The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-28 00:00:00

- -

„

fire at any person. At the first fire, Mr. Levick's ball of which his Lordship and the Learned Irish Soli-
passed close to him ; Lieut. Adams pointed in the air, I citor-General were to be the joint concocters. That
but his pistol missed fire. Here it ought to have ended
Mr. Levick's Bill is now before us, but instead of amending the
unfortunately, they again loaded.
passed through his opponent's arm, and into his side laW of marriage in Ireland, it leaves the whole goes-
,in his liver ;he fired wide. The funeral tion exactly where the framers of the Bill found it !
Lieut. Adams was attended by every person of respect-
ability." Such Presbyterian marriages as have been celebrated
in Ireland before the passing.of this Act are declared
to be valid, unless they have been pronounced other-
wise in a Court of Law ; but not a syllable is en-
acted to legalize such marriages in future. As the
question to be settled by this Bill has excited a very
deep and, painful interest in the North of Ireland,
and as it is one to which the Church of Scotland can-
not be indifferent, we shall here quote the text of the
proposed enactment
Whereas marriages have in divers instances been had
and solemnised in Ireland by Protestant Dissenting
ministers or teachers, between persons being, one
member of the United Church of En&nd and Inland,
and the other a Protestant Dissenter, and it is expedient
to confirm such marriages ; he it therefore enacted, by
the Queen's most excellent Maje,ty, by and with the
advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal,
and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and
by the authority of the same, that all marriages hereto-
fore had and solemnised in Ireland t.y Protestant Dis-
senting ministers or teachers, between persons being, 0"
a member of the United Church of England and Ireland, -
and the other a Protestant Dissenter, shall be and shall
be adjudged and taken to have been and to be of the
.1
same and no other force and effect, as if such marriages
had been had and solemnised by clergymen of the said
United Church of England and Ireland.
Provided always, and be it enacted, that nothing in
this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to ex-
tend, to or affect any marriage declared invalid by any
court or competent jurisdiction before the passing of this
Act, nor any marriage where either of the parties shall,
at any time afterwards, during the life of the other party,
have lawfully intermarried with any other person.
Provided further, and be it enacted, that nothing in
this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to ex-
tend, to or affect any act done before the passing of this
Act, under the authority of any Court, or in the adini-
nistration of any personal estate or effects, or the exe-
cution of any will or
.testament, or •the performance of
any trust.
Provided further, and be it enacted, that nothing in
this Act contained shall in anywise affect any marriage
had or solemnised In Ireland, except such as had been
had or solemnised by and between such persons, and in
such manner as is hereinbefore specified.
And be it, enacted, that this Act may be amended,
altered, or repealed by any Act to be passed in this pre'
sent session of Parliament.
Why this is but a Presbyterian Bill of Indemnity
The Irish Protestant Dissenters are called IW°' •
with true Hibernian politeness, to thank the Go"
vernment for nothing. But the Bill is worse
than nothing ; it is an insult, if it be not in-
tended as the precursor of a general measure which
will settle the question of marriages altogether'
Before the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench'
the validity of marriages celebrated by Presbyterian
clergymen in Ireland was never doubted ; now, hoW' ,•
ever, the Bill before Parliament establishes the insult-
ing judgment of the Court, that such clergymen had
no authority lawfully to celebrate such mixed lmar-
riages. Instead of legalising a sacerdotal right, which
it is time the Legislature should recognise as belong- •
ing alike to every Christian priesthood, the Govern-
ment comes forward and graciously shields the blind
believers in it from the perils with which a dominant
hierarchy misit its exercise !
The Bill isay av short Bill, and yet it bears marks c't • Ili
its legal paternity. The second clause consists of bud:
a single sentence, and yet we have put it into thenld ,
of more than a dozen persons, not one of whom a° f
discover what, was meant by the second member °t
it. The Irish Solicitor-General wished to enact th°"e
parties whose marriages had been dissolved by tll ,ado
f,
sentence of a Court of Law previous to the passing
this Bill, and who were married to, or might rorf,dt rf
again with, other persons, had done so, and rnig`' sty
hereafter do so with impunity ; but instead 0. • lir
pressing this in clear, intelligible language, be uer ?,44
employed phrases which would admit of anut",,ii,'lroo
action, and the presence of the twelve Judges to deOr:•;
y
c(9' mine their meaning. Li
••

