The debate on the Deceased Wife's Sister's Bill on Wednes-.
day was very poor, and even the division showed little interest in the matter, as the second reading was carried by a diminished majority as compared with last year,—namely, 47 (while last year it was over 60),-202 voted for the Bill, and 155 against it. Very little was said that was new on either. side. It is unquestionable that for nearly two centuries even in England, the marriage with a deceased wife's sister was legal, and that at the present time it is legal in our Colonies, and in every other European country except England, if a dispensation has been first obtained from the ecclesiastical power. Of course the main argument for the Bill is the frequently earnest wish of a dying wife that her motherless• children shall be put under the care of one who is almost sure- to regard them with tenderness, rather than of one who is not unlikely to regard them with jealousy; and the very great importance of allowing such wishes to take effect easily- amongst the poorer classes. That is a sound and natural and weighty reason for legitimising at least this class of agnate• marriages.
Previous page
