Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1849-12-05 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

APPROACHES° MARRIAGE IN HIGH }AVE.—The preliminaries of a matrimonial alliance are concluded between Miss Hainlyil Williams, the accomplished and lovely daughter of Sir James Ilainlyn Williams, Bart.. and Lady I Mary, of Edwinaford, in this county' and Clovelley Court, In Devonshire; and Major Henry Edward Pane, of the 4th Dragoon Guards, and eldest son of the Rev. E. Pane, of Fullieek, hi the county of Lincolnshire, and of Avon, Hampshire. THE BisHOP OP SAINT DAviD's opoN CAPITAL Puts rsu stENTS.—At the resent meeting in London for the abolition of capital punishments, in which Mr. Ewart, M.P., took part, the Rev. Mr. Christmas stated " that the Bishop of St. David's cordially concurred with the advocates of abolition." The learned prelate, feeling that his views were not correctly represented, ha addressed a letter to the Times, from winch it will be seen that we may claim the right rev, prelate as an advocate of the enlightened principle to which he adverts; although he dues not concur the ni ncuirst4ttla tit4h No n e advocates who delivered their sentiments do we. There was much platforam froth given out at the meeting in question, and the umal evasion of the gist of the arguments which characterises these exhibitions. Nevertheless, we are the stout advocates of the prinicipk of the abolition of capital punishments, despite the Rev. Mr. Christmas's benevolent exaggerations; and an, we rejoice to say, is the enlightened and scholarly Bishop tit' St. David'a.—lhe following is the letter addressed to the Editor of the lime,:—" observe in your report of the meeting held last Monday at the Bridge hotel, Southwark, on the punislinwnt of death, that the ilev. Mr. Christmas is represented to have said that the Bishop of St. David's cordially concurred with the advocates of abolition.' I wish it to be known that the rev. gentleman had no authority from me for such a statement, as I ant sure he would see, if lie were to look again at the last communication which he received from me on the subjeet. I certainly concurred with him in the opinion that the Legislature is not bound by the interpretation which has been put on the pasmge which lie cited from the book of' Genesis, as if it enjoined the infliction of capital punishment in cases of murder; but that it is perfectly at liberty to deal with the question according to its own views of what is expedient and right; but 1 did not express to him, nor ant I aware that I ever expressed, an uoqualified opinion in favour of the abolition of capital punishmeut, aly opinion on that point would depend on the nature of the punishment which, in cases of atrocious guilt, is to be substitMed for that of death. I have, indeed, my private opinion on that point also; and it inclines nie to believe that capital puitishiamts might be safely and beneficially abolished; but I ant not at all sure whether I could concur with the advocates of abolition' who delivared their sentiments at the meeting. as they seem all to have avuided making the slightest reference to what appears to Inc an essential element of the question. Your insertion of this explanation in your jouroal will much oblige, sir, your ohedient servant, C. ST. DATlD'S.—Abergwili, Carmarthen, Nov. tn." CARmARTIIEN