The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-07 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House If Commons./

WEDNESDAY, miticif 6.
MARRIAGES BILL.
Order read for resuming adjourned Debate on Amend-
ment proposed to be made to the Question (27th February),
"That the Bill be now reld a second time:" and which
Amendment was to leave out the word " now," and at the
end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six
months :"—Question again proposed, " That the word 'now'
stand part of the Question." The House divided :
,MAJORITY—AYES, 182.
Adair, Hugh E. Grenfell, Charles W. Parker, John
Adair, R. Shafto Grey, Sir G. Pechell, Sir G.
Aglionby, 11. A. Grey, R. W. Pelham, D.-A
Anderson, Arthur Grosvenor, Earl Peto, Sainuelpf.
Anson, Colonel Harcourt, G. G. Pilkington, James
Anstey, T. C. Hardcastle, J. A. Power, Nicholas
Armstrong, It. B. Harris, Richard Price, Sir It
Arundel, Earl of Hastie, Alexander Rawdon, Colonel
Bagshaw, John Hatchell, John Rendlesharn, Lord
Baines, M. T. Hawes, B. Repton, G. W. J.
Baring, Thomas Hayter, W. G. Ricardo, J. L.
Barnard, E. G. Headlam, Thomas Ricardo, Osman
Barrington, Lord Heald, James Rice, E. R.
Bellew, R. M. HeAttheoat, John Rich, Henry
Berkeley, Henry F. Heneage, Edward Romilly, Colonel
Birch, h,ir Thomas Henry, Alexander Romilly, Sir John
Blair, Stephen Herbert, H. A. Rumbold, C. E.
Blake, Martin J. Herbert, Sidney Russell, F. C.
Blandford, Marquis Heywood, James Rutherfurd, A.
Bright, John Hill, Lord M. Salwey, Colonel
Brocklehurst, John Ilobhouse, T. B. Sanders, George
Brockman, E. D. Holland, Robert Scholefield, W.
Brotherton, J. Howard, Lord E. Scrope, G. P.
Bruce, Lord E. Howard, C. W. Shafto, R. D.
Bunbury, E. H. hiume, Joseph Sidney, Alderman
Busfeild, W. Hutt, William Smith, J. A.
Buxton, Sir E. Jackson, William Smyth, J. G.
Cardwell, Edward Jervis, Sir John Smythe, George
Carter, John B. Keppel, G. T. Somerset, Captain
Caulfeild, J. M. Ker,:Richard Somerville, Sir W.
Chaplin, W. J. Kershaw, James Spooner, Richard
Childers, J. W. Kildare, Marquis of Stansfield, W. R.
Christy, Samuel King, P. J. Strickland, Sir G.
Clay, James Labouchere, Henry Stuart,.Lord J.
Clay, Sir W. Lascelics, W. S. Talbot, J. 11.
Clifford .Henry M. Lemon, Sir Charles Tancred, 11. W.
Cobden, Richard Lennard, T. B. Tennent. R. J.
Cockburn, A. J.: Lewis, Sir T. Thicknesse, Ralph
Colebrooke, Sir T. Lewis, George C: Thompson, Colonel
Currie, Raikes Littleton, E..lt. Thornely, Thomas
Dawson, T. V. Locke, Joseph Tollemache, F. J.
D'Ericourt, C. T. Lushington, Charles Tollemache, John
Dodd, George Mackinnon, W. A. Townshend. Captain
Duncan, Viscount Mangles, R. D. Trelawny, J. S.
Dundas, Admiral Marshall, J. G. Tuthell, H.
Ebrington, Viscount Marshall, William Villiers, Charles
Ellice, Edward Martin, John Waddington, H. S.
Elliot, John Martine. W. Wakley, T.
Enfield, Lord Martin, Samuel Wall, C. B.
Evans, John Masterman, J. Walrnsley, SiriJ.
Evans, William Matheson, A. Watkins, Colonel
E wart, William Matheson, Colonel Wawn, J. T.
Fagan, William Melgund, Viscount Willcox, Brodie
Ferguson, Sir R. Milner, W. M. Williams, John
Foley, J. H. Milnes, It. M. Williamson, Sir M.
Forster, M. Milton,-Viscount Wilson, Matthew
Fox, W. J. Mitchell, T. A. Wrightson, W. B.
Freestun, Colonel Molesworth, Sir W. Wyvill, Marroaduke
Frewen, C. 11. Moody, C. A.
Gibson, T. M. Morris, David TELLER/.
Glyn, G. C. Mulgrave, Earl Wortley, S.
Grenfell, C. Pascoe Ogle, S. C. Denison, Edmund

MINORITY—NOES, 130.
Acland, Sir T. Forbes, Williamj Packe, C. W.
Arbuthnott, Hugh Fordyce, A. D. Palmer, Robert
Arkwright, G. Fuller, A. E. Palmer, Roundell
Baillie, ii. J. Gladstone, W. E. Patten, W.
Bateson, Thomas Gordon, Admiral Peel, Sir Robert
Bennet, P. Goulburn, Henry Peel, Frederick
Beresford, William Graham, Sir James Plowden,'.W. 11.
Berkeley, C. L. G. Grogan, Edward Plumptre, J. P.
Boldero, H. G. Guernsey, Lord Portal, Melville
Bowles, Admiral Hall, Sir B. Pusey, P.
Bramston, T. W. Halsey, T. P. Raphael. Alexander
Brisco, M. Hamilton, J. H. Reid, Colonel
Broadley, 11. Heneage, G. H. Richards, Richard
Brooke, Lord Henley, J. W. Bushout, Captain
Buck, L. W. Hildyard, R. C. Seyraer, 11. K.
..:
Buller, Sir Y. Hildyard, T. B. Shell, R. L.
Burrell, Sir C. Hogg, Sir J. W. Sibthorp, Colonel
Cabbell, B. B. Hood, Sir A. Simeon, John
Campbell, W. F. Hope, A. Smollett, A.
Carew, W. P. Hornby John Sotheron, T. 11. S.
Cayley, Edward S. Hallam, Lord Spearman, H. J.
Chatterton, Colonel Inglis, Sir R. Stafford, Augustus
Clerk Sir George Jones, Captain Stanley, Edward
Clive, R. 11.1 Keating, Robert Stanton, W. S.
Clive, Henry B. Law, C. E. Stuart, J.
Cocks, T. S. Legh, G. C. Sturt, 11. G.
Cole, Hon. 11. A. Lindsay, Colonel Sullivan, 11 Maul
Coles, 11. R. Lockhart, W. Taylor, T. E.
Compton, it. C. Lopes, Sir Ralph Teulson, E. K.
Currie, Henry Mackenzie, W. F. Thornhill, G.
Deedes, W. Mahon, Lord '1 ownley, R. G.
Dick, Quintin Manners, Lord J. Trevor, G.
Douglas, Sir C. Manle, Fox Turner, George
Divett, E., Meux, Sir 11. Tyrell, Sir J.
Duff, George S. Miles, P. W. S. Verney, Sir 11.
Drummond, Homo Miles„W. Walpole, S. 11.
Duckworth, Sir J. hloweli, William _ Wegg-Prosser, F.
Duncombe, A. Morgan, 0. West, F. R.
Duncembe, 0. Mull/rigs, J. R. Willoughby, Sir 11.
Pandas, G. Mundy, William Wodeliouse, Edmund
Dundas, Sir David Mure, Colonel
Du I're, C. G. Naas, Lord TELLERS.
East, Sir J. B. Newry, Viscount Thesiger, Sir F.
Edwards, H. O'Flaherty, Anthony Wood, W. I'.
Fitzpatrick, J. W. Oswald, Alexander

