LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE WIFE'S SISTER'S MARRIAGE BILL.
[TO THE Eorroa OF THE SPECTATOR:]
Sia,—You quote, apparently with approval, Lord Granville's remark in the House of Lords, "I do not feel that my wife's relations are my relations." But surely, if this be so, it is a fatal objection to that condition of the Marriage Law in which the passing of Lord Houghton's Bill would leave it. Ten marriages are now forbidden, absolutely and solely on the ground that the kindred of the wife are the relations of the husband. You propose to allow one of these, on the ground that they are not so related, and to continue to prohibit the other nine, because they are. You might as well prohibit all marriages between persons who had long noses, or auburn hair. These latter prohibitions, indeed, would have some meaning, however absurd ; whereas a prohibition the sole ground of which has been entirely removed is mere tyranny and caprice, deprived of the only meaning it ever had. A "Table of Kindred and Affinity "of which one-third part is declared to have no element of relationship in it, would be indeed a prodigy of nonsense, without example in our law.
The truth is that most men do feel the near kindred of their wives to be related to themselves, and do strongly object to intermarry with them. There are cases, however, in which passion has been stronger than this general feeling, and in which (pretended) marriage has ensued. We are asked to satisfy the demand, which these cases have created, by an alteration of the law ; and by such an alteration as no reasonable man can under- stand, and no honest man respect. Surely it is better to look, before you leap ; the law of marriage is too serious a matter to be the occasion of a "leap in the dark."—I am, Sir, &c., OXONIENSIS.
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