[27th June 1817.]

Whereas a Doubt has existed whether the Law of ENGLAND, requiring Religious Ceremonies in the Celebration of Marriage to be performed by Persons in Holy Orders for the perfect Validity of the Marriage Contract, be in force in NEWFOUNDLAND; and by reason of this Doubt, Marriages have been of late celebrated in NEWFOUNDLAND by Persons not in Holy Orders: And whereas great Inconvenience and Irregularities may arise if these Doubts shall continue to prevail; be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the First Day of JANUARY in the Year One thousand eight hundred and eighteen, all Marriages had in NEWFOUNDLAND shall be celebrated by Persons in Holy Orders; and all Marriages which shall be contracted or celebrated in NEWFOUNDLAND contrary to this Act, after the First Day of JANUARY in the Year One thousand eight hundred and eighteen, shall be and are hereby declared to be null and void: Provided nevertheless, that nothing contained in this Act shall extend or be construed to extend to any Marriages that may be had under Circumstances of peculiar and extreme Difficulty in procuring a Person in Holy Orders to perform the Celebration, and in which the Law might on that Account otherwise determine on the Validity of such Marriages: Provided always, that in all such Cases the Circumstances of the Case and the actual Contract of Marriage shall be certified on the Oath of the Parties before the /510/ Magistrate nearest to the usual Residence of the Parties, or either of them, or before some other Person duly authorized by the Governor, or Officer administering the Government at NEWFOUNDLAND, to administer such Oath.

II. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act shall extend or be construed to extend to Marriages already had, or that shall be had previous to the First Day of JANUARY in the Year One thousand eight hundred and eighteen: Provided also, nothing in this Act contained shall extend to any Marriages amongst the People called QUAKERS, or amongst the Persons professing the Jewish Religion, where both the Parties to any such Marriage shall be of the People called QUAKERS, or Persons professing the Jewish Religion respectively.

III. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be altered, amended, or repealed by any Act or Acts to be passed in the present Session of Parliament.