests.

By the proper use of such means, and by active
industry, no limit can be assigned to the produc-
tion of green fodder, to stall-feeding, and, conse-
quently, to the raising of rotation crops. A new era
will dawn upon our country, unexampled in the
history of nations, by the general diffusion of wealth,
prosperity, and comfort.
To begin with a single instance. All seed, before
sowing, should be steeped, until saturated, in liquid
manure, of sufficient consistency to form an adequate
coating that will adhere to each grain, too much
being over-exciting to the delicate sprouts, and no
more applied than is actually required, in proportion
to the particular species. The process is peculiarly
beneficial with respect to spring wheat, peas, beans,
carrots, beet, and early potatoes. In garden business
it is strongly recommended to dip previously in the
same material the roots of all vegetables that need
transplanting. By operations of this nature, and with
prudent management, double advantages will be gained
in economy of outlay in manure and in the cost of
labour.

These brief suggestions are submitted for conside.
ration with an anxious hope that they may engage
the attention of individuals occupied in such affairs,
feeling persuaded from the test of experience that
their adoption will not fail to realise the expectations
entertained, by insuring increased returns and yield-
ing ample fruits at the period of harvest.
I am, Sir, &c.,
M. T. K.

ON THE LAW OF MARRIAGE
WITII A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

have read with considerable pleasure the
remarks which have lately appeared in your increas-
ing and influential journal on the above important
subject; and seeing that the " Report" of the Com-
missioners has entirely cleared away the moral rub-
bish of the question, why should not Parliament at
once legislate and follow up the labours of their own
Commissioners, by the immediate repeal of Lord
Lyndhurst's Act ? Is it because the country is not
fairly aroused on the question ? Or is it because the
Puseyite parsons prove harder to deal with than the
Roman Catholic priesthood ? At any rate, Str, the
sufferers naturally call in the aid of the press, and let
me hope that you will assist with your own pen, and
help us at the destruction of this last refuge of cant
and hypocrisy, so far as the law of marriage is con•
cern ed.

The real origin of all this turmoil is easily traced
back to the reign of King Henry VIII., of pious and
blessed memory, as all kings are, or at least are said
to he. Now this man, or rather this monster, who
is said "never to have spared woman in his lust, or
man in his rage," had fallen in love with the widow
of his elder brother Arthur, to whom he was married
in the year 1509, the year that he ascended the
throne. But I cannot do better than quote from
an admirable little book by AI-.Campbell Foster on this
subject. It therein appears that " some objections were
urged against this marriage on the ground of the
Princess Catharine being Henry's deceased brother's
widow. After the question, however, had been fully
discussed with the unanimous consent of the Council,
Henry was publicly married to the Princess by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, amidst great rejoicings."
This seemed for the long period of seventeen years
to have been a ♦ery happy marriage, but a fresh beauty
having appeared at Ccurt as Maid of Honour to the
Queen, in the person of Anne Boleyn—and she
having been taught wisdom from experience, by the
knowledge of the fate of her sister Mary, who had
been seduced by the King, and after being his mis-
tress for a short period, was desertediby him—
she indignantly repelled the King's advances, saying
that, " though she would be happy to be
his wife, she would never condescend to be
his mistress."* Now a repulse like this naturally
increased Henry's passion, and though seventeen years
had passed without a suspicion of the lawfulness of
his marriage, yet, in the company of his confidants,
he affected to fear that he was living in a state of
incest with the relict of his brother.

Now then came " the tug of war," and Henry
applied to Pope Clement for a divorce. The Pope,
who up to that period was the universal head of the
Church, refused it ; and, therefore, the pious King
Henry, by the aid of his courtiers and evil council-
lors, determined to set himself up as Head of the
Church" and " Defender of the Faith," and that has
since been the title of successive monarchs of lingland,
and remains so up to this day.
At this period the law of 28th Henry VIII. and
the other Acts of the reign of King Henry on
the subject of marriage were passed ; and it is well
expressed in the "little book" before alluded t..),
" that to this vile and vicious source do we trace the
first appearance of the prohibition of marriage be-
tween persons related by affinity in our statutes,
opposition to which beeped disgrace on Cardin*l
a thatndev Englandentuall hasbroughtyever had au
one ofthceseto
brightestbe
ornamentsW °l
s6Y
proud of—the great and the good Sir Thomas More
—to the block."

It appears that the great and influential body of the
Dissenters are beginning to move on this question,
and there has been a meeting at Southampton to peti-
tion on the subject. The leaders of the Dissenters
are almost all of them in favour of the repeal of Lord
Lyndhurst's Act, as being pregnant with 11111M0•
rality and crime. Among the Baptists the
evidence of the Reverend Mr. Binney is very
important, and the most numerous body of
Dissenters in the kingdom, the Wesleyan Methodists,
will be glad to peruse an extract from a letter to the
Commissioners from the Rev. Jabez Bunting :—"
have a strong opinion, as far as my present acquaint-
ance with the argument on both sides authorises me
to express an opinion, that the law of God, as exhi-
bited in the Holy Scriptures, does not clearly prohibit
_
the marriage of a bereaved husband with the sister of
his deceased
the
eceaseldaw of God
wife; and that
not, it
at
tad
all
eb, reennt.,bedtetecrid iefci
andbe
been
ne t the
introduced.',
,laan gp,odruamhgiuebsitot ifoetn of human law
ryuentit,
u,aolflysobperrnev
eabsi
lea never
:d a
nNld,hoyf
ictoinai'mhs fioosrniassemtnhsoeement delayed is a puzzle to everybody.
I are, Sir, your obedient servant,