CO129-037 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [6-9] — Page 95

a

Your Lordship will observe that Dr Legge describes himself to be

• Presbyterian Congregational- Dissenter, and as I conceive that the only Persons who can legally perform the Marriage Ceremony in this Colony are Clergymen of the Church of England or Presbyterian, -Ministers of the Church of Scotland, I declined to grant him a License to perform the Marriage Ceremony-

The whole Protestant Community in this Colony does not exceed, exclusive of the Troops, two Hundred in number. The Marriages during the past year, with the exception of those amongst the Troops, only

}

N°2-

93

amounted to nine; and under

these circumstances I have not considered it desirable to legislate

this subject, seeing

στι

that in

all probability if an Ordinance were passed

passed for legalizing Marriages solemnized by Dissenting Presbyterian" Ministers and others, not one third of the above number would take place under it

during the Year-

I enclose for Your Lordship's information Copy of a letter that Ireceived from the Bishop of Victoria with whom I put myself in communication the subject-

on

I have the honor to be,