SOUTH AMERICA.
FALMOUTH, FEB. 26.—Tne Tyrian packet arrived
here this morning with the Mexican mails, no passen-
gers, having on freight 170,000 dollars, of which 18,603
dollars are on account of the Mexican dividends. This
packet does not appear to bring anything politically new.
Her dates are Vera Cruz, the Bth of January, where she
left the British ship of war Tweed ; Tampico, 19th Ja-
nuary ; and Havanna, 2d February. Exchange at
Vera Cruz on London, 60 days' sight, 47id, and on
Paris, same date, sf. se.
Don Calderon della Barca, late Spanish Minister in
Mexico, came passenger with his family from Vera Cruz
to the Havanna.
The ex-President, Bustamente, arrived at the Ha-
vanna, from Vera Cruz, in the Spanish brig of war,
Jason, on the Ist February ; and the steamer Tay, with
the January mails from England, arrived at the Havanna
at the same date, all well.

THE WEATHER.—NooN, FEBRUARY 28.
ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STREET.
Thermometer... 46 highest 46 Lowest 29
Barometer 29.97.—Wind S.W.—Freezing Point %2 Deg.

HI ID WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE 'lO-1'40R:10W.
Morning minutes after 4 Evening ... 50 minutes after 4.

Ant,
,

P°
rot a,. „, 4,-4Vitton

SUN OFFICE, Three o'Clock.

The news from the East is too limited to call for
,an expression of either congratulation or regre4.•
From China the accounts are but to the Ist of De-
cember—five days later than the intelligence
brought by the last Overland Mail. Of course the
opportunities which occurred in so short a period
of judging of the impression which the cap-
ture of Ningpo and Amoy, and the re-occu-
pation of Chusan, would make upon the Celestial
Government, were too few to furnish matter for de-
cided political inferences. All that was observed
was, that the great Mandarins along the coast
manifested no disposition to treat with the
officers of the expedition, nor were the common
people so friendly and communicative to the
northward, as in the vicinity of Hong Kong. Cap-
tain SMITH of the Druid, who had been left with two
vessels and 600 men at. Arany, was apprehensive of
being attacked by a powerful and overwhelming
Chinese army, and had written to Sir 11. POTTINGER
for reinforcements. There was a report, but nothing
more, that despatches from the Emperor of a pacific
character
,were addressed to the British Plenipo-
teniary. According to the current rumour they con-
tained an offer of indemnity for the opium, and a
considerable extension,, of the privileges of trading
with China.

The Indian Government seems determined to carry
on the Chinese war with vigour. Sixteen transport
of 11,000 tons burden, were ready to sail from Cal-
cutta on the 11th January, having on board 10,000
additional troops. It is gratifying to state that 800 of
the native troops volunteered for this service.

We have received a number of letters from Liberal
electors of Bridport, denouncing in very strong terms,
the conduct of the Honourable Member for that
borough, Mr. MITcnELL, upon the Corn-laws.
This gentleman, who now accepts PEEL'S measure
with such gratitude, was at the time of his election,
a declared enemy of the sliding scale, and pledged
himself to support the plan brought forward by the
bite Government. Some of our correspondents, who
have given their names, but for whose letters we are
sorry that we cannot find room, assure us that the
votes of Mr. MITCHELL have, -greatly dissatisfied his
constituents, and that nothing could be more contrary
to fact, than his statement in the House of Commons,
that the people of Bridport were favourable to the
giving Sir ROBERT PEEL'S Corn-law project a fair
trial. On the contrary, the great majority of the
electors of the borough have declared that they will
hove nothing: .; ~ I'ory ri•ine,dy, which they
pronounce worse than the' disease. If they cannot
xe,l fluty
prevent gambling, and specify the evacegum of which
Parliament authorises the landlords to rob the public.
When the day of reckoning comes, we trust that th 7
electors of Bridport will convince Mr. MITCHELL, that
a sliding scale is closely associated with a slide out of
Parliament, and public confidence.

