Lords Sitting of 20 June 1822

MARRIAGE ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
On the motion of lord Ellenborough, the House resolved into a committee on this bill.
Lord Redesdalestated the purport of some further clauses which he intended to move. Their object was, to prevent fraudulent marriages, either by licence or banns. If persons married under false names, he proposed that, their identity being proved, the marriages should stand good. An affidavit to be made on taking, out banns as well as licenses, and perjury in either case to be punished. The affidavits for banns to be made before a magistrate, and the expense of the proceeding to be only one shilling. His wish certainly was, that they should be granted free of expense.
Lord Ellenboroughexpressed his gratitude to his learned friend for his valuable suggestions, which he was most happy to adopt into the bill.
Lord Redesdaleexpressed his apprehension that the retrospective clause would have a tendency to introduce new subjects of litigation into families.
The Lord Chancellornever could agree to the retrospective clause, unless other qualifications were introduced into it, and feared that great mischief would ensue unless care was taken to protect the rights of property.
The Bishop of Chestergave notice, that, early next session, he would move an amendment to the marriage act. He did not do so now because the object he had in view was totally different from that which the present bill embraced. His object was, to authorize the celebration, of marriages in the chapels of populous parishes, where they could not take place now.
The amendments were then agreed to and the bill, as amended, was ordered to be printed.