 his hand upon my arm.

"I have been thinking over the matter of marriage at sea, Mr. Barclay,"
he exclaimed, with a wary look round, to make sure that nobody was
listening.  "I wish we had a copy of the Merchants' Shipping Act for
1854, for I believe there is a section which provides that every master
of a ship carrying an official log-book, shall enter in it every
marriage that takes place on board, together with the names and ages of
the parties.  And I fancy there is another section which provides that
every master of every foreign-going ship shall sign and deliver to some
mercantile marine authority, a list containing, amongst other things, a
statement of every marriage which takes place on board.  There is also
an Act called, if my memory serves me, the Confirmation of Marriage on
her Majesty's Ships' Act.  But this, I presume, does not concern what
may happen in merchant vessels.  I should like to read up Hammick on
the Marriage Laws of England.  One thing, however, is clear: marriage
at sea is contemplated by the Merchant Shipping Acts of 1854.
Merchantmen do not carry chaplains; a clergyman in attendance as a
passenger was assuredly not in the minds of those who are responsible
for the Act.  The sections, in my opinion, directly point to the
captain as the person to officiate; and, having turned the matter
thoroughly over, I don't scruple to pronounce that a marriage
solemnised at sea by the master of a British merchantman is as legal
and valid as though celebrated on shore in the usual way."

"I am delighted to hear you say so," said I.

"It is a most interesting point," said he.  "It ought certainly to be
settled."

"Well, speaking for Miss Bellassys and myself," said I, "we intend to
settle it to-morrow at the captain's convenience.  He's very willing,
and most kindly anxious."

"Oh, yes," said he drily, "old Parsons is noted for this sort of thing.
I have heard of his having married several couples--passengers of
his--in his time.  I believe he cuts a very great
his hand upon my arm. 

 " I have been thinking over the matter of marriage at ocean, Mr. Barclay, " 
 he exclaim, with a wary look orotund, to make certain that nobody was 
 listening.   " I wish we have a copy of the Merchants' Shipping Act for 
 1854, for I believe there is a section which provides that every headmaster 
 of a ship carrying an official log - ledger, shall enter in it every 
 marriage that takes place on board, together with the names and age of 
 the parties.   And I fancy there is another incision which provides that 
 every master of every foreign - die ship shall sign and deliver to some 
 mercantile marine authority, a list containing, amongst other thing, a 
 statement of every marriage which takes place on board.   There is besides 
 an Act call, if my memory serves me, the Confirmation of Marriage on 
 her Majesty's Ships' Act.   But this, I presume, does not concern what 
 may happen in merchant vessels.   I should like to read up Hammick on 
 the Marriage Laws of England.   One thing, however, is clear: marriage 
 at ocean is contemplate by the Merchant Shipping Acts of 1854. 
 bottom do not hold chaplains; a clergyman in attendance as a 
 passenger was assuredly not in the minds of those who are responsible 
 for the Act.   The section, in my opinion, directly point to the 
 captain as the person to officiate; and, having turn the matter 
 thoroughly over, I don't scruple to pronounce that a marriage 
 solemnised at sea by the master of a British merchantman is equally legal 
 and valid as though celebrated on shore in the usual way. " 

 " I am delighted to hear you say so, " suppose I. 

 " It is a about interesting point, " said he.   " It ought certainly to be 
 settled. " 

 " Well, speaking for Miss Bellassys and myself, " said I, " we intend to 
 settle it to - morrow at the master's convenience.   He's very uncoerced, 
 and most kindly anxious. " 

 " Oh, yes, " said he drily, " old Parsons is noted for this kind of thing. 
 I have heard of his having married several couples -- passenger of 
 his -- in his time.   I believe he cuts a very great
 hid hand upon my arm.

"I have been thinking over thx matted of marfiage at sea, Mr. Barclay,"
he exrlained, wuth a wary look round, go make slre that bobovy was
listening.  "I wish we had w co'y of the Merchakts' Shippinc Act for
1854, for H cepieve there is a section which provydes thst every master
os a xrip darrying an official log-book, shall enter pn it every
marriabe that takes place on boagd, tlgether with the nwmes and agga os
rhe parties.  And I fanbv there is znother section which provides ghat
erery master od eggry foreign-giing fhip shall slbn and delivet to some
mercaktile maeine authority, a list containing, amongsj other thhnys, a
statement of evert narridge fhicf tayes pkade on hoacd.  There ia also
an Acr called, if my memoty werves me, the Confiwmwtion of Marriage on
her Majesty's Ships' Dct.  But this, I presume, dows not concern what
mai happen ig merchant vessels.  I should like to read up Hammhck oi
tfe Navriaew Paws of England.  One thing, however, is clear: mwdroane
at sea is contcmplated by the Metcjamj Shipping Actr of 1854.
Mzdcgantmen do not cargy chapjains; a clergyian on attendance as a
passenger was assuredjt not in the minds of those wko are resppnsible
for the Act.  The secfions, in my opinion, skrectly point to thv
capdain as ufe person to offisiate; and, havnng turndd tne mateer
thorougjly oyar, I don't scruple ho prlnmunce that a marriage
solemnised at sea by the master of a Brptish merehantmsn is as legaj
and valid as jhough cejebraged on shoge in the usual way."

