The Bill declaring that affinity is not consanguinity, called in
Parliament the Bill for Legalising Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister, was thrown out in the House of Lords on Tues- day, by 101 to 81. Of the Bishops, one (Ripon) voted for the measure, 14 against it, and nine may be supposed to be indif- ferent. The debate was of the usual kind, Lord Cranbrook being this time the layman to affirm that such marriages, which are allowed in all Christian countries except this, were offensive to religion and contrary to social expediency. The new feature was the appearance of the Prince of Wales in the debate and the division, his Royal Highness both declaring his opinion and giving his vote in favour of the Bill. His intervention will carry the measure next year, as the only valid resistance to it comes from " society ;" but the precedent is a very bad one, both for the Prince and the Peers. The latter seem to the populace less free if the Prince votes, and the former must, if he inter- venes in debate, take his chance as a debater. Some day he will be tempted to give an argument instead of a mere opinion, and will be criticised in a frank style not favourable to the dignity of the Throne. He is Heir Apparent, not a mere "Royalty."
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