THE DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER BILL.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Allow me to point out that the clause in this Bill of which you speak as "relieving all clergymen from any legal obligation to celebrate such marriages," as being" an improve- ment," &c., to "soothe away opposition," is more likely to have the opposite effect. In the former Bills, it was only proposed to legalise such marriages before the Registrar. Now we have them intruded into our churches, and the clergy obliged to allow strangers to make use of theNchurches in which they minister for this purpose, if they are unwilling to celebrate such unions themselves. Thus the Bill is rendered an object of more intense hostility to Churchmen than the previous ones have been.—I am, Sir, &c., House of Commons, May 6th. JOHN G. TALBOT.
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