ABOLITION OF THE VICE-REGAL
COURT IN IRELAND.
(From the Times.)
The passage of the first railway train through the
tubular bridge across the Menai Straits would seem
to have suggested the propriety of at length disclosing
a " secret" which has been long known to everybody
—that the days of the miniature Court of the Lord-
Lieutenant in Ireland are numbered. The commu-
nication between London and Dublin for passengers
is now reduced to an easy day's journey. In any
cases where a more speedy method of intercourse be-
tween the two cities becomes desirable, we have in
the electric telegraph a very simple machinery at
hand to convey orders and intelligence—at any rate
as far as Holyhead—almost with the speed of thought.
For any useful purpose the little pageant in Dublin
Castle has now become a mere burlesque—a cere-
mony without a meaning, an expense without a
result.
It would be idle to waste words in showing the
propriety of the change we are now announcing.
The only reason for commissioning a subject to re-
present the Sovereign in any district or colony
of the empire is, its being so ,far removed
from the central seat of Government that
its affairs cannot be conveniently administered
without the borrowed majesty of a petty
Court. Such a substitution is a makeshift, not a
privilege—a memento of subjection rather than a
symbol of independence. We do not place a series of
Governors in the great towns of England. Liver-
pool, Manchester, Birmingham, York, Northampton,
and Plymouth, are very well preserved from disorder
by the local machinery of municipalities and magis-
trates, supported, in case of necessity, by the power
of the Lord-Lieutenants and Sheriffs of counties, with
an ultimate appeal to bead-quarters. But, take the
stronger case of Scotland—a case not analcgous, but
identical with that of Ireland. Can any one doubt
that the presence of a mimic Court, which should rather
ape the petty intrigues than imitate the grander
features of its prototype, would be a curse, not a
blessing to the Scottisb people ? Edinburgh, and
Glasgow, and Paisley remain tranquil, although
the threads by which they are governed are
drawn from the centre of the empire. From
Caithness to the Land's-end all is consolidated,
without any approrch to that system of cen-
tralization which has been so just a subject of
reproach to the Continental Governments. With
them the element of municipal independence was
wanting. The very meaning of our centralization is,
the removal, not the imposition of constraint. No-
thing but actual necessity, arising from physical
causes, could justify the continuance of a restraint
upon Ireland from which the provincial districts of
England, and Wales, and Scotland were exempt.
The time has arrived for placing Ireland upon the
same footing as Great Britain, and removing an invi-
dious distinction that was only justified by the diffi-
culties of dilatory and doubtful communication.
There is one consideration only which could have
made us hesitate as to the propriety of the abolition of
the Lord-Lieutenancy. Had any strong feeling existed
amongst the Irish themselves in favour of the retention
of the pageant, certainly their feeling on the subject
would have been entitled to respect. But upon care-
ful' inquiry the very reverse of this turns out to be the
case. It is the earnest wish of the great majority of
Irishmen to see every focus of political intrigue ex-
tinguished, and although the Lord-Lieutenant's
office in Ireland was to discountenance seditious
movements by, all the means at his disposal, yet
whether he would or not, the " Castle" was turned
into a centre of heart-burning and discontent. Men
who live in the full tide of human affairs, and
whose lot it Las never been to be mixed up with
the petty intrigues of provincial majesty, can form
but a slender idea of the ridiculous pretensions of
the aspirants efter the ftvour cf Castle."
Immortal wrath would he engendered in a moment
of time by some imagined affront, whilst the re-
presentative of his Sovereign vainly imagined that
his anxious exertions to please everybody had been
crowned with something like success. The pen of
the novelist, rather than of the political writer, would
be requisite to portray what Ben Janson would
have called the " Humours " of the Castle and
its Courtiers, even before it had ceased to be a
necessary institution. Not all the cordiality and
dignity of Ireland's last Lord-Lieutenant could
have much longer saved his little Court from falling
before the force cf pure ridicule, when the country
, had Me moverecl fxgsg the combined effects of

famine and agitation. Besides, all question of the
ludicrous apart, the presence of a Viceroy in Dublin
actually ministers to agitation. So long as an arena
is open to them, the representatives of Orargeisna
and Ribandism will rush there to boast their influ-
ence, and struggle for a worthless triumph. A mare's
nest will never be wanting to the Orangemen of the
North so long as an unhappy Viceroy is forth-
coming, on whom they can fasten the conceits of their
own addled brains. Dr. M'Hale is of course tco
happy to have a vice-regal correspondent whenever his
temper gets the better of his reason, and he is
pleased to concoct one of those marvellous communi-
cations in which he connects the prevalence of
easterly winds in March with the Rate-in-Aid.
What is a Lord-Lieutenant to do ? If he is not
guilty of discourtesy to a Roman Catholic prelate,
the Ulster men take fire—if be turn the cold shoulder
to the higher clergy of the great mass of the people,
the affront passes like a galvanic shock through three
of the four provinces of which Ireland is composed.
We mention but one out of a thousand difficulties
which a Lord-Lieutenant must confront at evs ry
turn. Surely in such a case it is better to avoid all
cause of offence by abolishing the (Ace altogether
which is the innocent cause of so much theological
and political animosity.
It would ill-become us, however, to announce such
a change as this, and to speak in terms somewhat de-
preciatory of an office once the most important that
could be held by a subject, without adding a few
short words in commendation of that nobleman to
whose lot it has fallen to be Ireland's last Viceroy.
Lord Clarendon has discharged an important trust
with singular success, in the face of great difficulties,
and of a very enigmatic future. We are writing in
1850, when the danger is past, and we are fully
aware of the character of the opponents, and the value
of the opposition with which he had to contend. But
when thrones were crumbling round us in every
European country, and the Irish demagogues were
busily engaged in working upon the passions of a sus-
, ceptible people, then peculiarly exasperated by almost
unprecedented suffering, it was a very different matter.
In the face of these difficulties, however, Lord Clarendon
did preserve the public peace, and brought the offenders
to justice in the way most calculated to nullify the
efforts of their disciples for the future. And this
was done by a simple and most sparing use of the
public force, without bloodshed, and without arming
one section of the country against the other, as he
was repeatedly advised to do. Ahmed by a press in
many instances lamentably unscrupulous, denounced
by the Protestant bigot on one side, and the Popish
priest on the other, it was no fair-weather duty that
Lord Clarendon had to discharge. Whether the re-
sult must be attributed to the wisdom of the states•
man or the good fortune of the man, it is now a mat-
ter of history that he has completed his task with
the most perfect success. Emergencies may possibly
again arise in which the presence on the spot of an
able and resolute man might ,be desirable, and no
doubt such an one will be always forthcoming. But
we will not anticipate such an event. Let us rather
hope that the change will act in every way benefi-
cially on the interests of our Irish fellow-subjects,
and that they may have no cause to regret the cessa-
tion of viceregal rule and the splendours of the vice-
regal Court.

