Author: GALLY (Henry):
Title: Some Considerations upon Clandestine Marriages. The Second Edition, with Additions.
Description: London: Printed by J. Hughs; and sold by J. Roberts; J. Whiston; J. Nourse; R. Dodsley; S. Tovey; and J. Jolliffe. M.C.CC.L. 1750 8vo, 201 X 177 mms., pp. [viii], 164, recently cased in marbled boards, printed label on spine. A good copy The Church of England clergyman and writer, Henry Gallly (bap. 1696, d. 1769). ODNB comments on this pamphlet, "In 1739 Gally preached a sermon before the House of Commons on the anniversary of the king's accession, and in 1750 offered Some Considerations upon Clandestine Marriages. In this influential pamphlet Gally called for an end to what he saw as the increasing practice of clandestine marriages, especially those at the Fleet prison. Recent well-publicized cases in which spouses were discovered to have previously married were, he argued, raising fears that even the most respectful marriage might be declared bigamous or be open to allegations of bigamy, an unacceptable feature of a supposedly civilized society with serious consequences for participants and their children. Gally's pamphlet, bolstered by several subsequent scandals, did much to prompt Lord Hardwicke in 1753 to introduce his successful Marriage Act banning clandestine marriages."

Keywords: marriage law prose


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