The National Register. — London, England, 1819-11-14 00:00:00

• • *7O ON PARISH lIIICISTRIK -....- [FROM " THR FAMPHLETRIR.I Every plan for facilitating the means of verifying marriages, births, and deaths, it is humbly presumed may have some claim to attention, especially when the inaccuracy of our present parish registers is so often and so justly complained of. In a country where the mild lawsof religious to leration are so much approved and so thoroughly established, it is surprising that the marriage cere mony should be confined wholly to the Established Church, except in two instances, viz. Quakers, and Jews.. Yet it cannot be denied surely that other dissenting congregations have an equal claim to si milar indu lgence. However, it is much to be wished that, whatever ceremonies may be thought necessary by the con tracting parties and their particular friends to render this union complete, there should• be one form in 1 , law so simple in its structure and so easy of verifi cation, as to be perfectly unobjectionable to every religious persuasion. As things now are, if a couple happen to marry in the Quakers' meeting, and afterward change their religion (a circumstance tar from uncommon), their posterity, in few generations, entirely forget that their ancestors were of that society; and when it becomes necessary to make out a pedigree, in or der to succeed to the estate or effects of a distant zelatiun, they are astonished at not being able to Drove some marriage, and tke consequence is the Les of the whole property. But since it. is admitted, that marriage, by the common law, is merely a civil uontract, ,it is to be presumed that the most zealous Churchman would have no objection to its being solemnized between Non-conformists without the intervention of a priest, at least in his sacerdotal character, particularly as the religious ceremony may still be had whet► re quired,.and people of every persuasion be allowed to observe privately, in their own temples, such forms as may be thought necessary pro•zalule Since experience teaches us, that the must sacred vows at the altar in Roman Catholic countries are of no avail, and that, even in our own, it too-often becomes necessary for the legislature to interfere between man and wifi, to break those bends which religion had sanctified; we have surely tut cause to regret that the original contract is, by our law.. less binding, especially as the temporal. advantages re main the same. But witlereganl to nonconformists. they seem, in this case,. to have a. claim on the justice of the nation; and since the satisfaction which those peo ple would receive by the change would ultimately tend to the advantage of the laud,. as well as render more correct the occasional enumeration, of popula tion, now so highly necessary and so much desired, it is to be wished that some attention might be paid thereto. It cannot be denied that, since the practice of the wedded couple's signing the register of their mar riage, it has secured the remembrance of it to a greater certainty ; but it not being required by law that any one should sign the entries of births and baptisms, they are in conaequence neglected by the clergy, who often trust theta to their memory from day to day, from week to week, and from month to inuath, till at length when they open the book for the purpose of insertion, one halt' are forgotten and many are misnamed. Another cause of this neglect arises from its not being usual to register the birth, but the baptism ; and as the clergyman is repeatedly called on to give private baptism to new-born infants whom he does nut think of registering till Orought to church fir the public ceremony, which is too often neglected. the consequences are, that the entry is nut made, and posterity wonders at the omission_ The glaring defects and improprieties, we trust, iil induce the legislature to take the same into o rious considtration. The following is humbly offered as the outline of a bill for directing a universal and authentic register of marrriages, births, and burials in every parish. I. * berms greiw inconveniences arise fruiu the %s ant of oar general and n•tthentic register for masnages, births, and burials of persons of every religioite persuasion, a n d it is litgbly proper that the same should be r.•i;ulrieJ to prevent the like in future; be it eutteleil by the King's Mob( EICCIkat Majesty, by and with the advice and cloiseat oi the Lords Spaitual and Temporal, sold Cumulous iii This p,e wmt parliumeot i.weitibled, and by the authority of WC Mille, mai (rem and after toe day ut all - - had Ist.trrmi,e and marriages which shun be solemitise.6 i ;land and Ss elm or limn of tierwidt up. o "I' red, Jahr/ AL.! itaut tteeolftlillg 10 the forms pres, tared by tot act pasmed iit the ittelety•Silth 'ear of his late :Stajt.