THE LATE WAR IN HUNGARY.—A third editoa
of the little volume entitled " Scenes of the Civil War
in Hungary, with the Adventures of an Austrian Off,,
in the Army of the Ban of Croatia," has already made
its appearance. " This," says the Naval and Militiry
Gazette, "is a book of deep excitement—of soul-har-
rowing interest." In allusion to the late civil war in
Hungary, the Times has remarked that " the recently-
quelled Hungarian rebellion has, in all its stages, excited
the most lively interest in all parts of Europe, and pro-
bably no where more than in England."
THE HAIDIOS—the Greek designation for " ever-
lasting"—has been given to a new black silk, which
during its manufacture has been the cause of the re-
moval of many difficulties hitherto considered insuperable.
It is well known to the producers of textile fabrics, that
it is a work of much mental and mechanical application
to obtain a plain silk fit fir general purposes, which
should at the same time possess the qualification of
novelty. In this instance such has been effected in a
silk of great brilliancy of texture, with an assurance of
lasting wear, while it has the further claim of economy
of cost. The hue is said to be proof against acids and
sea-water. It has been registered under the above title
by the Messrs. Jay of Regent-street, who, we believe,
are ever emulous to obtain novelties adapted to the pecu-
liarities of their trade.—Post.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—OXFORD, MARCH 6. On
Monday se'nnight an accident occurred in this city,
which has since proved fatal to Mr. Edwin Giles Dan-
beny, a promising young man, in the prime of life, demy
of Magdalen College, and nephew of Dr. DaubPny, Pro-
fessor of Chemistry, &c., in this University. It appears,
from the evidence adduced at the coroner's inquest, yes-
terday, befote Mr. George Valentine Cox, that the de-
ceased, in company with some friends, were on their re-
turn from Godstow, and while walking along the
unfinished Rugby ald Oxford Railroad, near Boncy's-
bridge, they heard one of their companions, who was in
a skiff, crying out for help; they immediately ran to his
assistance and extricated him and his boat, which had
got among the pi;es of the unfinished bridge, when, on
crossing a plank, one of them saw (recessed lying amongst
some loose bricks underneath. Ho went to him, nod
found that he was considerably injured. They after-
wards discovered Oat deceased, in (as they supposed, for
it was almost dark) endeavourivg to render assistance to
his friend in the skiff, missed his footing, and fell dr the
plank, amongst some loose bricks, a distance of nearly
sixteen fvet, and injured himself so severely that death
ensued yesterday morning. A verdict of " Accidental
death" was retuned.

DISCOVERY OF A GREAT LAKE.—A great lake has
been discovered in the interior of South Africa during
a journey of exploration by two gentlemen named Mur-
ray and Oman. It is situated in longitude 24 deg. east
and latitude 19 deg. south, and its limits appear to have
been undi*cernible. According to the natives, however,
it takes twenty-five days to travel round it. The veg( -
Wien on its banks is tropical, and palms are abundant,
but it contains no crocodiles, alligators, or hippopotimi.
It is approached by a river, which for some distance is
of small size, and which, sti it approaches the like, be-
comes as large as the Clyde. The lake itself has no
islands in it, but it is said that there are many at the
mouth of the river, and that these are densely populated
by a race entirely diffal eat from those near the borders
of the lake. Pelicans are numerous, as also fish, some
of which resemble perch and carp, and • weigh between
401 b. and 501 b. There are likewise a great number of
elephants, although of a much smaller description than
those nearer the colony. The native?, whose language
was unlike any known dialect spoken by the other
tribes in South Africa, appeared to be of an inferior
nature, and to be much afflicted with pulmonary
disease.

RAILWAY PASSENGERS' ASSURANCE COMPANY.—
The first half-yearly meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the offices, Old Broad-street, Mr. J. I). Paul
in the chair. The report stated that assurance tickets
both for single journeys and periods of time are now ob-
tainable on several railwaye. The directors trust that
ere long the directors of the South-Eastern, the North-
Kent, the London, Brighton, and South Coast, and the
London and South-Wiestern Railways may be disposed to
reconsider the applications made to them, and afford the
desired facility of issuing the tickets of this company at
their stations through the booking clerks. The revenue
of the company to the 31st of December last produced
1,4211.; but since the Ist of January in the present year
the increase has been most marked; the directors trust
that it will go on steadily increasing, as the utility of
the company becomes more apparent. In all cases
which have received compensation, except two, the
claimants have been persons in such circum-
stances in life, that it is believed the compensation
afforded them has been both acceptable and satisfactory,
relief being promptly conceded, and the amounts agreed
to without difficulty, or any necessity fur recourse being
had to arbitration. The single journey tickets, issued
since the commencement of the company's business in
August, 1849, to the end of the third week in February,
amounted fur first-class to 15,710; for second-class to
24,586; third-class, 25,047; total, 65,343. The periodical
tickets for the same period amounted to 1,683. Arrange-
ments have just been completed fur insuring guards,
enginedrivers,
_stokers, and all classes of railway servants
who travel. These insurances are fur sums of 5001. or
2001. to be paid in cases of fatal accident, with propor-
tionate compensation for personal injury, at a premium
of 11. and 10f. per annum respectively. On the motion
of the Chairman the report was adopted, the retiring
directors and auditors were re-elected, and after a vote
of thanks to the chairman and directors for their gratuit-
ous services the meeting separated.
TUE LISTON TESTIMONIAL.—A meeting of the
subscribers to the fund fur erecting a memorial to the
late Mr. Liston was held last evening in Old Burlington-
street. The Marquis of Anglesey presided; there were
also present the Earl of Uxbridge, Lord Sydney, Drs.
Grant, Forbes, and Skoy; Messrs. Crickson, Ferguson,
Bransby Cooper, Rte. The honorary secretary, Mr.
George, read the report, from which it appeared that the
sum subscribed towards the object in view amounted to
only 7501., which sum was insufficient fur the erection
of a statue, as originally intended; that it was therefore
proposed that four marble busts of Mr. Liston should be
executed—one to be placed in the Royal College of
Surgeons, another in University College, London, a third
in the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh, and a fourth to
b- presented to the family of the deceased; and that the
residue of the money should go to pay for a gold medal
to be awarded annually by the Council of University
e
College, London, to the best proficient in
h surgery. T
report, and a resolution in accordance with it, were car-
ried slynanoifmotuhern,
the Dukes of
eaentidnr.a, ccoomnin,isitttienegtootf'arry out the in-
tentionßettefort and Buecleuch, the Marquis of Anglesey, Lord
Kiimaird, end Count D'Orsay, formed, after which
thanks were carried for the chairman, and the busiueL-s
terminated.
Her Majesty has honoured the Orphan Working
School, Iliversteck-hill, by presenting to its funds the
sum of 250 guineas fur the purchase of a presentation to
the institution during her Majesty's lifetime. Their
Royal Highnesses the Duchesses of Gloucester and Cam-
bridge are alto among its governors.
LONDON IlosriTAL.—Yesterday afternoon a quar-
terly general court of the governors of this charity was
held in the board-room of the institution, Mr. J. Davis
household ea-
he x: u
it!eo
a u,
in the chair. The reports of the house committee, the
minutes of the provious meetings,hag
andthe
be
pditre of the hospital,
.fieuchod, t u
ho secretory submitted she usug itetyment of the

