The Bishop of Londonobtained leave to bring in a Bill to Dissolve the Marriage between Elizabeth Hickson and Thomas Buxton. The case was one, he said, of such a peculiar 543 nature that he expected the willing support of the House to his measure. The lady was an infant in law, and was inveigled into a marriage by a regular conspiracy; in fact, the case was one of conspiracy and abduction; and though the marriage had not been consummated, its having been solemnized prevented the receiving of such evidence as would show informality in the proceedings before the ceremony. In the present instance, the banns were published sixty miles from the residence of either party, but according to the law this circumstance could not, as he had stated, be received in evidence. Hence the necessity of the present measure.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, the facts contained in the Petition were of such a nature as to call upon their Lordships to interfere. The question as to the nullity of the marriage would remain to be decided hereafter.
The Bishop of Bristolcordially concurred in the propriety of bringing in the Bill as the only means by which the conduct of the parties could be investigated, but if it should turn out that the marriage had been legally contracted, he saw no ground on which their Lordships could be authorised to declare it null and void.