There is no political news in the French Jollr3/55;JOPi
now that they have exhausted the right of sear`
question. The following are extracts from thern
The It'r du Havre of the 25th has the followito.,4,1"!1
article :—" will be recollected that when Al• lA3vie:,ti7!
sear, the Consul-General of France at Si. Doming°',ette -Ow;
solved to strike his flag, and retire on board the cor:(or,,Y;,
Berceau, he sent a statement of this rupture to no' rtil4l;
tinique for instructions and a sufficient force to suPri;iti rr994
his negotiations. By a letter from St. Thoo34.9;fotit :I 1
England, we learn that on the: 23d ult. a division a' tie
ships, part of the Antilles _station, and amuiig th,„,teti • of.
Anmde frigate, Vice-AtV,klral Anions,
S7i ,""citaLl.
ort-au-I mit e. nt.. letter mat, Luat the arrirax , on
detwc:acisnL,n ill •irake,„the Fralch 5111P1
this port to amount to eight."--.Constliationnet no'
The Phare des Pyrenees says It seems that,D
ral Rodel's troops are"drawing nearer to the fronti s- e
er•
is reported along the frontier that fresh trooll3 001
shortly arrive. We do not know what confidence, re,
be placed in these rumours, w c can only say that tiitt'ateci
giment of infantry of Estratnadura, '_rich was e,VI-11,10'.
at Alfare, has come to Estella, and that that or .'";, to
bon, which occupied Tudela and Cascante, has P,"„- sr
Tafalla and Agoiz. Three squadrons of cavalry bare
rived at Olite."— Coinmerce.
I

The usual results of a Tory Administration are be- .
ginning to develope themselves in Ireland. Secret
societies are on the increase, and Ribandmen once
again on the alert. At the Longford Assizes Mr.
Justice BURTON, alluding to these unwelcome truths,
observed that "the re-appearance of secret societies
in Longford showed but too plainly that there was a
want of subordination to the laws of the country, and
that there was not that security for life and property
which should exist in a well-ordered state of society."
Such was not the language held by the Judges of
Assizes during the period when Lords EDRINGTON
and MORPETH were at the head of the Irish Govern-
ment. There were then no judicial lamentations over
the spread of Ribandism—no strong allusions to the
increase of dissatisfaction throughout the country.
Ireland, if not wholly tranquil, was in a fair way to
become so, for the people had confidence in the
good intentions of their rulers. But now, all is
changed. Distrust has usurped the place of confi-
dence—discontent has succeeded to peace and subordi-
nation. The old enemies of Irelandare once again in
power, and strange indeed would it be, if with them,
did not return also the old feelings of distrust and
indignation. The shadow is not closer connected
with the substance, than is Irish Orangeism with
Irish Ribandism. Like cause and effect, they are in-
separable. Let Toryism continue in the ascendant
but one year longer, and not one Judge only, but a
dozen Judges, will be deploring from the Bench the
rapid spread of discontent and misrule throughout the
sister-country. Of a verity, Sir ROBERT PEEL is in
a peculiarly agreeable position ! As if he had not
difficulties enough to contend with in England, he is
blest with an Irish Viceroy who is doing all he pos-
sibly can, to increase his difficulties in Ireland, by
bestowing his patronage almost exclusively on the
Orange faction.

