Star.
London, England, 1827-06-29 00:00:00

•
mounded to a &tote day, in order that dies. May have
time to communicate with the prosecutors. If itse parties
should not come to some agreement, the defendants can
be brought up again.

THE WINO O. TODD AND DONNING.
Mt. Gotrumaz prayed the judgment of the eourt
upon the defendants, Ephraim Todd, the Master of the
Workhouse In the parish of Herreden, near Birming-
ham, and the defendant Downing, a parishioner of
Little Pockington, Warwickshire, who had been con-
victed of a conspiracy to procure the marriage of a
pauper of the parish of Herreden, named Elizabeth Pratt,
with Luke Smith. a pauper of the parish of Birming-
ham, for the purpose of throwing upon the parish of
Birmingham the support of the bastard child kit which
the said Elizabeth Pratt was then pregnant.
The defendants having put in affidavits detailing the
nature of their means, the number of children depend.
ing upon them for support, and denying. that in what
they had done, they had any knowledge that they were
acting contrary to law,
The COMNON S2IIOZANT and Mr. RZADItit were
heard in mitigation, and Mr. Goncso ast in aggravation
of punishment.
Mr. Justice RATLIII pronounced the sentence of the
Court, that the defendant Todd do pay to the King a
fine of 251. and that the defendant Downing do pay to
the King p fin, of SL
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, JUNII 2s.
The Loan Crust hems sat in the morning at Nisi Pries to dis-
pose of undefended causes, and afterwards, during the Sittings in
Banco, no ease of any public importanow was heard.
COURT OF CONDELROATF3, June 21.
Nothing 11=10 in this Court of any puddle interest. It sat for
slew miasma map. .

ORETNA-GREEN MARRIAGES.

TO THE EDITOR.

ElS—Mang the late trials of E. G. Wakefield, Esq.
many animadversions were made on the 3coeskform of Marriage—
((Abell so called)—by which be, like a villain, (as he certainly must
be) was enabled to deceive a poor simple child, into the Idea that she
was his wife.—l, as a native of Scotland, feel somewhat amused at
the ignorance of our Southern neighbours in regard to our marriage
ceremony, &c. &c. I verily believe they suppose that the Black-
soli* or Ditrokr, (or whatever other tepidly honourable pro/seeks
David Laing may be) is our High Priest, in the sacred comemmy
el Matrimony.
How, so far is it totally the reverse of this, that It is merely to
ealr Brt;fisfa atigithours he officiates in that way; and sly dayshould
Isle good suck marriages—Waved knows! Yet smile of the
highest in the land, (in regard to birth as well as station) have con-
descended to accept of the services of this said l'ritss or Bishop, as
be cilia haunch—and he actually performs the ceremony in the
English not In the 'Scotch form, as far as words go. Why (let me
ask.) do the Courts of England hold good suck marriages ? We
loam nothing to do with David Laing or such like. Our mantas's
are, no doubt, much more simple In form, and much mere easily
solemnized than the regular English marriages. And, (let me also
add) to our credit., they are muck more rarely set aside in say way ;
divorce in Scotland is seldom beard of; and surely, if our kitti—
es marmot law--admit of a fine family of children being legititsra-
tined• by a posterior ceremony, on the parents declaring that they
had regarded each other as married persons—though circumstances
may have prevented the rite taking place publicly—it is sorely much
more en the side of Christian 'charity and humanity, sad modem/re
for the happioess and comfort of each member of the family, than.
that &Maio,' from wbkb men fatal consequences arose, as the bar
tereirisla so =ay of the late Earl and Countess. of Berkeley's chil-
dren, and many others in similar circumstances. Nevertheless, let
me assure our Kaglish neighbours, that such irregular marriages
are seldom legalized in Scotland without a reprimand from the
Kirk, and a solemn admonition from our Clergy. In the higher and
middling classes, such things are seldom beard of—not ene-fiftieth
part so frequently as the Gretna Green marriages of English par.
cite. Our Clergy have nothing to do with David Laing. He M-
aoism not with their (loch—and why should the English Courts
Meths Sock mockery ? Were Eagiisia marriages less bunimaed
legal forma and legal fees, David Laing would have muck less
to dea,sail would ere long sink intro oblivion.
Ohe rite of marriage is most simple and impressive when admi.
ollmered by our worthy Pastern. And surely it is mask to hemr
levee en krrgviar marriage being too praeticalik.does a rue alumnae
Wogs may thereby &aria a right and this to parental case, instead
of being stigmatized as bastards, according to the English law. In
1 the lower rank of life, a poor unfortunate young couple may have
formed a strong erection tor each other, though without the catmint
st persona—or mass ether obstacle may have prevented their public
union—a child may be boon—and this probably decides the father
to own a private marriage. The couple go before the Parish Minis.
ter, and declare they are willing to submit to what be pleases. He
theta pronounces them married persons, with much good advice,
and a solemn prayer for a' blessing on the peakent milk. No
doubt such privileges may frequesely be abused; but when they
are, it is commonly by English said Irish vagrants, who too easily
get parish rights in Scotland. Fortunate in this, and many other
instances, will It be for Scotland if our active Member, Mr. T.
Kennedy's proposal, be carded into 'Stet, of rendering a gm yea'
residence necessary, before a stranger cm become a parishioner....
From the acknowledged ignorance of the English regarding Seco
tish law. sod customs in general, it may be not altogether useless to
inform them, that previous to all reguiar osswiages, Maas are pub-
lished three times its our parish harks. All other marriages are
saaactuta a, though In many instances, mercy assists justice M pro.
mewing them soy at coat..
I than conclude with humbly, bat Wreinsottsly recommending,
that no Gretna Green or other such marriage should be held legal
in &OLAND; at the same tine giving more freedom to the kid
Begird form—hut that such laws should not be retrospective.
Your obedient servant,
June 1827. ECOTIE A.
1%8.1 add a few of the most di:thirds, among the names width
grace David Laing's register, the unions there solemnized by him
being held legal in England :—Lord Erskine, Lord Chancellor of
lihgland ; the Earl of Westmoreland Hon. Co. Law, son of Lord
Chief Justice Ellenborough ; Sir Thomas Letkbvidge, Bart. (the
renowned and redoubtable bead of the present Oppeeldon); John
Lethbridge. Esq. following the good example of bib father—the
above watthy Baronet. Many more might be added, of equal
notoriety.

