The National Register.
London, England, 1819-11-15 00:00:00

UN PARISH REGISTERS.

[VRoM "1:11P. P‘MPIII.ETEI R.l

Even• Ain tir facilitating the means of verifying
'marriages, births, tout deaths, it is humbly presunnsl
way 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 laws of 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, via. Quakers, and
Jews. Yet it cannot be denied surely that other
dissenting congregations have an equal claim to si-
milar indulgence.
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 firers in
Live so simple in its structure and so easy of veria-
cation, as to he perfectly unoljectionable 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 far from uncommon),
their posterity, in few generations, entirely forget
that their ancestors were of that society; and when

it becomr:s necessm y to make out a pedigree, in or-
der to succeed to the estate or effects of a distant
relation, they are astonished ut nut being able to
prove some marriage, and the consequence is the
loss of the whole property.

But since it is admitted, that marriage, by the
common law, is merely a civil contract, it is to be
presumed that the most zealous Churchman would
have no objection to its being solemnized between

Non-confoiMists without the intervention of a priest,
at least in hie sacerdotal character, particularly as
the religious ceremony may still be had when re-
quired, and people of every persuasion be allowed to
observe privately, in their own temples, such forms
as may be thought necessary pro sa•ute (mime.
Since experience teaches us, that the most sacred
vows at the altar in Roman Catholic countries arc
of no avail, and that, even in our own, it too often
becogies necessary for the legislature to interfere
between man and wife, to break those bonds which
religion had sanctified; we have surely no cause to
regret that the original contract is, by our law, less
binding, especially as the temporal advantages re-
main the wale.
But with regard to non•conformists, they seem,
in this case, to have a claim on the justice of the
nation; and since the satisfaction which those peo-

plc would receive by the change would ultimately
tend to the aavantage 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 arc in consequence neglected by the
clergy, who often trust them to their memory from
day to day, from week to week, and from month to
month, till at length when they open the book fur
the purpose of insertion, one half 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 dues not think of registering till brought
to church fur the public ceremony, which is too
often neglected. the consequences are, that the
entry is nut made, and posterity wonders at the
omission_

Theglariog defects and improprieties, we trust,
will induce the legislature to take the same into
s2rions consideration.' .

The fidlowing is humbly offered as the outline of
a bill fur directing u universal and auMenlic register
of cnarrriages, births, and burials in every parish.

' I. Where—as ;;real iticonventruces arise from the %%Ala I/1
•ar general rind autliet.tte irgistet fur marriJges, birtlis, mud
burials 41,1.1.01M0 lit t'Very 11'41011s iAlld
tuat Co. •amt. 'nitwid be rsguiated sib las to
preVeut the like in futtire; lie it eitactril by the Kinv's niosi
iscelleut :Majesty, by and ssith the advice and comma Ile
like Lords Spiritual and rtiniltbral, mud Commun. to Ilia pre-
vent parliament :.bru+ulro,usid by Übe titllbority ut• the saute,
that (ruin awl after Ow day ut all
and every niatrni,e awl itiorriages uhirti shall be solemn se t
in EnAlaiiri *ad $t mitt, or ton n of iterwitk up u Tr.eed,
mut, wi.t. tam, necurdint; to the farms pres robed by tin tit 1
1.1 site t%truit)-sixth ;c0..., bas late M.l jeety he. g
(kurge tit, Secu,,l, 'tattled •• •Au Act for the better pre-
veutiii4 Clattdestuse Alutrisige,," sonil be. hull .ltd sold.
.uu•ny; the Ire ple chlakere, ow Ihost• proles-
sing ttie Jevtls.l ur any ut,ier relax i WriaLoutVer. 14iVe 1111.1
except at are :mattes. Meintotwd.
LI. Aud be II merrier eunc.ed, that from And after Ili:
it I fur kit mot
every the riptitto of nun—rostfornosts Ili co•.tr.tct tout
;within the demituirms slur-..aid, by come )iug wnn nit
►egulations tit t..e aid act at it., Issettly.s.ith year tor ll*
Late :Majesty, 111 all respects *here the same are nut al.ereJ,
to listeistatler par ly expressed and declared.