Star.
London, England, 1827-06-27 00:00:00

pulalication of the laws of marriage of Dissenters by the Clergy of
the Established Church stately your Lordships will not see much
offetlaive Matter to the Clergy in that circumstance, when yam re-
member that several trifling matters of temporal interest, even the
parochial rates, are published by the Clergy from the altar. Surely
then, it can be considered neither an offence nor degradation to the
Clergy to give public notice of the marriages of a sect composing a
respectable portion of society, of unexceptionable moralitt of con-
duct, and high character, and whose members have seat, in the
other House of Parliament, and .are allowed to make laws for
the Government of the country. As to the objection against the
obligation of the Clergy of the Established Church, how it can
be said to degrade the Clergy I cannot see. The difficulty of the
Clergyman's registering a marriage ceremony, the performance
of which he has not witnessed, I admit to beristitied to all the con.
sideration which my Noble and Learned Friend, who urged It could
desire, hut I kohl it to be a question peculiarly fitted for that active
acid deliberate discussion which can only be obtained by going into
Committee ; I submit, then, that your Lordships ought to send the
Bill into the Committee, where alone we can ascertain whether my
Noble and Learned Friend's objections are or are nut insurmount-
able. In that Committee I shall, in conjunction with the Noble Lord
at the table( Lord Tenterden) contribute my exertions to the removal
of those difficulties. If it should appear, to the Committee that
we cannot get over the difficulties in the short space between thin
and the close of the Session, I shell have no objection to consent
to a postponement of it to the next; but I would respectfully im-
press upon your Lordships taking into consideration the feelings
of the respectable body interested in the fate of the Bill—a Bill
whose principle has been twice admitted by the other House of I
Parliament, the propriety of allowing this Bill to pass to a State ex-
pressive of your sanction to its principle. As to its details, If we
cannot manage them in the preterit Session' we shall be able to re-
turn to them the following, with renewed vigour, and calmer
I judgment—(Loud cheers).
Tne Earl of ELDON, in explanation, stated, that
his Noble Relative, Lard Sowell, was disabled only by
illness from attending the discussion that evening. Inadvertence
alone had prevented his Noble Relative attending by proxy against
the measure, so strong did he know to be his Noble Relative's
aversion to the BIS. As to the feeling of the Clergy on the subject,
he had the authority of a letter from a Dignitary of Middlesex, for
saying, that the Clergy considered the duties that would be imposed
on them by the Bill, degrading and insulting to the altar.
The Bishop of CHESTER felt himself bound to sup-
post the Bill, though be considered some of, the clause,
to require amendment, The errors, however, were such
as might be rectified in Committee, through the assist-
ance of the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack. But even
though their Lordships should not be able to effect that purpose in
the short remaining portion of the Session, the circumstance of their
going into Committee would skew, that their Lordships were not
disinclined to grant them relief as far as was consistent with
the interests of the Church of England. The contract of mar-
riage was a matter or natural necessity ; and even, in some cases, a
Christian duty. The solemnization of it, by religious cere-
monies, was founded upon one or other of two principles ; either
on considerations of public polity, or with a view to attach
greeter importance to it, and enforcing the more strict observance
of it, by eonstkuting it an act of religious duty. The Church
had nothing to do with toe first principle, and as to the second
those who denied that religious solemnity was not necessary to
the validity of the contract, were borne out by that part of the
twenty-firth of our articles, which states, that Matrimony,
though an act of religious Observance, was not designated by
any visible sign, form, or ceremony. It was also held by
Swinburne, that the essence of marriage was the content
of the parties contracting, lend that a Christian State ought not
to force on its subjects the observance of religious ceremonies of
marriage. Ills Lordship concluded by giving his support to the
motion for the second reading, but stated his intention to propose
certain amendments in a Toter, state of the Sill.

The Marquis of LANSDOiir waa uotittelined, at that mo-
ment. to oppose the principles of any detailed amendments which
Noble Lords might think the Bill required. He was only anxious
that it should be committed, when them amendments might be
brought forward.
Lord CARBERY also appealed the motion for going into a
Committee.

After a few words from the Earl of Eases, their Lordships
divided, when there were—
Foe the modal " 61

Against k

blajority . . . 7
The Bill then passed through a Committee, several verbal
intendment' were agreed to, and the Report was ordered to be
received on Thursday next.
The Irish Butter Trade Act passed through a Committee...-
Their Lordships reamed, and the Report was ordered to be re,
mitred to-morrow.

SALE or CUM KU.
The Order of the Day for their Lordships resblving themselves
luto a Committee on the SAlit of Game Bill, having been read,
Lord LUCRE consented to withdraw the Bill, but expressed
his determination to bring it forward again in the next Session
of Parliament.
The other Bills before their Lordships were then forwarded in
their respective sages, after which their Lordships adjourned.