BOURSE--PARIS, FRIDAY, FEB. 25. i,soi•
,
Pint Highest Lowest Prig`
Price Price. Price, ll9
.retch 5 per Cent: ll9 30 ... 119-Z0 ... 1 9 20 03
4 per Cents lO3 50 ... 1, 3-50 ..103 50 ". 1
s'l'.
3 per Cents BO 5 .. 80 15 ... 80
„, ... 80;.
'',
Loan
i :n4 of France ......., . : :--365 ~.f385 ...:,360
.:1f2,.,
I,,Atte Bank 1..711it. it.aire: .10:1,! ...VV.(' _1;20 '..b04,' '
5,0001. Stares 5042 50 —5OlB 75 —W3O 50 • 810.56:,
•eigian .Sant;
1811
' j(47o;fr. '
gelgian 5 per Cents.
5 .er Celli,' 1840 l(6 ... 196 ... 10571; " N 9
Dutch f:34 per Cents. ...
~,,nisti Active 55 ... :5 ... %474 ''' 5
Passive 5% ... 5% ... 51,, I's,ux
earolit.in . ......... ..,..- ll's 50 ... ,`25 80 ... 115 au "" 1047'
mnon...,
RAILWAY SHAPES. 80 50
St. Germain . ....... .... ...... ... 825 ... 825 ... 825 "• 91,
Velsaiat 5. tt. is 3 0 ... 350 ... :347 50
.. i; ,0
1.13 2;3 75 . 2,5 .. 213 75 "• t,l,
Rouen 517 L 0 ... 517 53 ... 517 5J ••• 00
Irie,fl+
S ••irn•ng 0 Hale 242 50 ... 242 50 . 240

0°
'oaf
By a private letter from the Island of .Ascens,l
arehappy to hear of the perfect recovery of Orfi.bleg
William. Alien, and the crew of the Wilberforce, 0d
fever, &e. Captain Wm. Allen remains in comni,3looo,
the expedition during the absence of Captain .-.1
who is in England. o¢t f ;
Sir Robert Peel arrived in town this morning,
visit to the Queen since Saturday at the Royal -1-Zl'rsiti:
The Duke of Wellington has left his scut Ot dgS
fieldsaye, Hants, to attend her Majesty this Arse;
Portsmouth during her inspection of the RoY3 e
nal. The Earl of Haddington, as First Lord of °lone:.
miralty, has left town to receive the Queen and ;01 I"
Albert, and their illustrious visitors on their Or'
Por
Ttsmouthhe.
Court was expected to leave Brighton ,ietreys•
o'clock this morning with an escort of the Scots 1,
/014
LONDON GRAND JUNCT.`;
RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) t'
A General Meeting of the Shareholders in this CorePso-/ye se„',
held this day, at 6, Basinghall-street, for the purefis ,ts°
miling to the Shareholders the Directors' report, an ted
ment of the accounts. Mr. FISH took the chair. olshot
The SECRETARY then read the report, which niere,Con, rte
that three Directors went out of office by rota is pe
were eligible for re-election, and that the aee°° tonie
cash paid, &IL 45.; (sash in hand, 3,92.5/. 10s. 7d ; ,e in
with various amounts for interests, &c., leaving a balan'
hands of the Company of 4,007/. 7s. 11d. the
The CHAIRMAN said they would perceive that in d art v
they had been as brief as possible, inasmuch as they ha tbibf),,f
to say. They were determined to use economy in eieftlforld,
and at the next meeting he expected to have to suble'.,edtic
reductions in the expenditure, as the rent would be' 10
together with te Secretary's salary. 1 e9O
The SECRETAh
RY, in ariwer to the question, said, trotf,d4l
shares had been forfeited, and that there were 7,60,g:0rir
shares on which the calls had been paid up.h in
number of registered shares was 9,360.
A PROPRIETOR inquired if there were any new fcatu_s°
the Company. f
The CHAIRMAN said, thee Lad talked about nevi ,-eeat.,oo
long that they did not slits anything more on the 90,0,,„j0ir
A SHAREHOLDER said he understood that the 13'rh-
Railway Company were about to remodel their stationfog
The CHAIRMAN said he supposed that reined% boy
meant taking in the other side of the yard. It ba #
ported that the Northern and Eastern Railway C°TPtseedi4lo‘
coming near to Kings Cross, and that it was their 'int tv.;oo
gong to the North of England withetS Jarly
the Birmingham line. They (the London Gran
hole,
Railway Company) had been invited to join this se le
a
they were averse to go into new expenses. Sb°,ol
holTdhele-,CsaritdAtthaesytAwNe,reingeatntsinwgers per toa
cent. fee
thfreoirmd.,errtoroseo
a Joint-stuck Bank. He then moved that the Rer fed
read be received and adopted, which was carried. doei.lej,
The CHAIRMAN then moved that certain shar Carriciog
forfeited at the last meeting, be confirmed, which was
1010 oi•
'I ha then Directors were then re-elected, and 60,0013'
been voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated
twenty minutes.
00
WATERLOO BRE I: Cos he
thil
At a meeting of the Proprietors held this day, t own°,/ -t
!p
and Anchor, the Directors, in their Report, rec,lo 00 #OO
continuance of the present toll of one halfeeneY:hey deft'
an amendment was proposed by Mr. Sangster, that.tisreb '0 fit
v, same the old pr nn. toll, on and after the 15th of ''Aerittsferf
The original resolution was carried by largerilB4°,,4o
appeared froa: the report, that the total r,-ceiPt: '6'he et. OW
10,1321. Ps., and in 1841, 9,4421. 6s. 10d. 11'.,td
last month, however, the increase was 161. 15.
of the same month last year.