-•ty ki,, g tieutge the St•ematt, tainted " An Act for the better pre renti.i; Clootb•stioe Marriages," shall be Hull mid rota, • o betber uoi , oliz the people elided Quakers, ur those profe— smit the Jra.,b or :any other rebates' ultateues.,, b,.Ve uud except ay !sett iuurter oteutioseed. U. And be it :u 'Alm' rusted, that from and after the 51A. !" V~ THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Provided alaapi t and be it faxtber enacted, that I whenever it %hall be vignihed to the Alinswer that the parties• to be married are nou-conformists. unwilbug to.i . itaiply with., the tuna' forms of the Church in the snits riage•wereniuny • the . . seine shall be dispensed with. and the leißowing substituted 10 lieu thereof. 'rise mail and sou►an who intend to inter marry shall, between the hears of eight and twelve in the morning, repair to the vestry, or, where there is uo vestry, to such other room or place within the pariahs as the Minister shall api 000 ioo t, and there, in the presence of the Minister,and two or more credible witnesses, shall publicly declare their ontract of marriage in these worth : first the mass shall say, " I take thee (M.) to be my ;viler then the woman shall say, " l take thee (N.) to be my husband ;" which shall be be It sufficient marriage to all in tents and purposes whatsoever, any thing in oily act or acts of parliatueut to the cuutrary notwithstanding IV. And in order to preserve the evidenee of such mar riages thus contracted, said to render the proof thereof -e certain mid easy, be it further enacted, that , from and after tl►e said day of and iiiinualiately after the celebration of every such marl iage, au entry thereof shall be amide in the register kept for that purpose, in elude ' entry ur register it shall be expressed, that the said mar riage was celebrated by balms ur licence ;Auld it both or 'either of the parties, married by bemire, be underage, wily consent at the parents or guardians, as the case smile be I and shall be signed by the Minister with his proper addition, mud also by the parties married, and attested ay such two waist's ses, which entry shall be made in the form or to ilie etlect following ; that is to say : As Lt. of (the or this) Parish (Non conformists) were married in tins parish by (bann► or licence) witl► consent of (parents or guardians) this day of in the year by me J. Recto•, Vicar or Curate. Thismarriage was sole suited between In . 8., C. 11, iu ,the presence of E. F., 11. V. Provided always, and be it further enacted, the whenever it is proposed by the parties, ala•srt to .that the marriage of Itilimiconforinists before iumitioaed shall .be substituted far that of the Established Church, the persons to he married shall, seven days at least before the time re quired fur the first publicat of such harms, respertively deliver or tense to be delivered to such Minister, a notice iii writing of their true saints, and of the house or houses of their respective abodes a ithen such parish sir extruparot h al place, ol the time daring which they have dwelt is such house or houses respectively, of their iutentiun to Inter marry as bait-couffil mists, Wu murriage by banes be inten ded, and in that ease a copy of the basins, signed by the Cierg,yruau,shiall be alb /teti to the church-fluor.monedaiitely after divine-service oil each of the days of publicatiom— Aud 111 case the parents or guardians,. or one of them, u either• of the pintos who shall be under the age of Yllears shall forthwith signify his dissent to such marriage in ea 'hug to the Munster, such puhlicatiou ot bass shall be absolutely void. VI. And it is hereby further enacted, that whenever it is intended by the parties about to mare, that the c. refuoa ) of auu.entiforinists before meat d shall be substituted fur that of the Established Church, and a marriage by licence is proposed to be hafl,et saint be espies/red in the said licence of marriage tbal.the parties to be married are non confusinisis.. VII. And be it further enacted, that from and after the day of in every parish chur h ithin.England, Wales, nod town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, there shall be provided by the churchwardens, at the charge of the parish, one pare lanciuMallt, a berein ...Alt be rim led the day and year of the birth. of every chard Mora wnuul the parish, according to the fonts bertietafter ransomed. Vlll. Mid it is hereby further enacted, that w ulna thirty days heat slier the birth orally cupid so any partial, the future of the mid thud suatl iriumatly appear before the Al mister, or its the father's. Mueller ..r that so tilt mai uer, or in ease of her being anal he t.. attend, the is buma prlwo tot ors or oar. behalf, mid declare tile day ut the clothe. lull sh, toe mane of tole lather hod alotb.r.