numbers of patients, from which it appeared that the
total number admitted to the wards cf. the hospital since
last quarter was 980,0 f whom there have been diFcharged
cured 448, much relieved 395, and 87 had died. The in-
patients now on the books of the hospital are 329, the
cut-patients, 1,796. The report acknowledged with
thanks the receipt of a legacy of 5001. stock in the Three
per Cent. Consols, from the executors of the late Mre.,
Elizabeth Duncan, and one of 100/. in cash from the late
Mr. C. Bell. Among the donations was one of 51.45. 4d.
from the workmen of Messrs. Tubbut and Co., Limehouse.
The receipt of this :mall donation was particularly grati-
fying to the feelings of the committee, as the whole of it
had been clubbed together in sixpences and pence, and thus
testified the gratitude with which their exertions were
regarded, and the estimation in which they held the be•
netits which had been conferred upon some of them
through the means of this charity. 320 beds are kept in
constant occupation at this hospital, 220 of which are re-
served entirely for cases of accidents admitted without
recommendation, so that, in fact, more than two-thirds
cf the cases are :admitted free. Some idea of the ur,eful-
ness of this institution may be gathered from the fact of
upwards cf 59,149 cages of accidents having been re-
ceived and treated there during the last eight rears.
The number of persons suffering from accidental injuries
admitted as in-patients during the year 1849 amounted
to 2,370, while the out-patients for the same perbal were
6,641. Of the it:-patients, 2,107 were discharged cured
or relieved, 99 died, and 164 remained in the hospital on
the Ist of January last. The accounts for 1849 are ex-
clusive of other eases (not being accidents), Which
amounted alone to 11,895, making far last year a total
( f 20,906 in and out patients. These reports were re-
ceived an adopted, and some usual routine business hav-
ing been gone through, the meeting separated, after •
vote cf thanks to the chair.

THE WALHALLA.—Madame Wharton's exhibition
cf Tableaux Vivans has recently excited a good deal of
interest amongst painters, sculptors, and connoiseura of
art, and her attractive gallery is nightly attended by
numerous and fashionable audiences. There is a clas-
sical purity about her poses, both in conception and
detail, that is really refreshing to the man of taste, a hale
the beauty of the costumes and magnitude of the pe-
destal, gives a finish and delicacy to the entertainment
that renders any tendency to coarseness either of imagi-
tion or feeling utterly impossible.
ACCIDENT TO THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRE.
—We understand that yesterday morning an accident
occurred by which about fourteen miles of telegraphic
wires were thrown down, and the communication to that
extent interrupted. We believe the wires were not
coiled, as formerly, round fastenings on every fifth post,
but were stretched at considerable tension for a length of
fourteen miles. When a fracture occurred, the extreme
tension and consequent sudden contraction of the wire
caused it to run out of the grooves, and some cf the
liberated wire, lying upon the rails, was caught by the
wheels of a train, and dragged away from the posts for
the remainder of the distance —Manchester Guardian.
The wretched woman, Elizabeth Bradford, in the
county gaol on the charge of drowning her children, is
somewhat recovered, but she is not in a state, either
mentally or physically, to warrant her examination by
the justices.— Western Luminary.
POTATOES.—The enormous quantity of potatoes
lately brought into London from the Continent has re-
duced the price from 90s. to 70s. per ton. As many as
5,000 tons have been imported within the last week,
principally from Dunkirk, Dieppe, Ostend, and Antwerp.
THE CASE OF ALLEGED INCENDIARISM AT
EXETER.—On Wednesday last Mr. Samuel Foote, who
is now confined in the City Prison, awaiting his trial, on
the charge of setting his house on fire, attempted to
commit suicide. He tied his silk neckerchief tightly
round his neck, and, by fastening one end of it to the
window frame of his eel), attempted to strangle himself.
He was discovered when life was almost extinct, cut
down, and by proper means restored.
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY.-4110
half-yearly me et'ng of the proprietors was held yesterday
in the large room of the Exchange, Manchester. Henry
Houldswortb, Esq., occupied the chair. The report, re-
commending a dividend of 3 per cent., was agreed to,
after an amendment, fixing it at 2i per cent., had been
negatived by a large majority. The amount of dividend
actually earned was stated by the chairman to be two
and six-tenths per annum. The meeting was proceeding
to discuss the question of the appointment of directors
when our express left. Two or three special meetings
had to be subsequently held.
REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT Stmcmp,—
Sarah Bott was on Wednesday charged before the police
magistrate at Richmond with attempting to drown her-
self. It appeared from the evidence of Sergeant Povory,
3 V, that on Saturday night, about eleven o'clock, he
found the prisoner in Petersham Meadows, some two
miles from her home, standing by the side of a pool of
water which had accumulated from the overflow of the
Thames. She had no bonnet on, and was in a most ex-
hausted state, and appeared to have been recently im-
mersed in the water. On questioning her she admitted
she had made three attempts to drown herself, and would
have made a fourth and final attempt in the river had
not the sergeant interfered. Her failure of success in
the preceding initances would appear to have arisen
from the shallowness of the water, being only two feet
deep. A certificate was produced, signed by a medical
man, stating that the unfortunate woman had become of
unsound mind from an attack of the brain fever. The
husband promising the Magistrate that if his wife were
released he would take such care of her as to prevent a
similar attempt, she was discharged. Upon her arrival
at home, and a nurse having been procured, she was
conveyed to bed, and the nurse having imprudently left
her patient for a short time, the unfortunate creature in-
stantly took edvat tags ot her absence, and precipitated
herself from the first-lloor window, by which act she
sustained injuries which will most probably terminate
fatall). Several of her ribs and collar-bone are fractured,
and her spine is seriously injured.
EXPERIMENTAL BannooNs.—The largest of the
balloons dispatched from the Admiralty, on Friday
last, carrying with it 2,500 slips, or messages, has been
very successful. The first lot of slips were liberated
over London at an elevatien between 3,000 and 4,000
feet, and some of the slips fell in Lower Thames-street,
some in Bethnal•green Cemetery, others were found on
the Surrey side of the water, and down the river side to
near Greenwich, affording evidence that the first lot
were scattered over an area of several miles. From the
numerous slips ot paper returned to the Secretary of the
Admiralty from different places, the balloon appears to
have taken the direction of Woolwich, Gravesend, and
Rochester, and then crossed fcr a short period into
E,sez' and again altered its course for Maidstone,
Cranbrook, and Dungeness, which it left in the direc-
tion of the French coast. In travelling to Dungeness,
according to the time it was seen there, it bad dropped
1,200 of the slips, and 1,300 remained for further die.
tribution. Some of the parties who have returned the
messages cf the Admiralty have particularly requested
to be informed whether "it is all right," or "if some
person has not been playing a joke upon them." One
lady sta'es that her daughter found the slip of paper in
her garden, and she was confident it was not there the
night before; but how it came she did not know.