The legislation of lawyers is proverbially bad.
With a few illustrious exceptions, in the list of which
the names of •Roatrizr and BROUGHAM occupy a
distinguished position, we owe little of the improve-
ments which have taken place within the last half
century, in the civil and criminal code of England,
to the gentlemen of the long robe ; they have an
interest in litigation, and no class of men have ha-
bitually a more watchful eye to their own interest.
But without impeaching their integrity as legislators,
we may observe, that their habits and pursuits as
advocates, disqualify them for framing the !aws by
which a great country ought to be governed. In
describing the simplest remedy for any evil which
afflicts society, they lose themselves in a wilder-
ness of words, as if the object of laws were to
puzzle and perplex men, instead of serving them as
moral finger-posts, set up by Government at every cross
road in the great highway of life. No law is good
or beneficial of which the meaning is not clear and
certain ; the command or observance which it imposes
just ; the execution cheap, easy, and expeditious ; the
form in accordance with public opinion.; and of
which the object is not, the; increase of virtue in, or
the removal of evil from, the portion of society
affected by it. Now clearness and certainty of mean-
ing would seem to be carefully excluded from almost
every Bill with which lawyers load the table of the
House of Commons. But one of the greatest evils in
the legislation of lawyers is the want of comprehen-
siveness in every measure supported by them. Instead
of legislating for .the removal of the cause of any
evil, they seem satisfied if they can only correct the
most immediate of its effects. This is strikingly ex-
emplified in the short Bill prepared by the Solicitor-
General for Ireland for amending the law respecting
Presbyterian marriages in that kingdom. When, by
a sentence of the Irish Court of Queen's Bench, mar-
riages celebrated by Presbyterian clergymen between
Protestants and Presbyterians were declared invalid
and illegal, it was expected that a thorough revision
of the law of marriage in Ireland would be one of
the first undertakings of the law officers of the Crown.
Accordingly the Noble Secretary for Ireland lost no
time in preparing the public for a forthcoming Bill

The hospitals of Paris are so crowded th3iDcotirco;
the last few days, between forty and fifty patients hov", hi A" pa,
fused at the Central Bureau of Admission=. The frefreipls, c,'
appointed a Commission of Physicians to visit the ho'Vroe„,,,i,,
order the discharge of all incurable iatien's. Thi•fl e Cr')
says the Temps, "although rendered neces.ary by
tojib,'
I
state of the hospitals, will, , nevertheless create Borne 35
considering the wealth of these establishomMts.'!
....

UMR
Ott

liv :s
"hooltn,s'