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    which considerable inconvenience to the parties would otherwise probably arise , unless a large number were appointed , which would create confusion . Besides , if , as is intended , the relieving officers under the Poor Law Act , are appointed district registrars under this and the Registration Act , it'will materially interfere with their present duties .

    With a riew , we suppose , to propitiate the reverend bench , the privilege of granting special licences is to be preserved to the Archbishop of Canterbury ; and licences for marrmge according to the rites of the Church of England , will still be granted only by the Ordinary of the diocese . And now we come to the unsatisfactory parts of the Bill . Marriages by licence , though in some cases useful , become objectionable ,

    when , by their cost , they are converted into a mere convenience to the more wealthy , and placed beyond the reach of the poor . This evil is somewhat increased by the present measure , as by it the cost of a licence , granted by the superintendent registrar , will be 3 L exclusive of stamps , affidavits , &c , while the present cost is only about 21 . 10 s . including all charges . The least

    that ought to be done is to place them on a level with regard to expense . Perhaps this is intended as a set off against the advantage the Dissenters will have in being married by their own minister , ( in the usual way ) free of all cost , while those who prefer the church will have to pay the usual fees . But the Dissenters in the House will , no doubt , look to this , for it will

    affect some of the most orthodox of their body . There is another point connected with licences , with regard to which they may not , perhaps , be so vigilant — it is , that those who , considering marriage as a purely civil contract , prefer to be married at the superintendent registrar ' s office , will be deprived

    of the privilege of licence . Why this invidious distinction is made , we are at a loss to conjecture . It is certainly an infringement on the principle of the Bill ; and it cannot be alleged that it is to secure publicity , for it is directed that the marriage in the registrar ' s office shall be with open doors , and between the same hours as at the registered buildings ; and doubtless it will

    speedily have as many bridal guests , and be as well known as any of the churches or chapels of the district . Mr . Hume should see to this , while the Bill is in the House of Commons . We have now hastily endeavoured to put our readers in possession of the outline of the proposed measure , with which , takintr it in connexion with tlie Registration Bill before

    alluded to , there is good reason to be pleased ; and we would fain have ended as we began—with commendations ; trot ( he last clause , and the shortest one in the Bill , seems to us also the least satisfactory : it enactB , " That thin Act shall Extend only to England , and shall not extend to the marriages of the Royal Family . " And this reminds us of the genital State Of

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    The New Marriage Bill . 1 $ 5

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1836, page 185, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2655/page/57/