REFORM MEETING AT HADLFIGEL—A very spirited
and well-attended meeting took place at the Town hall,
Hadleigh, on Monday night; and that being a thorough
agricultural neighbourhood, many parties looked with
peculiar interest to its results. Mr. I. Everett, a landlord
and tenant-farmer, took the chair, and the large room
was well filled with respectable agriculturists and me-
chanics. Exactly a week before a protection society had
been formed in the same town; but it would seem that
many of the firmers begin to think that financial and
Parliamentary reform is a step in the right direction, for
Several who h,td joined the Tory society attended the
reform gathering on Monday. The following resolution
was proposed to Mr. Thomas Hawkine, of Milden, a
tenant-farmer: That the principles of the National
Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association meet
the entire approval of this meeting, and that an associa-
tion be now formed, to be called the Hadleigh Parlia-
mentary Reform Association." The resolution met with
faa
rumnearn,
muodu
es
aeon dhe
excellent
ar y
sreception.t h
eMrr. reduction
Su
o. t
ou
o f t Matthews,tax-
ation, ation, as the only measure likely to affect the interests
of the farmer. Mr. M'Enteer also addressed the meet-
irg, and after a vote of thanks to him and to the chair-
man, three cheers were given fur the Financial Reform
Association, when the meeting separated. A number of
names were enrolled on the books of the new society.
DEEP SEA FISHINGS.—We are glad in being able
to report favourably of the success of these fishings,
which are at present prosecutgedyihtbhetyhltaeohirurge rme e rnbetotoseai
rtdaterngai
srtr
eeefia
bsrt hoe
dis-
tance rpg-
men with something like ener
w
s uorraetwe
sr
pe wr
eaerede.d
uinsgeda, aconind mthene
from the shore. The weather during the week
has been very favourable, and the boats have returned
every evening with great cargoes, for which a ready sale
is obtained at prices considerably advanced,in consequence
of the speedy transit we now enjoy to populous markets.
On Saturday evening one boat arrived with 66 score of
fish, the sale of which realised et los., another boat oh.
tained 71., and others various considerable sums. As
ethacehapcereeewlactoionusiswtsillofhe profitable
oughttostimulate nature
other parties to take up the employment—the supply and
the demand being alike inexhaustible.—Berwsch Adm..
saixppmareenti t,thaend
The Essex County Lunatic Asylum to be built
near Brentwood will be shortly commenced. The site
d to be unequalled, and the building promises
is declared
to be second to any in the kingdom. It will be in the
Tudor style, and the cost is estimated at 50,0001.
Sea JOHN FRANKLIN.—A San Francisco paper,
The Public Good, of Dec. 29, publishes a vague stste.
meat to the effect that Sir John Franklin had been die-
covered " by an English expedition."
THE STANFIELD 'TALL PROPERTY.-••• Since the
family of the late Mr. Jermy have left their residence
whocontrived have
at Stanfield-hall, it has remained tenantless, the
the Larder,
estate,
ptereeioiousalyu
gate-
keeper being left in charge. On Saturday last, however,
puttw forward
o mer'namceldaijiugsrlu3 to' and
entrance into the hall, and retained possession until the
police were sent for, but the intruders prudently with-
drew before the arrival of the authorities.
DIVORCES IN AMERICA.—The Baltimore Corre-
spondent of the .New York Herald states that the Legis-
lative Houses of that city are overwhelmed with appli-
cations for divorces. "It has," says be, " become a
business with members of the Legislature to get those
applications through, for which they receive pretty heavy
fe e•e Each member, when he goes to Annapolis, has a
half-d( zen cases of this kind in Land, and a kind of log-
rolling system is adopted among them, by which they
agree to vote for each other's cases, let them be based
on ever so frivolous a cause." One of the members, a
Mr. Causin, introduced a Bill, said to be " a burlesque
Bill," for the purpose of enabling parties to be legally
divorced, on simply declaring to each other their wishes

ndham's hunting stud produced
t,) that effvet.
Mr. Campbell Wy
excellent price.. the nice horse. acid 7800.
Six of the animal. were bunters, two carriage Scam
and one a shooting NU.

