§ MR. EYKYNsaid, that the Order for going into Committee on the Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Bill was the 31st Motion on the Paper, and there could be no prospect of the success of the Bill unless the Government would take it in hand. He appealed to the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government to do that, in deference to the many discussions and divisions in its favour that had taken place in the House.
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, that he could not hold out any expectation that the Government would hold themselves responsible for the passing of the Bill during the present Session. The subject was one which, if the Government were prepared to take it up at all, ought to be taken up at the commencement of the 432 Session, and not because, towards the end of it, the Bill was in a position of difficulty and embarrassment. At the same time, if the Government did take the matter into its own hands, he did not know that it would have any effect on the successful passing of the Bill. It was true that certain Members of the Government had given it all the support in their power; but the distribution of opinion upon it, both in the House and in the Government, was well known, and it had never been regarded as a Government measure.