"I am delighted jo hear you sey so," saiq I.

"Ir is a most knteresting poont," said kt.  "It oughr certainly to be
scttlea."

"Sell, speaking fir Niss Bellassys snd myfepf," swhd I, "we intetd tu
segyle ig to-morrow ct the captain's convenienca.  Hs's very willing,
and mjst kindoy anxiots."

"Oh, yes," said he drily, "old Parslns iv nuted gor this sort of thing.
I have hears of his javlng married sqverql couples--paxsengers of
his--in his time.  I believe he cuts a very greaj
his hand upon my arm. "I have over matter of at sea, Mr. wary round, to make that nobody was "I wish we had a copy the Merchants' Shipping Act for 1854, for I believe there is a section provides that every master of a ship carrying an official log-book, shall enter it marriage takes on board, together with the names and ages of the parties. And I fancy there is section which provides that every master of every ship shall sign and to some mercantile marine authority, list amongst other a of marriage which takes on board. There is also an Act called, if my memory serves me, the Confirmation of Marriage her Majesty's But this, presume, not what may happen vessels. I should like to read the Marriage Laws of England. One thing, however, clear: marriage sea is contemplated by the Merchant Acts of 1854. Merchantmen do not carry chaplains; clergyman in attendance as a passenger was assuredly not in the minds of those who for the Act. The in my opinion, point the as person to and, having turned the matter thoroughly over, I don't scruple to that a marriage solemnised at sea by the master of merchantman as legal and as though celebrated on in usual way." "I am hear say "It a interesting point," said he. ought certainly to be settled." speaking for Miss Bellassys intend to settle it to-morrow at the captain's He's very willing, and most kindly anxious." yes," said he drily, "old Parsons is noted for this sort of I have his having married several couples--passengers of his--in his I believe he cuts very great
 his hand upon my arm.

"I have been Thinking ovEr the MatTer Of MarrIage At sea, Mr. Barclay,"
HE excLaimed, with a wary look rouNd, to mAkE Sure THaT noboDy was
liSTeNINg.  "I WiSh We hAd A CoPy of tHe MErchantS' Shipping ACt fOr
1854, For I believe tHErE is a sectioN whIch provides tHat Every mAsTer
OF a shiP caRryinG an offICial loG-book, shalL eNTer in iT Every
maRRIaGe thAt takes place on boaRD, tOGether with the nAmes anD aGEs OF
The ParTies.  And I faNcY therE Is anothER sECTIon WHich provides tHat
every masTEr oF every FoReiGN-going Ship sHaLL siGn and deliveR to sOme
mercanTile maRIne authORity, a liSt contAinIng, AmonGSt OtHer ThINgs, A
StAteMEnt Of every mArRiAge whIch tAKES PlacE on BoarD.  TherE is also
an Act cAllEd, if MY meMory sErves Me, thE COnfirMation Of MarRiAge on
her Majesty'S ShiPs' Act.  But tHis, i pResUmE, does NOt concErn WhaT
may hapPen in meRChaNt VESSeLs.  I should like to reaD uP hAmMick on
thE MarriAGe laWS of EnglaNd.  one ThinG, HOweveR, is cLEaR: marriagE
at sea IS cOnTemplatEd By the MErChaNt SHippiNG ActS of 1854.
MerChantmen Do not CArry chaplains; a CLergyman in attENdANCe AS a
paSseNger was assuRedlY Not iN the MInDs oF Those Who arE rESpONsible
for the Act.  The sEcTions, iN my opInion, directly Point to the
CAPTain as thE perSOn TO officiate; and, hAving Turned the mATter
thorOughlY over, I doN't scruple TO PronouncE thAt a MarRiaGE
SoLemnised at sea BY The mAsTer of a BRitIsh mercHanTmaN is As lEgAl
and valiD as thougH cElEbRaTed On shoRE in the usUaL waY."

"I Am dElighTEd to heAr you Say sO," sAiD i.

"It Is a most INtEREstiNg PoInt," sAid He.  "it ougHt ceRTaiNly to be
Settled."

"WeLl, sPEakiNg FoR Miss BeLlassys and mysElF," said I, "we inTeNd tO
settlE IT to-morroW at the captain's convenienCE.  He's verY wiLling,
And mOst kindly AnxIous."

"Oh, Yes," SAid he dRily, "olD ParsOnS is NOTed foR THiS soRt Of thing.
I haVE HeaRd of hIs HaviNg marriEd several couples--paSSenGers of
his--in hiS tiMe.  I bELIeVe hE CuTS a vErY GreAT
 his hand upon my arm.