IMPERIAL P XRLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF co3r mays, March 6,
;MARRIAGE BILL—ADJOURNED DEBATE.
(Continual from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. SIDNEY HERBER. I' said that hs wished to
address a few words to the House is explanation of the
reasons which would determine his vote up in the present
measure, and in coming to the concluion which he had
done he must say that it was upon different grounds to
any which he had yet heard assigee 1, and grounds
too which differed very materially from the opi-
nions of many friends fir whose judgment he
entertained the very highest respect. lie (Mr. Herbert)
had presented a petition against the Bill, numerously
signed by the clergy of the diocese in which the county,
he represented was situated, and he observed this differ-
ence in this petition to those presented by persons of the
same class, that it rested not upon religious, but upon
social grounds. He rejoi,:ed to see that that dis-
tinction existed, because he thought they were
not justified iu arguing the question solely
upon religious grounds ; and if he could find a
good social argument advanced in this discussion, that
was the argument upon which he (Mr. II rbert) should
rely. It bad been held from time immemorial by the
Church of Eagland that these marriages were unlawful,
and he for one would give his cordial assent to her right
of decouncing them. Bat in the House of
Commons, which was not a convocation or a
council, they had no sight as well as no
competency to discuss nice theological questions. As he
had said before, if there were any social arguments to
this measure, it was upon those that the opposition t i it
should be grounded, and upon those only. And
between the adoption or the rejection of the mea-
sure the House was bound to take the balance of
good and the balance of evil, and to decide in which
scale the advantage or disadvantage lay. In the pre-
rent Bill he was glad to perceive that everything
had been avoided at all likely to interfere with
the :Church of England. In his Bill of last year
his Right Honourable Friend bad, he thought,
with great impolicy, included in his Bill clauses
withdrawing clergymen who offended against this Bill
from the authority of the Church of England. With
another Chu /eh, which was in part connected with the
State, the Right Honourable Gentleman had not dared
to interfere .; with that Church only, which was
entirely tied up by the State, and was wholly
in its hands, had he medeVe 1. So far as
• the Church of England was conceraed, it was
left untouched by the operation of the Bill, and he re-
joiced to find that the broad principle of the measure
would not interfere either with the laws which that
Church, or any religious body, had laid down for its
government. Other religious bodice, who had no
laws or canons which restricted them from con-
tracting marriages of this description, were
clearly subject to a religious disability by the civil law
as it now stood. IF, socially speaking, it could be made
out that morality would be endangered by the Bill of his
Right lion. Friend, there would certainly be a good rea-
son for maintaining this religious disability; but it had
not teen so established, at least so far as he had
understood the arguments. He felt, as marriage
was a civil right, that they were bound to make
it co-extensive with the opinions and conditions of the
people, and on that ground he had come to the conclu-
sion to support the Bill.—(Hear.)
Mr. ROEBUCK thought the question ought to be
divested of all considerations as to whether these mar-
riages were prohibited by the New Testament, fur there
was no part of it which was not in turn received or re-
jected by different persons. He looked at the question
simply as a legislator, with the view of laying down a
rule for the gaide.ace of the people in the matter. lie
differed with the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr.
Sidney Herbert) that a broad distinction ought to be
drawn between the Church of England and persons who
did not agree with it. Now the reasons which
had induced m•m in all civilized countries
to prohibt marriage; with a sister, were first the
physical, and secondly the moral evils which resulted
from the nature of the iat ,rcourse. In regard to the
present Bill, the physical reasons did not apply, but the
moral reasons did, and they could not be overlooked in
discussing this question. Ile thought if these marriages
were legalised that exalted feeling of esteem and coil-
&nee which was reposed in a' sister-in-law by the near
ties of relationship would no longer exist, and that
jealousies and dislikes would be introduced into famili, s
where. now nothing of the kind was felt or thought of.
But if the Right II incurable Gentleman passed this
Bill, was he so ignorant of human nature, so blind
to the realities of life, as not to know that, in spite of
herself, the wife could not have the same kindly feeling
for her own sister which the existing state of the
. law encouraged? At present sympathy subsisted
between the sisters that render jealousies almost impos-
sible, but break down the barrier which the law had
raised, every day and every hour would witness the
occurrence of jealous bickerings and miserable
disputes in family relations, which now multi-
plie I al the kindly feelings of our nature.—
(Hear, hear.) Coati the supporters of the Bill show
any instances or ground for believing that there was a
balance of evils in this case? Let him take the other
side of the question, and see what the benefits of the
Bill would be ? As the world was constituted, the oc-
casional marriage of A, B, cr C with his wife's sister,
was a taattsr of little importance. It could not justify the
passing of a Bill like this. It was not as if a man were
placed upon a desert with his wife and her sister, be-
came there if the wife died, the desire to continue the
race of man might justify a marriage with the sister.—
(Hear, hoar, and a laugh.) But there was no such
want in this country, acd when the becefite likely
