§ MR. MONKsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the intention of 5 Her Majesty's Government to introduce in the present Session a measure on the subject of the publication of Banns of Matrimony? He wished to add that a practice had sprung up of publishing Banns in a form other than that enjoined by the statute, and he apprehended that such marriages would be null and void.
§ MR. WALPOLE, in reply, said, he thought that the hon. Gentleman had given an opinion in reference to marriages being null and void which could not be sustained. What he (Mr. Walpole) had to state in reference to the question put to him was this, that it was now in contemplation to issue a Royal Commission in conjunction with the Prelates of the Church, for the purpose of inquiring into certain Canons and Rubrics with regard to vestments and ornaments of the Church; and it was likewise in contemplation, but not yet decided, whether that Commission should not extend to other Rubrics, such as those relating to the publication of Banns of Matrimony, and until that point had been decided he must refrain from giving an opinion whether any Bill would be necessary or not.