( but of a bast*. Li tile name of the lautnen wily ),,the umue it nab rec. lord, a nether it tierii.hoptised on nuto,.ana when :tad w I crc so baptized ;. irl I which pa, t.culal 54 he bual.Alisoitenshall eider u. ca lt.e to be entered in the said regiotrr,. otgot the stooor with ham , and t uuW she same to be wit ilessed by the ;tenon mitAIII4 the oeclarattom. hood if any daubs shall arise os - ..ether the said declared 4444 be in all.respect‘ true witljust , II snail be lawful fur the said Minister too (is: mine into tile via tstioiStaliCes upon the oath of the pally Making the said de. lard 44444 , or the oath or oaths ut such other person or ort bons as the said &hunter shall think lit to extensilie, which oath or oath* the said Mituster is hereby mullion-rot to ad- Aad of oo such o.crlitratiom shall be 1111140 within tins ty days next after the Milli as idol emiol, then the goods and chattels is. the father or mother, or person So n hose house the. said both shall have takers place shall be liable to the fur frotore of the pounds, to be levied b) liisltcea by warrant of one of tbeisntiees of the peaceotue half to be paid to the oufuniter, and the Oilier hall to the Moitoter of the parish 1 bnt lithe hlinister be the informer, then he shall be cradled to the w hole penalty- IX. And be it further enacted, that whenever any per son shall die or for buried in why par.sh, mid not be interred in the church- yard there, some person ;invent at the said burial, or whets the budy was put into, I ioe t offish ihial thirty days nest atter such burial make &Titanium' of the oath.: to the Minister of the pa. i.h w here the interim-hi took place; mud the wild Minister shall enter or cause the said -epulture to be outotie.iiartely entered his the register of bun alio, sign it with his name, and ore the same w assessed by the persuli in...kisig the rte. tat Mimi. And if nil suc h snail be made as aforesoid within thirty days neat afters ouch &mine, the mom penalty anal be levied and applied in the same manner ao is herein before directed fur nut making tile decimation of birth. And the Nlooister shall be iu all cases a (Anew trot wish. vs notwithstanding his being the in former or Omitted to the peuitliy. A isd the conviction far either of the ulleileev in this act inetitioued shall be in the following form, or in nay other tuna of words tu the saute ct, wheal. atulandiii fie it remembered, that un the dav of in the y ear of our Lord in the county of A 0. justices of the peace for tae said l ounly of for t hat the and A. 0. (bele state 1 he olleme against the act.) wit lel.) lie has forfeited the stun of bre p.mods, to be olootributed rui the act directs. And au pro. erooing. Moo in pursuance of this act shall be quashed fel w cut of fossil ors LeliJOV. it by eirititslurbr EARTHQUAKE DI INDIA: [From the "Bombay Gassite of July 1.) . We hasten to lay before our readers a selection' from the numerous communications we have re. ceived respecting this awful visitation. It Wll5 slightly felt at Poona'', and we believe it did not reach to the southward of this city, ur extend much beyond the tropic. CAMP, 81100 J, JVNI 19; At seven o'clock on the evening of the lath of• June, an earthquake destroyed the whole district and country. or Kutch; accounts that have been received mention, tilt: from Litekput Busier to-Bittchao,the•wlsole of the towns and villages are more or less in rules. 'l•he towns of Man. daviey Muundtia, and Anjar, have antlered extensively and severely; , but the city of filloojond the fort of lluojia, between which our force is encamped, ate reduced, Ike former to ruins, and the latter so breached as to be oselew as a fortification. This, however, It the leovt pall of the evil; at the moment of• the crash, it is apprehended, and I tear nut ally way exaggerated, that ;000. of the Whilst lams sere 'paled in the IMASII.• Even Imre the etlecta of this horrible visitation are felt '.