§ SIR A. L. HAYasked the Lord Advocate whether it was his intention to proceed at once with the Registering Births Bill and the Marriage Bill for Scotland? Whether he proposed to alter or to expunge the 12th Clause of the former measure? And if he so proposed to alter such clause, what the nature of that alteration, was to be?
§ The LORD ADVOCATEsaid, that it was not his intention to insist on the retention of the 12th Clause. He, however, thought, that the grounds of the objections urged against it were misrepresented. He doubted much whether the interest of the schoolmasters was understood by the opposition that was now raised to this clause. With respect to the Marriage Bill, he had to state in a single word that it was his intention to proceed with that Bill as it stood upon the Paper. He thought that the amendment in the law, in respect to the marriages that shall hereafter be contract- 1365 ed in Scotland, should be effected in this way—in the first place, by the solemnization of the clergyman; or, in the second place, by registration. Objections had been stated to the measure in different quarters; he should, therefore, propose to introduce Amendments into the measure, which he otherwise should hardly have ventured upon. He proposed to introduce certain provisions in reference to the residences of the parties, and in reference to the notices to be given of registration. He hoped that his noble Friend near him would consent to permit this Bill to go into Commitee pro formâ before the other business of the evening was proceeded with, in order that the House might receive those Amendments referred to. If this proposition were acceded, to, the Bills could be sent down to Scotland in time for those meetings that were to take place on the subject in the different counties in the course of the week.
§ MR. HUMEexpressed a hope that the hon. and learned Gentleman would also introduce some alterations into the Registration Bill.
§ In answer to a question from SIR R. H. INGLIS,
§ The LORD ADVOCATEsaid, that his object was, by the proposition he had made, to give the different counties of Scotland an opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the subject before they proceeded with the further stages of the measure.
§ SIR G. CLERKthought there could be no objection to the course proposed.