BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. NO. CCCCVII. SEPTEMBER, 1849. VOL. LXVI. CONTENTS. THE SCOTTISH MARRIAGE AND REGISTRATION BILLS, 263 THE CAXTONS.--PART XVI. 277 AUTOBIOGRAPHY--CHATEAUBRIAND'S MEMOIRS, 292 THE GREEN HAND.--A "SHORT" YARN.--PART IV. 305 MORAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION OF WALES, 326 THE STRAYED REVELLER, 340 NEW LIGHT ON THE STORY OF LADY GRANGE, 347 THE ROYAL PROGRESS, 359 DIES BOREALES. NO. IV. CHRISTOPHER UNDER CANVASS, 363 EDINBURGH: WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET; AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. _To whom all communications (post paid) must be addressed._ SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. NO. CCCCVII. SEPTEMBER, 1849. VOL. LXVI. THE SCOTTISH MARRIAGE AND REGISTRATION BILLS. About two years ago, we found it necessary to draw the attention of our readers to certain alterations which our Whig rulers, or at least a section of them, proposed to make in the existing law of marriage, as applicable to Scotland. We stated our views moderately, not denying that in some points it might be possible to effect a salutary change; but utterly deprecating the enforcement of a bill which was so constructed as to uproot and destroy the ancient consuetudinal law of the kingdom, to strike a heavy and malignant blow at morality and religion, and which, moreover, was regarded by the people of Scotland with feelings of unequivocal disgust. So widely spread was that feeling amongst our countrymen, of every shade of political opinion and form of religious faith, that we believed this ill-advised attempt, once arrested in its progress, would be finally withdrawn. Popularity, it was quite clear, could never be gained from persisting in a measure so unpalatable to the whole community; nor had England, save in the matter of Gretna-green marriages, any visible interest in the question. It is just possible--for self-conceit will sometimes betray men into strange extravagancies--that a few individual legislators had more confidence in the soundness of their own opinions than in that of the opinions of the nation; but, even if we should give them credit for such honest convictions, it still remains a doubtful point how far individual opinions should be allowed to override the national will. There may be parliamentary as well as regal despotism; and we are much mistaken if the people of Scotland are inclined to submit to the former yoke, even at the hands of those who claim honour for their party on the strength of traditionary denunciations of the latter. We think it is pretty clear that no private member of parliament would have attempted