The Registrar will fill up the top line, beginning 1857 by inserting the name and locality of the Chapel, the Superintendent-Registrar's District, and the County, in which the Marriage is solemnized.

In the column under the head When Married he must insert the day of the month in words, and the year in figures.

In the column under the head Name and Surname, he must insert the names and surnames of the parties, first of the man, and then of the woman; writing, not merely the initials, but the names and surnames at full length.

In the column under the head Age, he must insert of full age, or Minor, as the case may be; but, if the parties enable him to do so, it is better that he should insert the precise age of each party.

In the column under the head Condition, he must insert whether Bachelor or Spinster, Widower or Widow.

In the column under the head Rank or Profession, he must insert the rank, profession, trade, or calling, of one or both of the parties.

In the column under the head Residence at the time of Marriage, he must insert, not merely the Town or Parish, but the name, or street, and number of the house, (if it have any name or number,) in which each of the parties is then resident.

In the column under the head Father's Name and Surname, he must insert, at full length, the name and surname (if known) of the father of each of the parties; and this he must do, although such father be deceased.

In the column headed Rank or Profession of Father, he must insert the rank, profession, trade, or calling, of the father (if known) of each of the parties.

It is absolutely necessary that all the foregoing particulars be ascertained and inserted in the respective columns, except those belonging to the last two, respecting the name and description of the father, which cannot always be known. It is, therefore, enjoined that the Registrar in the course of his enquiries shall carefully guard against offence to the feelings of the parties; and it is recommended that, with respect to the particulars to be inserted in those two columns, he shall merely ask the parties whether they can furnish him with the means of filling them up, and, if they answer in the negative, he shall not require the reason, nor shall he insert

any words in explanation of the omission, such as, not known, or information refused, but shall leave the column blank.

All the preceding entries must be written by the Registrar, except the signature and designation of the Minister, before whom the marriage was solemnized. And, in order to insert the name of the Religious Community according to the rites and ceremonies of which the marriage has been solemnized, the Registrar must seek information from the person by whom the marriage has been solemnized, and must insert such name of the Community as he may give to it, and no other.

Along the line following the words The Marriage was solemnized between us, the parties married must (if they can write) respectively write their names, (if not at full length, at least so that they may not be mistaken for other similar names,) and surnames, the woman inserting, not her married, but her maiden surname, or, if she were a widow, having been married only once, her married surname, or, if she has been married more than once, her last married surname.

Along the lines following the words In the presence of us, the two witnesses must (if they can write) respectively write their names and surnames in the same manner.

If any of the parties before mentioned cannot write, they must be desired to make their mark, and the Registrar must write after or against such mark, the mark of -[inserting at full length the name and surname of the party].'

The Minister by whom the marriage has been solemnized will sign the Register in the appropriate place; and,

Lastly, The Registrar must sign the Register immediately under the signature of the person by whom the parties were married; writing his name and surname in his accustomed mode, and after them the word Registrar.

The Registrar must be careful to make the entries in the Register-Book neatly and correctly, and especially to write the names and surnames in such a manner as to prevent their being mistaken for any other similar names. He must avoid the necessity for alterations; and, for this end, it is recommended that surnames, and occasionally other particulars, be first written on some other paper, and shown to the parties before they are inserted in the Register-Book.

I. If, before the Registrar has signed the Register, it

be discovered that any word or figure has been inserted erroneously, he must draw a line through it, so as to leave the original entry legible, and make the correct insertion over or below it; but he must in no case make any erasure or obliteration, that is to say, the entire removal or effacing of what may have been written, by scraping the paper with a sharp instrument, or by other means; and no obliteration, alteration, or addition, may be made in the Register after the Registrar has signed it.

If, after the Registrar has signed the Register, it be discovered that an error has been committed in the form or substance of any entry made by him, he shall, in the presence of the parties married, or, in case of the death or absence of the said parties, in the presence of the Superintendent-Registrar and of two other credible witnesses, who shall respectively attest the same, correct the erroneous entry according to the truth of the case, by entry in the margin, without any alteration of the original entry, and shall sign the marginal entry, and add thereunto the day of the month and the year when such correction shall be made. If the Registrar so correct any such error within one calendar month after he shall have discovered it, he shall not be liable to any penalty for having committed it. (6 & 7 W. IV. c. 86, s. 44.) The Registrar must also denote the error to be corrected by making in the Register a line with ink under the word or words. which are incorrect.

II. Fees.

For attending at and registering the marriage, the Registrar is entitled, for every marriage by Licence, to a fee of ten shillings; and for every marriage by Certificate only, to a fee of five shillings.

SECTION THE FIFTH.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

I. SEARCHING THE INDEXES AND MARRIAGE-BOOKS.

The Marriage-Notice-Book is open at all reasonable times, without fee, to all persons desirous of inspecting the same. (6 & 7 W. IV. c. 85, s. 5.)

The Superintendent-Registrar, the Registrars, and other Officers in whose keeping any Register-Book of Marriages may be, shall at all reasonable times allow searches to be made therein on payment, for every search extending over a period of not more than one year, of one shilling; and of sixpence for every additional year. (6 & 7 W. IV. c. 86, s. 35.)

Indexes are made and kept by the SuperintendentRegistrar of the books in his Office, which any person may search at all reasonable hours on payment, for every particular search, of one shilling; and, for every general search, of five shillings. (Ib. s. 36.)

Indexes are also made and kept in the General RegisterOffice in London, which any person may search between the hours of ten in the morning and four in the afternoon of every day, except Sundays, Christmas-Day, and Good-Friday, on payment, for any particular search, of one shilling, and, for every general search, of twenty shillings. (Ib. s. 37.)

II. OBTAINING CERTIFIED COPIES OF THE REGISTER.

Parties married, or any other person, may, either immediately after the Registration of the Marriage, or at any future time, obtain from the Registrar, or SuperintendentRegistrar, or other Officer in whose keeping the RegisterBooks of Marriages may be, a Certified Copy of the entry made in the Register-Book, on payment of the sum of two shillings and sixpence; (6 & 7 W. IV. c. 86, ss. 35, 36;) and, for the like sum, may obtain a Certified Copy from the Office of the Registrar-General in London, which, being stamped with the seal of his Office, will be evidence in all Courts and proceedings of the marriage to which it relates. (Ib. ss. 37, 38.)

III. FEES, SUMMARY OF.

The fees payable have already been mentioned in connection