The Lord Chancellorsaid, that the select committee appointed to inquire into the present state of the Marriage-law in Ireland, and to whom had been referred the Marriages (Ireland) Bill, with leave to report from time to time to the House, had directed him to report that the committee, having considered the matter referred to them and the said bill, had come to the following resolution:—
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that further proceedings on this bill be postponed until the return of the judges from circuit.He would take leave to mention to their Lordships that a case, similar to that which gave rise to the bill, had lately come before one of the judges on circuit in Ireland, and for the purpose of giving a full opportunity to consider the question a special verdict, had been found by direction of the judge, in consequence of which it would be referred to the Queen's Bench in Ireland, and might ultimately come before their Lordships. Their Lordships would allow him also to suggest, that in consequence of that public notification, he apprehended no inconvenience could result from the short postponement with respect to the proceedings in the bill. He begged further to mention, that the committee would proceed, notwithstanding the delay, to the further consideration of the other matters which had been referred to their determination.
Lord Broughamentirely agreed with what had fallen from his noble and learned Friend. He hoped, that every publicity would be given to his noble and learned Friend's statement. It should be 502 known universally in Ireland in what stale the inquiry was before the committee and before their Lordships', in order that the miserable consequences might not ensue, which would arise from persons acting on the supposition that marriages already contracted were invalid, and contracting new marriages. "Whoever does so," said the noble and learned Lord, "after the notice of my noble and learned Friend, must be understood to do it at his or her high peril."
Lord Campbellhad received a letter from one of the judges in Ireland, stating, that a second case had occurred during the present circuit, and a second special verdict had been taken. The first was before Judge Perrin at Carrickfergus, and the second before Judge Crampton at Armagh.—Report agreed to.