The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-07-15 00:00:00

THE NEW MARRIAGE ACT.

The Bill, as amended by the Lords, entitled, "
Act to amend certain provisions of the 26th of George
11. for the better preventing of clandestine marriages,"
has be*. printed. This Bill, as it now stands, differs

very considerably from that 'which was sent up from
the House of Commons. It recites the Act of George
11. which enacted that all marriages by license, *here
either of the parties (widows and widowers of coarse
excepted, who are deemed by law capable ofjudgiag
for themselves) was trader age, aid where the consent
'of the father, guardians, or "'rather was not had,
should be void. These provisions it repeals, and
farther enacts, that in all cases of marriage solemnis-
ed by li beforothe passing of the new Act, with-
out the consent specified, and where the parties shall
have continued to live together as husband and wife
till the death of one of them, or till the passing of this
Act ; or shall only have discontraued their cobabita-
does in consequence of proceedings pending, touching
the validity of such marriage, is such cases the mar-
riage, if not otherwise invalid, shall be deemed to be
good and valid to &Illumine and purposes whatsoever.
This clause, borrevert Is not to Mead to any marriage
delared invalid before the passing of this Act, by any
Court of competent jurisdiction; aer to any marriage
where either of the parties shall have intermarried
with soy other person during the life of the other
part; nor to any marriage, the invalidity of which
has been established upon trial, or the validity of which
Mafioso duly brought into question ha any causes of
suits In law*, equity. This Act is not. to affect any
property or de* of honour which may have been en-
joyed by any person under colour of the invalidity of
any marriage, by reason of its having been solemnised
without the proper consent, although no sentence or
judgmeot has bon pronounced against the validity of
•
with marrlagi. . Not is this Act to affect or call la
qnestion sof pfemeeding which has takes place under
the authority of say Court, or in the administration of
say pews's! estate or effects, or in the 'escudos of
Say wilier testament, or in the performance of aoy
Crest. The Act then goes on to toast that no license
for ail marriage shall, from after thee Ist day of Sep-
tember seat, be granted until oath shall have been
made by the parties applying for such license to the
effect required by this Act. Where both parties are of
twenty-ooe years each 'hall make oath that they ate
respectively, and that each believes the other to be
twenty-oaa years or upwards. Where both parties
are trader age, but alleged to he a widower and a wi-
dow, the allegation must be sworn to la the same
manlier. Where only one of the parties is under age,
and the minor is alleged to be a widow or widower,
the allegation must be sworn to in the same maser.
Where both. or either of the parties, shall be ander
age, and Noisier a widow nor a widower, both shall
make oath to the same m as-above specified—
that is to say, each shall make oath as to himself and
herself, and as to his and her belief with respect to
the other party. In the latter case. both parties shall
also make oath that the comet of the necessary per-
. son or persons has been given. Where It Is alleged
that both, or either of the partira, are. or la, of the
age of twenty-one, the license shall lot' be granted
until the register of the baptism of sash parties, or
party. Is produced, and proved upon oath by some
other witness, to be a correct extract. If the register
he net 1n England,ihs feet mast be proved on oath to'
the satisfaction of the person authorised to grant the
license. I. all eases, except caws of a special ,
oath shall be made of the residence of the parties ap-
plying, for the space of four weeks before the grant
'leg of each license. The consent of punts or par-
diens must be signified In writing, the signature must
be attested by three or more witnesses, and the con-
sent. so signed and attested, must be delivered to the
person or persons from whom the license is sought.—
The oaths to be taken before a surrogate, and if per-
jury be committed. it is to be visited with the MIMI
penalties, and disabilities. If one of the con-
tracting parties should be convicted of such offence,
such person shall forfeit to the King all estate, right,
titie, interest, benefit, profit, and advantage, which
such person may derive from, or be entitled to by vir-
tue of such marriage. The oaths to be preserved by
the prove officer, and the license and other imam
meats, to be entered in a calendar, to be open to the
inspection of all persons. Officers deviating from the
directions of this Act, shall be subject to punishumat
af guilty of a misdemeanor; but after the solemnisa-
tion of a marriage by license, it Is not to be impeached
On the ground of informality in obtaloing such license.
With respect to marriages by banns, the Act requires,
that been,e the publication of such banns io any church
or chapel, there shall be delivered to the proper mi.
sister of the said church or chapel an affidavit as to

the residence, names, and ages of both parties. The
beans not to be published until the saws and

dente so stated ;hail be affixed on the principal door
of the church or chapel, and also in some conspicuous
place within said church or chapel, so to remain
until the expiration of the three Sundays *a which
such banns shall he published. Such affidavit
to be then delivered over to the church-warden or
chapel-warden, and to be by him deposited in a chest.
Wb marriage shall not be had within three
months, after the publication of banns, the banns moat
he re-published, or a license must be obtained. This
Act not to he is force until after the first day of Sep-
sember, iSie. Whenever a marriage shall not be had
within three omeths after the license is obtained, •
new 'ices,' mum be procured, or banns must be pub-1
lisbed. This Act net to extend to the marriage of
any of the Royal Family, nor kraal marriage's assungat
Quakers or Jews, or to any marriages solemmised be-
yond seas. The Act to be read at certain stated times
in the chorales and chapels, and to extend only to
Seemed.
A report of Lord Hardwick° having been killed
.sby a cricket ball has been contradicted from 'mho-
A/YAIR or Ho/stmt.—A meeting took place on'
84htrday evening, near Hampstead, between Wm,
Wallace, Req. of Kildare, Ireland, and R. W. Jackson.
Re4of Armagh, is cisoimpenstoo of a message sent by
tbe -former gentleman, when, after an exchange of
- alas, Mr. Wallace's second declared the hoarser of
Isja friend guided, on which Mr. Jackson's friend with.
deew him from the ground without explanation. Mr.
Wallace was acceded by J. Rey aids, Rag. H. P. Rile
Hrigade t it'd Mr. Jackson by Thomas O'Flaberde,
Keg. of Caatlefield, Comity Kilkenny.

:r4"6`"9-0,01

THE :ST,

PRICE OF STOrits ON SATURDAY.
Balk 5t0ut...... .Y4ire , !edit Steels. . 11.141
Spa Ct. Red.... 1101 fife poses s. 435.01 ts pea.
t par Ct: fens.
Si per Cent..
4 tor Ceets 4;IE
vri o}aB ! 10041. '• 4. g Pa. I
New Fears
4 porCett.l7o7 ..... ----SOK 4s 51 pm.
LongAne 901 9-14 -Amen 41. Se. Po.
rep. f pr Ct Cog. ter Amt.. 9011 RI 801
Irish A tier Crsit