Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen, on Wednesday, carried the second reading 0 his
Colonial Marriages Bill against the Government by A vote of 192 to 141. His object was the complete legali- eation of Colonial marriages with a deceased wife's sister. Those marriages, when sanctioned by the local legislatures, are completely legal now in the United Kingdom for every purpose except one. Children of such marriages, like children legitimised in Scotland by a marriage subsequent to their birth, cannot inherit land in England from an intestate relative. The restriction is, of course, absurd, but we confess we dislike these thin-end-of-the-wedge Bills. If the prohibition of such marriages is bad, as we believe it to be, let the House of Commons remove it by a majority large enough to overcome the resistance of the Lords, not sanction in the Colonies marriages which in England they have not the nerve or the pertinacity to render legal. If the Bill, however, is to pass, one clause ought to be struck out. A retrospective Act conveying property to B which was once legally enjoyed by A is an Act of confiscation. Par- liament some day may give daughters the position of sons in regard to intestate inheritances, but it would be most unjust to wake that act of justice retrospective.
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