Star.
London, England, 1823-07-05 00:00:00

MOM,
*tight to remain for the punishment of profane works.
But, on the other hand, Ile had observed, and their,
Lordships knew, in many cases, both recent and re-
corded, how far the misguided zeal of prosecution
had defeatedits own object. Among the Petitioners
were, he understood, some Clergymen of the Estab.
lished Church, who deprecated an violent meaftres
in prosecuting the impugners of the Christian faith,
and all vindictive steps taken in defence of Christia-
nity. They considered such measures as contrary both
to the doctrine and example of Jesus Cuntir. Unna-
tural importance was thus given to all sceptical argu-
ments. Doubts were created in serious minds, where
no doubts would otherwise have taken root. Eccle-
siastical history was replete with the ill effects of re-
ligious persecution. The petitioners, on these and
other accounts, now prayed their Lordships to take
into their consideration the prosecutionswhich had been
instituted, and the penalties which had been inflicted,
in defence and vindication of that religion which
called for the support of no secular arm, but which,
fixed on the rock of ages, would survive the wreck
of worlds.—The above Petition was fully read, re-
ceived, and laid upon the table of the House.

MARRIAGES AIIIROAD.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE now moved that the
Bill, rendeaing valid such British Marriages as had•
been contracted and celebrated in Russia since the
dissolution of the English Factory there, should be

read a third time.
Lord HOLLAND took this opportunity of remind-
ing•their Lordships that he had, upon a former night,
intimated his intentionnf proposing a Bill for the le-
galisation of all Marriages contracted by the subjects
of,tbe United Kingdom sn foreign parts. He ap-
prehended that the present Bill might, by a very short
alteration, be so enlarged as to comprehend all mar-
riages that-wee solemnised in the Chapels or houses
of our Ambassadors by the Chaplain to the Embassy
in foreign parts, between the subjects of this country
iii any case.
The Esri of LIVERPOOL said, that he certainly
felt no manner of objection to the Noble Baton's pro-
posed clause: but as the present Bill had only a given
scope, grounded on a Petition to their Lordships, he
considered the clause rather too strong, prospectively
and retrospectively, to be inserted at the present stage
of the Bill. If it were thought proper to entertain
the clause, the better course for their Lordships would
be to recommit the Bill. The more regular course,
however, would be to suffer the present Bill to pass
just as it stood; and afterwards the Noble Baron might
propose a short Bill. '
Lord ELLENBOROUGH said, that their Lord-
ships were aware that the present Bill did nct com-
prise such marriages as happened to be celebrated by
larglish Clergymen when not solo-sullied in the Cha-
pels of our Ambassadors.
The Duke of WELLINGTON here expressed a
,'wish that some provision should be made for render-
ing more valid the marriages of English Officers when
. contracted in foreign part,. He knew that it was the
wish of our officers, to obtain some security on this
point, as much uneasiness was felt.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE thought, with re
fererice to some suggestions thrown oat, that it would
be difficult to legalise old marriages which were so-
lemnised by English Clergymen sn foreign pans.
The law already had provided for the validity of such
titan iages when solemnised in the houses of our Am-
bassadors, or within the circumscription of military
camps ;brut it would be an innovation to provide for
the legality of foreign marriages, when solemnised ise
any place even by NI inisters of the Established Chinch.
The Earl of .HARROWny *as anxious that the
full attention of their Lordsltips might be confined to
the object of the present Bill.
Lot d COLCHESTER rose tea point of proceeding
as it concerned the House. Iledeprecated the prac-
tice, which appeared to, be growing up, of intermixing
fresh matter of discussion in such stages of particular,
Bills. This practice, if not checked in time, would
be found most inconvenient to the dispatch of the
business of the House.
' Lord HOLLAND-withdrew his intended clause.
The abOve English Marriages-in Russia Validity
Bill was accordingly read a third time, passed, and
messaged to the other House.