The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-21 00:00:00

BILL.

On the motion for tho third reading of this bill,
Mr. HENLEY proceeded to review the dis-
cussion that had taken place on the bill, and the changes
that bad been made in it in many of its mAterial parts
When the bill was introduced, the Government said it

was a perfect measure, and that any one attentively
reading it could not fail to understand the opinion of the
Government on it, and in consequence the Opposition
had bad, both in the house and out of it, " the doge of
war" let slip on them for opposing the measure
and attempting to discuss it. On the introductio❑ of the
measure, the Opposition stated that there was
no time to fully consider the subject, and he
thought he should be able to show, from the result,
how correct was their prophecy. It was said when the
bill was introduced that it made no change in the law,
but merely altered the proceedings relative to divorce,
and got rid of a great bhet on the institutions of the
country and the scandal attaching to actions of crinz.
con.; and it was further alleged that the bill would bring
home to the doors of all classes of her Majesty's subjects
those privileges in reference to divorce which were only
now within the reach of the rich. It was quite impos-
sible at the period of the session when the measure was
introduced to give it that consideration which its ins-
pertance demanded, and he thought he should be able to
show that the objects for which it had been introduced
were not likely to beattained, and that the measure stood
in such a position as showed it had not received that
consideration that was either creditable to the Govern-
ment or the importance of the bill demanded. The hon.
gentleman then referred to .the period that had been
occupied in discussing it. Seven days—morning and
evening sittings—had been occupied in committees, and
the result had been 13 material changes in the b:11,
although they had been told it was a perfect measure,
and had received ample discussion by competent persons
in the other house. Of these 13 changes no less than
10 of them were made without divisions and as•
sented to by the Government on the reasons and obser-
vation advanced by hon. members on both sides of the
; two material alterations bad been made by the
Attorney-General, and one on a divi.doa by the oppo-
nents of the measure. Fifteen divisions had taken place
in the Committee. Of the=e 7 were proposed by gentle-
men who voted for the second reading. The bill as
amended had made a material change in the status of a
woman separated from her husband judicially or di-
vorced, and enlarged the grounds relative to the charge
and custody of children. Toe most material change
made in the bill was in reference to the constitution
of the new tribunal and local jurisdictio❑ ; security to a
wife after separation ; the grounds on which divorce was
to be obtained ; increased discretion to the court to dis-
miss suits ; fine on the committal of adaltery ; procedure
in the new court, and the right of appeal. The right
hon. gentleman then entered into other details of
change., and concluded by expressing an opinion that
this important question had not been suff's -iently con-
sidered, and regretted that Government should have
considered it necessary to press the measure through
this session.

Sir G. GREY congratulated the house on the pro-
spect of the brl being read a third time without a
division, from the right hon, gentleman having con-
cluded h:s review of the measure without a motion.
He said that he considered the statements of the
right hon, gentleman showed that the bill had been
maturely considered, and was a sufficient answer to the
barge of undue haste made against the Govern-
ment. He defended the bill, and urged that the changes
that had been made in the bill ivcre by no means
of that importance with reference to its principle
attached to them by the right hon. gentleman, though
he (Sir Geo. Grey) admitted they were great improve-
ments. (Hear, hear )
Sir W. HEA.THCOTE said the Opposition were by
no means satisfied with the state of the bid, and their
declining then to go to a division which would not test
the real opinion of the house was not to be taken as con-
senting on their part to the bill passing.
Mr. A YRTON thought the house had done its duty
in making the bill as perfect as possible.
After some remark from Mr. NE WDEGATE,
Lord J. MANNERS entered his protest against the
third reading of the bill. He objected to it principally
because it imported for the first time into the statute
law of England the dissolubility of marriage by human
law. He entered at some length into other objections
he bad to the details of the and said that it was to
be regretted that a bill of so much imp irtanca had been
forced so late in the session through a itded Rouse of
Commons. The manner in which it had been forced
through that house was a source of great regret and ob.
j-e.ion to hi and never during the whole of his
Parliamentary career had he heard such complaints
against the conduct of business in that house as had been
made by persons of weight and influence against the pro-
ceedings of the noble lord in reference to this bill.