(though three days since the first shuck) in constant and hourly vibrations of the earth. The inhabitants hare been obliged to forsake what were once their hallo, and encamp onside upon swine '411411 bilk. Their distress cannot he .well described ; brimmed, maimed, and agitated with fear, they go daily tofu the city to work upon their.several houses, to try and extricate the mangled reillaitia of wives, children, and relations, whilst in their pious labour the putrid stench neatly exhausts them ; cattle, which have fallen in 'mothers, add greatly to the Mistime evil. The walls, from the sandy nature of the 41.0 aw, ate ci 'ambled in a Mass, and the narrow streets tit llhooj, entirely lost, thus 1 1 adding to the difficulties of the solterers. The orris ketones of the palace fell, and buried, ausionast others, the 1- mother of the deposed Harlia what aunties stand are so • shattered as to be liable to fall iY the ruins; .and the very complete wreck of .he wall on the nowhere side, as well ,as the deitiontimi of nearly all'llir tossers arid gateways, -resider it nopussible for Bliouj to be a city again. The lossof lives Contain be confined 4t) lint city. 1 tear, in all the towns and villages, mut tality has been guest. I mu incliued mr think, films the eircmustatice of a vol lino liar.- Mg opened on a mill, a 0 miles Irons Shoo). that the COM. try will nut capes truer a repetition of the evil. Front out camp being.. in.a plain, no vary .neaterial da.... mage has hero sustains. dt die- tiles of a few temporary erected houses were knocked sill, mid the walls shattered. 1 wall attrirss to give yon the seissattou left try those. both tit eiaatp and city. hi Ilw WWI, l was Infos sued by Gent Irman, wins Direflyalitthied , uy a house fail.ita over him, that, tiding oil 01111001 i all adra of what 5.i. 10 hap pen, ilie dist notice, • heavy attpalting nini..ened ...Ise, the 11101101. of /lie earth, WaYoOf . 1.. sialaiseS nil each side ut the Aimee: loitering and fauiug.initsvma., insvrtssed lttmWl imet.au idea, and lie milted out„ total a mitt. was 'prima; wurteas,anolhei Gentleman laideal.d lite bank ut the tank was forced by the waters , accuin. ;melded with an tar head, lila siciairm, 01 -.wniarm i ll uai me n. - • • iimg of l..e.rotnud— '• In one wild roar expired! " The sauntered town,—the wall thrown down, " The waves a nittiaera haritiiiau bent, " The hills mat shake, awiawilia unrent, " As if an earthquake passed. (lb " Siege of .Corinth.'') In Map a sim.lar sickness amid giti.l.i.eas sure esp.— rielieed ; and in ignorance, until the sou. I, was over (which Lasted a ilitifille) of time nature tot tite liuthe below the earth, some sat down iiistinctiem , utheia sinew them. selves down. One was paying wurkvi . Ople 111 a circle, and ii; seeing him squat, the whole followed Ilie round lam, " time very plelitt• of despair." Inc sensation Lfelt was a giddatess and horror at perceie. ing a small hillock, close to winch I was tiding ma short distance horn the camp). completely agitated, and at the same time my boom plunged, from the Kimmel moving. This was the ease also with au officer I was tiling with. I have, on nights y, ascertained that really years ago,and in the remembrance of the oldest inliauitants, au usnidulat ing notion has been telt before in Kutch, but never,l hope, will again be attended with such a burl dile catastrophe; the distr.'s, Of which has been so great upon the inhabi tants, that LCOllll'66l fall short of ability to describe t. Camp near I.llaaj, Jnne 17. We arc at present. in a shocking sta;.• of alarm. Lad evening, hetvi ern sis and seven o'clock. we were visited by dreadful earthquake. The wall that surrounded Moo . ) is almost levelled with the ground, aud the few lowers w hies are left standing are merely briskets sestains ; the houses generally utaettifeel, uthent w ruins, aud most of the large buildings,including the palace, greatly injured ; the wall of the Ilill-fo,iisdiwitin many plat es, and there is a com plete. breach Ileilf the gateway. The right of our sump rests a shod distance on tile left. of the latter. fronting the tuna, and extends along the ',idiom of the hill to a little Layoud the Large tower otsthe fotAllit.%4C,t point. I son happy that we have had none llllltersully hail, four Seapoys only bruised, who were too duty in the town; hut I feat that a great many casualties have occuried g the poor wildest same hundreds are said to have lost their lives.— There a at present so much confusion that tne numbers casi no he tut-en:tined. 11e had several shucks during the night, and they base cuulinrard.tt Mit rvals this day; the last one about Iwo hours alp', a lien I could )..arctly keep upon my legs; the seam , ion is loirr lite a bite it lasts. 'lltey„liave sutfered, e uuderstaml, in the sante wry at Stijar. . P S.— tier. sp. m. There is a slight shock at tills moment. A tru,t in Cnid they wit' tease altogether. 0444 ant al o Lcticr _lrvin a e wreamone I fin,nola, V , 4 NOV. T 4 XI. And be it further enacted, dust in all eases where a; oath it a-attired by or in revect et' any thing usentioned or referred to by this act, the solemn alllirsoutt , ii of Quakers snall he allowed, as likewise the oaths of Jens, ur any other religious , persuasion, according. to the custom of their faith. any thing hereioi or in soy , tot beract•of parlisineut to tan cumin/Al uulwillbstanitiag.