to arise from the passing ( f the Bill were put against
its (Lingers, the comparison was ,immeasurably in
favour of continuing the existing prohibition. It was
natural, he readily admitted, that as aunt should have
a lively affection for her sist a's children, and a desire to
attend them, to care for them, and watch over them;
but he did think they would not increase that desire by
making her the wife.—(Hear.) Just the contrary, because
the feelings of the aunt were stifled in the new passions
of the -stepmother. She has now children of her owr,
perhaps, aid all the affections of the aunt were lost in
the feelings of the wife, and inateal of increasing the
happiness of her life, and making her a more powerful and
efficient protector of her sister's children, the tit nost
that could be done to dimini,h her kindness for them
had been accomplished.—(Cheers.) Therefore upon
fie very same grounds that were urged in favour
of the Bill he thought it his duty to oppose it.
He did not believe that a more mischiev.
Otis plan than this Bill could possibly be
devised for converting the kind an 4 fond aunt into
the jealous stepmother.—(Hear.) With regard to the
religious part of the question, Ee agreed with the Right
Hon. Gentleman the Member for Wilts, that religious
matters ought not to be mixed up with this debate.—
(Hear, hear.) Let those whose religious feelings or
- opinions leant in favour of these marriages legislate
for themselves and marry as they thought proper; but
before he could give his sanction to a Bill of this nature
it must be shown to him that it would not prove a
source tf evil in giving rise to painful and jealous
feelings between married and unmarried sisters—
it must be shown to him that the old law
would break up the harmony of the 'nest
important of all our institutions, namely, that of
families—(Hear, hear)—and because he felt that this
Bill was a direct attack upon that institution, and
fraught with danger and evil t, the entire social system,
he felt bound to record his vote against it.—(Cheers.)
Mr. SPOW.ZER, sees efriid, h.frcr the able and
eloquent speech of the lion. and Learned Gentleman, he
should not be able to secure the attention of the House;
but he thoueht it I),h:is duty ti protest against the doc-
trine laid /loan by the Right lion. Gentleman the Mem-
ber fir Wi:ts, and seconded by the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman who had just a t down, that the Word of
God ought not to be flexed up with this question.
He- admitt -id there would be inconveniences arising from
this B;11 to a smell class of the population; but he called
upon the lions , to remember how many were living in a
state of concubinege. He was convinced, from a long
and intimate acquaintances with dense populat7ons in the
manucacturing districts, whoa houses were so crowded,
and where society wa i so large and dense that the
state of concubina;ge which was produced by the present
law of marriage was such as to horrify and greatly dis-
tress any man of right feeling and right mind. Then
was that immorality occasioned by the present law or by
the law of God? They must attribute it to the imper-
fection of human law— a law which took upon itself
a power which it had no right t s assume, in his
humble judgment. Givings
thoroughly
this subject the best con-
sideration he could, he teasghwleyrconvinced that by
the Word of God
ee,,unethenindea,ririlher
goat
the
gone Member
forbidden.
He (Mr. Spooner)
irlave,innassmuch
Hops) had not quoted Dr. Hook's letter f..s. (Mr.
as Dr. Hook had expressly used the term
nity," and net the term " efEnity,” upon the formaciarguoif
which words the whole of De. Hook's argument turned.
Because then he thought that the Bill brought in by his
Light Hon. Friend was not contrary to the law of God
—because he thought that the restrictions which it
sought to remove were altogether unnecessary—because
he thought that the law as it now stood was instrumental
in the production of a great mass of evil among the
lower classes—because the removal of the restriction
which this Bill proposed would be the in-
strument of great benefit, he would give his honest
hearty andesarneet support to the second reading of this
Bill.—(Gheere.)
_ Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER said that no one could
deny• the power, ability, and research which had been
displayed in the speech of his Right Hun Friend the
promoter of the Bill. That speech was &Rug. ht with in-
destry and talent. It was fall of the intellectual power
which he at all times possessed, and which
all times exert, but it had failed faile h. e could at
to convince him that his
arguments were sound, or that the change would be
desir-
able.
The :speech of the
,Ilhoerid.ltlember for Warwickshire,
who- had just sat down
its
arguments
also been distinguished by
pression_megaurmehnts and the peculiar
the happy adaetatien of
sneeadr)o—but he must
felicity of its ex
errine that the
beg to dissent altogether from
marriages which it was the ehject of this Bill to render
legal• were not opposed t, the law of God B.
moment setting aside all considerations of toffiitsi thist Bill
n,
for a
nature,,
what would be the case supposing the
spirit
would
to be carried out—what would be the case in
our domestic. relations? Why, that a road
be opened for other evils which the projectors of the
Bill seemed to have overlooked.—(Sear, hear.) If the
marriage with the sister of a deceased wife was to be
permitted, why also should not the marriage of a wife
Ag Val._ hti the husband of a deceased wife bo permitted?---
57; r
iv6l7 I% "
.hear, and cheers.) Yet this was a point which
T 2.7 SeEt . ' -:..11 t altogether out of the discussion.—(Hear,
..en, as respected the point which had been
' ~ so
Cal L ab.d Lio ei the Honourable "eh' upon • both by the mover of the Bill,
0 '- ere krtt4rGeatl Memb r for Warwickshire,
ernanhad relied upon a difference between
,
,?..' '- the telfling of the text in
the elm
the nipgal reading, O'er of Leviticus and
and salthou ,h he had spokes of
ibis Ucb" "Wm, Wslaculd b. e xec9llected
41/4:: • •:-.7., if 0
~i

