§ Order for consideration, as amended, read.
§ Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now taken into Consideration."
§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, he rose to move the addition of the following clause:—
That nothing herein contained shall render valid any marriage with the sister of a deceased wife, if either of the parties to such marriage shall, after having contracted such marriage, and before the passing of this Act, have married any other person.
§ MR. HENLEYsuggested that the Motion should not be pressed at that late hour.
THE SOLICITOR GENERALremarked, that the clause should be differently worded, for as it stood it contemplated that which could not take place by law—the marriage of a man with his deceased's wife's sister.
§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, that the case contemplated by the clause had arisen, and that was the reason why it was proposed. The matter was fully discussed yesterday.
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENsaid, that if a debate were to arise on the clause it could not be proceeded with at that hour, and suggested that the Government should give a morning sitting for the purpose of the discussion.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, he thought the matter lay within the smallest possible compass. The object of the clause was to meet the particular case of a man who, having married his deceased wife's sister, and afterwards presuming on the illegality of that marriage, married another woman. It would except the second marriage from the operation of the Act.
§ MR. GLADSTONEobserved, that if the question was fully debated yesterday it would be hardly gracious to prevent the noble Lord going on with his Motion, especially as private Members had cheerfully given up to the Government every night in the week.
§ Motion by leave withdrawn.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill considered; Clause added; Amendment made.
§ Bill to be read 3o To-morrow.
§ House adjourned at a quarter aft One o'clock.