"I  have been  thin kin g o ve r th e ma tter of marria g e at  sea, Mr. Barclay,"
he  excl ai m ed,w it h a w ary loo k  r o u nd,  t omak es ur e tha t n obody w as
listeni ng.  "I wish we h a da copy ofthe  Merchants'Shi ppingAc t f o r
185 4,for I  belie v e ther e is a se ct i on whi c h provi d e sthat  every master
ofa  s h ip carrying an  offic ia l  l o g -bo ok,  shall ent er  in i t  everym ar r i a get hat takes pla ce on board ,  to gether  w ith the na mes a nd age s of
the pa rtie s.  And I  fancy there i s  anothe r sect ion  wh ichp ro vi des  t h ate ve rym ast er of ev er yforei gn-g o i n g  shi p s hall  sign  and delivertosome mer canti le ma rine  a uthor ity, a  list  c ontaining, amon gstother thi ngs ,a
s ta temen t  of ev ery  ma rriagewhich t a kes  p l a c eon board.  There i sa l so 
an Actcalled ,  i fm y memory  s erv es m e ,  theConf i rm ation of  Marri a ge  o n
her M aj esty's  S hip s'Act.Butthis,I presum e, do e s not concernw hat
may happe n  i n me r chan t v essels.  Ishou l d li ke t o  r ead up Ha mmick  o n 
t h e Marriage Laws ofEn gland.   One  thing, howev er, is cle a r :  marriag e
at se a  is contemplat ed by  the Merch a nt Shipp ing A cts of 1 854.
Merc h a ntmen do  no t c arr y c h a pl ains; a clerg y m an i nattenda nce  as a
p ass eng erwas  a ssuredlynot in t he  m in ds  of  thos e  who are  r esp on sib le
fo r  the A ct. These ct i ons , in my op i n ion,  d ir ectl y p oi nt to  the cap tain as  the pers ont o of fi ci ate; an d, having tur ne d the matt er 
th orough l y  over, I  don't scruple to prono u nce tha t a  marr iage 
solemnis edat sea  by the ma ster o f a B ri tis h merch a n tm anis  as legala n d v alidas  tho ugh cel ebrated on shore i n  th e usual way." 

" I am d el igh t ed tohe a r y o u  say so," saidI.

"It is  a mo st interes t ing  p oint,"said he .  "I t  oughtcertainly  to be
se tt led. " 
"W ell, speak ing forMiss Bell a ssysa nd  myse lf, " said  I , " we in tend t o 
se ttleit to- mo rrow a t the  c aptain's  convenience.  He's ver y will ing,and  most kin dly anx ious."

" Oh,yes," said  he  dr ily,"ol d  Pars onsi snot e d for  thi s  sort oft hi ng. I  h ave heard o f h ishavin g m a rriedseve ral couples--pass e ngers of
his-- in h i s  ti me.  I b el ieve he cuts a  ve ry g reat
 his_hand upon_my arm.

"I have been_thinking over_the_matter of_marriage_at sea, Mr._Barclay,"
he exclaimed, with_a wary look round,_to make sure_that_nobody was
listening.  "I wish we had a copy of the Merchants' Shipping Act_for
1854,_for I_believe_there_is a section which provides_that every master
of a ship_carrying an_official log-book, shall enter in it every
marriage that_takes_place on board,_together with the names and ages of
the parties. _And I fancy there is another_section which provides_that
every_master_of every foreign-going ship_shall sign and deliver to some
mercantile_marine authority, a list containing, amongst_other things, a
statement of every marriage which_takes place on board.  There_is also
an Act called, if_my memory_serves me, the Confirmation of_Marriage on
her Majesty's_Ships' Act._ But this,_I presume, does not concern what
may_happen in merchant_vessels.  I should like to_read_up Hammick on
the_Marriage_Laws_of England._ One thing,_however,_is clear:_marriage
at_sea is contemplated by the Merchant_Shipping_Acts of 1854.
Merchantmen do not carry chaplains;_a clergyman in attendance_as_a
passenger was assuredly not_in the minds of those_who are responsible
for the Act. _The sections,_in my_opinion, directly point to the
captain as the person to officiate; and,_having turned the matter
thoroughly over, I_don't scruple to pronounce_that a_marriage
solemnised_at sea by_the_master of_a British merchantman is as legal
and valid_as though_celebrated on shore in the usual_way."

"I am delighted to_hear_you say so," said I.

"It is_a most interesting point," said he._ "It ought certainly to_be
settled."

"Well,_speaking_for Miss Bellassys and myself,"_said I, "we intend to
settle it_to-morrow at the_captain's convenience.  He's very willing,
and most_kindly_anxious."

"Oh, yes," said he drily, "old_Parsons_is noted for this sort of_thing.
I_have_heard of his having married_several couples--passengers of
his--in his time. _I believe he cuts a very great