Lord PALMERSTON said that the intention of the
hon. gentlemen opposite not to divide the house was
consistent with their conduct throughout the discussion
on the bill. He denied that any member of the Govern-
had enunciated an opinion or anything that could
approach to it that the bill should bu hurriedly passed
through the house as it came down from the other
honse. The government had always shown not only
their readiness but their desire that the bill should be
fully and properly discussed. It had been said that the
hill should not be passed both privately and publicly.
On one occasion an hon. member said to him, " You
shan't pass the bill," and he replied to him, " Won't
we." (Laughter.) On another occasion the hon. member
for the University of Oxford spoke.of the Greek Kalende,
which he sabsequently explained as not used in reference
to delaying the bill, but the Government thought so,
and it was in consequence of those threats that he (Lord
Palmerston) said on a former occasion the G ,vernment
would sit till September to pass the bill. The noble lord
then referred to other matters connected with the pro-
gress of the bill, and aleo its details, and said that he
denied that marriage was considered indissoluble by the
Church of England, and referred to the 25th Article of
religion in confirmation of his statement. With reference
to the concession made to the clergy in the blil, his
lordship expressed a hope that they would understand
the feeling that induced Government to agree to it,
and that they would not look upon it as a principle
which if carried out would be detrimental to the interests
of the Church of England. He considered the bill had
been improved by the amendments that had been intro-
duced into it ; and in reference to the charge that the
bill had not been introduced to allow the house to be-
come acquainted and understand its provisions and give
their attention to it, he said that when it first came to
that house there were 347 members on the first division,
and that further progress showed that the supporters of
the bill were as two to one. In conclusion, the noble
lord referred to the good conduct of the house—
(laughter)—in disposing of public business, and he wished
then to express through them to the country the fat
that the members sent to the new Parliament had not
been unfaithful representatives, or neglectful of their
duties. He congratulated them on there having been
fewer irregularities during the last election than usual
in reference to bribery, &c., and that during the short
session of three months hon. members had actively, per-
severingly, carefully, and successfully attended to the
business before them. (Cheers.)
The bill was then read a third time and passed amidst
cheers.
SALE OF OBSCENE BOOKS, &0., PREVENTION

promoted; Richard Thomas Tidswall, Gent., to be First
Lieutenant, vice Stafford, promoted ; Charles Manly
Browne, Gent., to bo Second Lieutenant.

NOTICE OF IN rENDE!) DISTRIBUTION OF
NAVAL PRIZE MONEY.

Department of the Accountant• General of the Navy
Admiralty, Somerset-house, Aug. 20, 1857.
Notice is hereby given to the officers, seamen, and ma-
rines, and to all persons interested therein, that the distri-
bution of proceeds arising from the Servianvessel St. ElEna,
captured on the 27th April, 1855, by her Majesty's ship
Albion ; and the slave brigantine, name unknown, sup-
pcsed to be the Chatsworth, captured on the Ist January,
1856, by her Majesty's ship Hecate, will commence on
Monday, the 14th Sept., 1857, in the Prize Branch of the
Department of the " Accountant-General of the Navy,
Admiralty, Somerset House."
Agents and other persons holding powers of attorney,
prize orders, assignments, or other instruments, by virtue
of which they may be legally entitled to claim the share of
any captor, serving in the above-named ship, are re-
quested to present the same at this office.
Any officer, seaman, marine, or other person, who may
desire to receive his share from the Collector of Customs or
Inland Revenue within the United Kingdom, is required to
intimate the same by letter to be addressed "On Prize Bad-
ness, to the Secretary of the Admiralty, London," in which
letter his own place of residence is to be precisely stated,
as well as the place of the nearest Collector of Customs
or of Inland Revenue, from whom it would be convenient
to receive such share of prize money.
The following are the shares due to an individual in
each class :

ST. ELENA.

Flag share
Captains each
Third class
Fourth class 1 0 9
Fifth class 0 11 7

Sixth class
Seventh class
Eighth class 0 3 5
Ninth class
Tenth class

CHATSWORTH.
Commander 106 811 I Seventh class
Third class .... ..... 25 6 11 Eighth class
Fourth class 16 5 11 Ninth class
Fifth class
Sixth class