§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWN, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, in 1850 a church was built in London Wall for the Greek community. Marriages according to the rites of the Greek Church were celebrated there. In 1856 Greek residents became more permanently resident in this country, and a number of them acquired an English domicile. Doubts having been suggested as to whether in the circumstances these marriages had hitherto been perfectly legal, in 1856 these residents were advised that they should be performed before the Registrar, and that the Church should be duly licensed for the purpose. From that time down to the present moment there was no doubt whatever of the perfect legality of these marriages. The object of the Bill was to take away any doubt with regard to the marriages which were contracted previous to the year 1857. The number of these marriages was about 30. Some difficulty had been experienced by the children of these marriages, in having their legitimacy recognized in connection with monetary transactions. The Bill had passed the House of Commons unopposed.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Earl of Milltown.)
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, this Bill might no doubt be founded on 1516 very sufficient reasons, and might he one that it was proper to pass after due inquiry; but it appeared to him to be equally clear that to pass any Bill of this nature without careful inquiry, which could only be conducted by a Select Committee, would be in the highest degree dangerous and objectionable. He hoped, therefore, that the noble Earl, if the Bill was read a second time, would be willing to refer it to a Select Committee.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWNsaid, he should be happy to agree to the suggestion of the noble and learned Lord.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and referred to a Select Committee.