OSMIUM UM* VIAOII LATII lls. olllfOlD •
Uinta Poem:

" Janiee-street, Jane 5, lirlo.
" Sra—l have looked over your little packet. The song* appear
to me possessed of considerable merit. I can, of coarse, only speak
of ahem as detached Lyrics; but, even thus, they please me much.
The extracts in the heroic measure are less perfect. Marry of the
lines, indeed, ere poetical, and some few passage. are pictu
but, upon the whole, they want compression and airier. In -
ins at them with a critical eye, you will see repetitious of the same
idea, and expressioos of ton familiar and prosaic a cast. These,
care and the study of good writers win Imperceptibly teach you
to correct, or remove. I would recommend Pope to you.
" I see nothing that should forbid you from aspiring to a re-
spectable name in poetry; but caution is absolutely necessary.—
Avoid the quicksand of young-writers, and do not rush precipi-
tately forward. I know but one way of writing well; it is—to
tale pains about it. Native powers may do much, but they must
rather be as accessories than principals.
" I shall take pleasure in hearing of your 'recess, though I wait
for it : and beg leave to remain your sincere friend and servant,
New London Literary Gown*. " WM. GIFFOUD."

A LEARNED PRINT COLLECTOR.— A celebrated
Printseller at the west end of the town, was rather puzzled a day
or two ago, on being asked for w a portrait of Captain NOAH, in the
navy." After turning over half.a.dozea portfolios of prints of naval
characters, without finding the object of his search, be inquired of
his customer what reign Captain Nora lived in? " I Mould imagine
at a very earirperiod," replied the learned Theban." " The fact
is, Ism illustrating Lord BraolisErsglisfiTharvis moditski Babinvers,
and the Copesirs is thus Mentioned by his Lardship-...
" By more or less, are sung in every book,
" From Clapsaist Nola down to Captain Coos."
It is almost medical to add, that the printsener laughed heartily
at his customer, to whom be explained the trifling error he had
fallen into.

On being told that Mrs. Fortune was last week de.
livered of twins, Luttrell said, that II Miss Fortunes
,seldom come single."