4.7

that the marginal readings wero usually considered as
the more correct readings of the two, and surely he
would not attempt to say that these translators cf the
Bible, by whom the marginal readings were affixed, were
contemptible Hebrew scholars. They expounded the
text, and e e:e, more )ver, the compilers of the canons
of 1603, in which those marriages ware prohibited.
He now came to the speech of a Right Honourable
Fried of his whose opinions he had always been accus-
tomed to receive with the deepest respect; but when the
Hon. Member for Wilt: (Mr. Sidney Herbert) stated
that no religious feeling was to bo allowed to interfere
with the law of marriage, and that, as as alteration hal
been air( aly made, if Dissenters did not interfere with
the usual routine of the Church, that no impediment
ought to be placed in the way either of those or of other
parties who in this matter agree with them,
he must totally differ from him.—(Hear, hear.)
History sufficiently showed that marriages between
brother and sister were not uncommon, and that were
the licence was allowed that license was invariably used.
Now, would the House, because it was shown that such
marriages had frequently taken plase, be justified in
Sassing a measure foe the legalizing of them? Con teinly
not. It was the privilege of thet House to regulate, what
behinged to the order and good government of society,
to fhrm a conscientious judgment of the moral tendency
of any institutions which might exist or might to pro-
posed to the House, and to act upon their cmvicetione.
There were many persons in this country who enter-
tained lax opinions upon the due observance of the
Sabbath, and almost as lax as those hell upon the Con-
tinent, yet had the Hoese ever legislated upon the
opinion: of a few individuals, and ought it to do so
in this matter? As to the argument which had been
advance I on the immoral tendency of this law of prohi-
bition, it was just ai sensible to say that the law of
theft was chargeable with all the robberies which took
place, as to say that this law was the cause of immora-
lity. Some gentlemen had advanced the argument of
comparison for the wives, and for the children who had
been the offspring of these marriages; for his own part,
looking at his own feelings only, he should be quite
content to replace those women who had fallen irons
virtue, and the children who had lost their right of inheri-
tance by such marriages, but this was not a matter in
which private feelings alone should have the direction.
The last argument on which he should touch was, that
England was the only country in which such marriages
were prohibited, and that it was inconvenient to differ
from other countries in this respect. He was so far from
thinking that the manners of other countries ought to
form an example for this country, that he was disposed
to attribute the difference which he sew in the morals of
this and other countries to the levity which prevailed
abroa I upon these points. In conclusion, upon this
point, he should use the words of Milton, though fir a
tar different purpose to what that author had applied
them—" Let not England forget her privilege of t:ach-
itig other nations the way to live."—(Cheers.)
Mr. M. MILNES thought that the grounds
of argument which had been advanced upon this Bill were
scarcely of a sufficiently extensively theoretical natere,
as the subject was capable V. The Hon. Gentleman the
Member for Sheffield had certainly painted, in his own
peculiar manner, the tender and domestic relations of the
family affections, and the importance of ex'e rding, if
possible, those relations. He (Mr. Manes) was disposed
to insist much upon the evil of the marriage of first
cousins which was not forbidden by the English
Church, but was most positively and strongly prohi-
bited by the Roman Catholic Church, and unless he
could be shown that the relation between a man and his
sister-in-law was more tender than that cf cousins he
could not see any objection to removing the prohibition.
He thought that when they looked abroad and saw that
this law bad been deliberately broken by good citizens
arid honest men—broken, too, without any loss of
public estimation—this cf itself was enough to furnish
a priced facie evidence of the necessity of some altera-
tion in the law. Bat this measure had only been brought
f zward when these marriages had spread to the highest
ranks. If a foreigner had Lela in the gallery the other
night, when the Hon. Gentleman the Member fur Ox
fled ittsoured them with his views on this subject, he
would not have fancied that there was a law on the
statets-book declaring these rearriagee, up to a certain
day, to be lsgal; but it was nut fair for days or hours to
prevent the legalization of marriages. Hiving al.
mitred the principle, and laid the foundation
for legislating on the subject, they could not now assume
the grounds of high morality and treat this question as
if it now tame hefore them for the first tinan.—(flear,
hear.) A special grievance had been distinctly brought
before them, and they were bound to consider whether
there were sufficient grounds to justify their legis-
lating upon hear.) NOW the people of this
country were not averse to these marriages, and while
he could not believe that the passing of this Bill was
likely to give rise to those evils and dangers which the
Honourable and Learned Member for Sheffield shadowed
forth, he was bound to support the measure, as he had
no doubt whaterer that it would confer great and lasting
benefits upon the community at large. He was,
however, satisfied of this, that whatever might be
the legislation of the House, those marriages
would still continue. A feeling would grow in the
country that a large majority of the House were favour-
able to them, that epee of station and importance be-
lieved the law ought to Le altered, and the people would
become gradually habituat :d to them.—(Hear.) And
therefore it was that he asked the House to pass the
Bill now rather than wait till the pressure from without.
—(Hear, hear.) If they had 2,000 of these marriages
now they woull bave 4,000 of ihem in ten years hence.
The people of Ertglard wero not arcustomed to evade
tt e law of the land. A man who did al unlawful
thing was invariably shunned by his no ighbour; but
in regard to these marriages, although, to a certain
extent, they were a violation of the law, that feeling did
t prevail, and hence they were no t only tol -ra ed
brit cricoeraggsh Why, then, continue a law which had
itiflheed misery upon hundre fs c f faa,iliet—which had
ilieg4enised children that sae re legitimate in the eyes of
mot tte it) ? Pass this Bill, and he heti, ved they would be
doing what was right; hut refuse it, and they would inflict
a grievous wrong upon a large body of the community.
He implored flog. Members, who were members of the
Church to acquiesce in this Bill. Some cases of mar-
riage of this kind had come within his own knowledge
among the higher classes, and there were many others
among the middle classes of society, al c f whom thought
they were justifiable in contracting these marriages.
And that being so, he would not presume to set his own
individual opinion against those of the persons in the
higher and middle classes who had contracted such
marriages.
Lord MAHON must say, of er the fullest considera-
tion, that he hail a strong and insuperable objection to
the proposal of his Right Hon. Friend.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought the House should pause before they inter-
rupted the social intercourse of families. They could act
alter the law of marriage without producing a viulent
infraction of the social feelings which existed among the
people. Ile thought the intercourse between a married
woman and her sister, and between a man and his sister-
in-law, would receive the greatest interruption and dis-
turbance from such a measure as was now proposed.—
(Hear, hear.) lie did think also that they were
to look not merely to what that intercourse might
be in a period of health, but also what it might
be whilst the wife was on a bed of sickness. There was
no period when a wife required more earnestly the
society of an unmarried sister than when she was
laid on a bed of sickness ; and yet that was
the very period when, under this Bill, that society
would be least commonly given, seeing that the
unmarried sister might have feelings of delicacy in
rendering ie But there was another consideration
connected with this Bill. He could not but apprehend
that if this Bill were to pass it might happen that
many married women, moved either by a feeling of
affection towards her children or by a tender regard for
her husbrted, might exact from her husband a promise
that ho would contract a subsequent marriage
after her death with some one of her sht.es;
but it might happen that the husband
might Lave concieved an attachment for another sister.
He (Lord ,Mahon) did think that marriages where there
was affection only on one side could not fail to be pro-
ductive of unhappiness; and such requests so made by
a wife to her husband, even though they might be un-
commoa, would produce the greatest struggle in the mind
of the husband, between the sanctity of a promise
exacted and made under such circumstances on the one
hand, end the feeling of affection on tho ether. He
thought if the House passed this Bill it would have
still further concessions in the same direction urged upon it
If the state of the law was to remain in the same posi-.
tion as that which it hold before Lord Lyndhurst's Act,
he must say that ho should not be at all satisfied with
it, but feeling that en amendment or improvement upon
that state of things could possibly be made by an altera-
tion of the present law, he should on this and on all
future occasions give his strenuous opposition to this
Bill.

Mr. COCKBURN said, that afrtr the observations
which he had made to the House on the subject, it
might seam Lamest superfluous to make any further re-
marks upon the Bill before the House, bat its opponents
on the other side had so entirely altered their position,
and had taken up such new grounds, that he trusted the
House would for awhile beer with him.—(Hear, hear.)
During the former debates upon this Bill Vies() Who had
opposed it had, in the first instance, ttken their stand
upon the express declaration of the revealed will of God,
but as the discussion advanced that ground ha I
been tacitly abandoned, and (me but the Honourable
and Learned Member for Plymout'i (Mr. Iteteidell
Earner) had even ventured again to bring it forwardl
That question had been effectually disposed llear,
hear," from Mr. Palmer.) He would show it in a few
moments by a rapid review of the arguments that had
boon used in previous debates.—(flear, hear.) The
Hon. and Learned Member fir Abingdon (Sir F.
Thesiger) had said that the matter ought to be set-
tled by the Church of England. But how could that
be ? The Bishops themselves were quite divided amongst
themselves, and the ordinary clergy were altogether
indisposed to a common conclusion.—(ilear, hear.; But
even even supposing
the Church to be of one mind, which, as
he had jiiet said, it was not, its community did not in
elude all England, and the leienters, almost to a roue
if ha might judges be the petitions on the table, were unit-
nimous in fsvour of the Bill. —(Hear, hear.) In whet
way, then, could they treat this, but as a question of so-
cial and domestic policy—as one affecting the nearest
and dearest of domestic ties?—(Hear, hear.) It was a
recognised rule that whatever was not prohibited by the
Divine law was allowed and permitted, and there was no
prohibition in the text of the Scriptures against
the marriage of a man with the sister of a
deceased wife.—(Hear, hear.) It was true that the
Hon. and Learned Member for Plymouth ha I discovered
in the deep recesses s f his recondite learning that some
obscure llebrew sect, of whom he would venture t') say
thatluot twelve men in that House had ever heard, had
made out our present ieterpret ition of the text of Levitieui.
Now such a statement was alt )gether without authority.
But then the Learned Gentleman says that we are not
bound by the Hebrew law but the Christiau dispense.-
POD, Well C9U9Wing that, in what pact 9f the Igew