The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-11-18 00:00:00

o'clock

THE LATE LLOPENIENT

Captain lbbetson, and his fair fugitive companion,
arrived at " Gretna Hall" Tavern before half-past two
o'clock on Thursday afternoon. At the moment of the
arrival of the fugitives " mine host of the hall," who
unites the somewhat irreconcileable charw:ters of boniface
and priest, in his own person, was presiding at a dinner,
the guests at which consisted chiefly of a staff of engi•
veers, who are just now pursuing their avocation in this
hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. A very short interval
occurred, however, before a person entered the room, who
delivered what appeared to the guests to be a sort of mys-
terious message to the chairman, but which in reality was
simply a summons to attend " a lady and gentleman who
had just arrived from London, and were waiting his pre-
sence in the saloon up stairs.' " With & promptitude
which says much for the business habits of mine host, he
immediately vacated his post at the head of the table, and
forthwith proceeded to grant the desired interview. The
first introduction over, thegallant captain, in the presence
of his fair companion, inquired of the worthy host whether
it was true that he himself " performed the ceremony of
marriage when requested so to do." Mine host replied
with great alacrity that he had done so for some years
past, and should continue to act in a similar capacity, un-
less prevented by Lord Brougham, who, he believed, had
attempted some interference with his prerogative last year.
The worthy " clerico-victualler " further informed the
gallant captain that his register-book' boasted the names
of all classes—from the Prince to the peasant—and ex-
pressed his confident opinion that a comparison of the
results of a given number of marriages solemnized respec-
tively by himself at Gretna, and the reverend rector of
aristocratic St. George's, in London, would greatly pre-
ponderate in favour of the former. There appeared to
be no inclination to doubt this fact on the part of Lady
Adele and her gallant companion; and boniface, request-
ing permission to retire for a few moments, speedily
returned attired in full canonicals.

• The first procedure was to obtain the names of both
parties, with a proper description of their respective resi-
dences. Here for an instant a difficulty was apprehended.
Lady Adele confessed that at the moment, she could only
recollect three of her Christian names, though she believed
she had more. Our host soon calmed her Ladyship's mis-
givings, by declaring that all the names were not neces-
sary, instancing a case where the same omission bad been
declared valid—that of the Prince de Capua, who, pos-
sessing a string of something like sixteen names, when
asked to state them at Gretna, could only recollect about
one half the number. The names obtained, next came the
question of witnesses. It was highly desirable that DO
person in the house should be requested to attest the mar-
riage, wilt, might by possibility have a knowledge of the
principal actors. This was impressed upon mine host,
who promptly remarked that the Carlisle postilions ge-
nerally considered it their privilege to act as witnesses on
similar occasions, adding, that if the gallant captain bad,
no objection, one of them would be a perfectly competent
witness, while his own ' better half' might be the second.
The proposition was at once entertained, and the parties
alluded to were summoned to attend. The clerical cha-
racter was now altogether assumed by mine host, and the
ceremony commenced by a declaration on the part of both
her Ladyship and the gallant officer, to the effect that they
were single persons, and that they had come to Gretna
freely and willingly, of their own accord, and without
force. The priest, (for the time being), addressing the
gallant officer, next said, "will yon take this woman to
be your lawful wife ?"rhe gallant officer, without wait-
ing to bear the remainder of the sentence, cheerfully re-
plied, " I will." The officiating officer continued—" To
live after God's ordinance, in the holy state--of matrimony.
Will you love her and comfort her, and cherish her in
sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, remain
faithful to her so long as ye both shall live." The gallant
captain again plighted his troth to her ladyship, with
great apparent sincerity. Similar questions were then
addressed to Lady Adele, who duly responded, maintain-
ing her self-possession throughout in the most remarkable
manner, and, notwithstanding the excessive fatigue she
had undergone, appearing in high spirits: The gallant
Captain next took the left hand of his fair companion, and
having placed the ring thereon, mine host joined their
hands together, and declared the parties man and wife in
the following terms :—" Forasmuch as this man and this
woman have consented together before God and this peo-
ple, to be man and wife by receiving this ring, I hereby
declare them to be such in the presence of God and these
witnesses."

The marriage way. then recorded—in _ the_us al _ manwar
upon a printed form, prepared for the purpose. As a good
deal of curiosity may be supposed to prevail on the subject
at this moment, we append a copy of the document, to-
gether with the signatures, exactly as they appear in the
original

" Kingdom of, Scotland,
" County of Dumfries,
"Parish of Gretna.

", These are to certify to all to whom these presents may come,
that Charles Parke Ibbetson, of the parish of St. Pancras, London,
in the county of Middlesex, and Adela Corisanda Villiers, of the
parish of St. George, London, m the County of Middlesex, being
now here present, and havinmdeclared themselves single persons,
were this day married, after the manner of the laws of) the Church
of England, and agreeably to the laws of Scotland.
" As witness our hands at " Gretna Hall," this sixth day of No-
Taber, 184,5. "C. P. IBBETOY.
" ADELA VILLIERS."
J. LINTON."
JANE LINTON..
ROBERT COPLEY.''

" Solemnized by

' Witnesses

The signatures were not particularized by anything re-
markable. That of the Captain was written in a fine,
bold hand. while Lady Adela's might have been written

with a " Crowquill small and ne;," were one to judge
from its delicacy and finish. The ceremony concluded,
the newly-wedded pair stole a few moments to refresh
themselves, preparatory to proceeding further northward.
The afternoon was now waning fast, and Gretna having
served its turn, the fugitives were naturally anxious to
leave the " Hall" some distance behind them. At four
o'clock, the best horses the stable afforded were put to the
carriage, and the Captain having, with a bounteous hand,
satisfied all claims upon his purse, handed his youthful
bride to her seat, and springing into the carriage himself,
the happy pair drove off together in the direction of Edin-
burgh. It is understood that her ladyship and the captain
first met at Almacks.