New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-14

known to all our merchants and shipbuilderr.
Boston Traveller.
THE ScorcH MARRIAGE LAws-ExTRAoRDIyARY
CAsE-ln the Edinburgh Court OF Session, on FRIDAY,
Mrs. Catherine Mitchell, or Leslie, entered SUIT 70
have Il declared that she wife Of the late Rev.
Catchart LeeIe, minister Of the parish OF boftnwlck
near Edinburgh In 1872 nattachment arose between
the parties, and they entered INTO an eneagemens
of marriage in December Of that year. Mr.. Lesne,
who was a student Of divinity, was then about -
wears of age and the fact of the engagement OF the
parties was communicated by both Of them 10 the pur
was recommended that the marriage should be deferred
till Mr. Leslie becams minister. He became ASSIST
ant TO minister in 1877 and in that year the Two Ior
may accepted of each other husband and wife, out
il was agreed to keep the marriage secret tall ne was
placed IN a church.. There was no evidence Of this
alleged verbal contract except in the change OF the
terms of their correspondence wherein Mr Leslie IN,
varably subscribed himself as her husband, and usea
the name and subscription of Catherine Lese, aud
this thew continued to do for 30 years. letters being ~
terchasged between them at least weekly. Mr. Leslie
occasionally made remances to her, altnougn tnese
were limited, in consequence OF ms e,rcum-
stances being very embarrassed. The letters
were peculiarly affectioDate and mtinsse
wss not till July. 1876, that Mr.. Leslie vas
presented to the church and parish Of when
she earnestly entreated him TO take her home as his
wife, This he professed himself unable to do in con-
sequence of bis pesunisry circumstance his income
beng quite inadequate, after providing IN some neas-
ure for the claims upon him, for the proper ante
nance of wife. Ultimately, In May, 1856, the pres
sure Of his debts many of which not very credit
ably incurred, and which amounted TO between
f7000 and $4,000, led him TO resolution TO Zee
the country aud he committed suicide in Lancaster,
il was understood while ON his way ~ America
or Australia. The Lord Ordinary lArdmillsn) de-
eided that no marriage had been proved, not
withstanding the Acknowledgements in the correspond
ence She reclaimed against this judgment, and the
Court on Friday decided by majority that the parties
had been married according 70 the law OF Scotland,
which Lord Deas thus explained: . The leading prin-
cinla IN at ma m
ceremony CIVIL religious, no notice before nor pup
LEGATION after, cohabi!aon no writing, no witnesses
even essential to the constitution OF THIS the most
important contract which two private parties
can enter into, whether affecting their domestic
arrangements or the pecunary interests Of Them
selves and their families Matrimonial consent may De
verbally and eFsctusly nterchanged when no third
party is present. and If it can be proved even at the
distance Of years. by subsequent written acknowiedg
ment or oath of reference In any other competent
way that such consent had been seriously and deber
atefy given the parties will be held to have been mar
red from that time forward whether they have CO.
habited in the interval or not Living together and
being in habit and repute husband and wife WILL in
like manner, constitute marriage, without inquiry
Whether the parties mesnt il or mot. Eng. paper.
MARRIAGE OF NEAR RELArIvEs.-The Ohio Legis-
laure has been passing some laws on this subject aud
if one half Ia that has been affirmed in regard 70
the effect Of cousins inermarying 1t would seem as
the duty of parents and guardians TO Interfere
and of ali State Legislatures to do what can wen
be done to prevent so injurious custom. IL said
that in Massachusetts out Of IL families formed tle
marriage Of cousins there IS children snd IN
Ohio, in S3 such families, there were So cnnafen:
II would thus seem that the average nsmo@ ,s y.
children is not diminished BY such ntermsssss, s
Massachusetts, statistics giving 81 enldfen 70 e~ca
such marriage. But out of these 20 chnaIen, -
were idiots, IL scrofulous and only N ooeraole
health, while in Ohio 400 out OF $500 S.sw WIZ
oV families some Of the children viii be more or less
defective and were careful records made, the proper.
ton Of perfectly healthy children would % toand
children. is proportion II true sufficient to starte
anv one and 10 demand some vigorous remedy. The
records and INQUIRIES Of insane and idiotic asylums
nns case Of double cousins 9childrsn-aU there were
y,sre idiots of low grade. Enough, thea, may be
asmonsrsed 10 make all sensible cousins abstain from
marrying. Families Ike the opening leaves Of
Friends and guardians, and all who have the conf
depce of the young ministers aud medical attendants
phould bear such facts In mind, and exert he full
measure Of their intelligence and influence prevent
such unions. fPhu. Ledger.
CASE OF BooTH.--The course of the United States
Government, under the Fugitive Act, toward 8. NJ.
Booth OF Milwaukee, would disgrace the tyranny Of
he dark ages in despotc countries. The United States
Marshsl not only refuses 70 produce BIS person. in
obedience 10 the command Of writ of babeas corpus
ssued under State authority but keeps his vesin sub
tan Tally IN dungeon, and in solitary eontnementi
he iron shutters Of the prison KEEP; closed and tbs
ehIioy oxciucea except such as gets In uo tno
hail. and no person, unless II be physician, not even
aus wife, Is permitted 10 him. The United States
baste, in which he Is thus intellectually carssrated,
Diistes with Such is the despcdsm OF Slavery
n the Free Stale Of Wisconsin lis tender mercies
everywhere are cruel Even the hard penalties for
he violation Of an obnoxious enactment are msde
more unbesrable by the willing mrions Of Presdsnt
who Is the mere tool Of slave oueareihss;; ..,,
The new fort In Portland Harbor erected BY the
United siafes Government, on Hog Islsnd Ledge, has
been named by the Secretary Of War Fort Gofges" 3
a honor "a Ar Ferdpabdo GoyQes "the original pro-