produces sterility, deafness, privation of speech, and weakness of the eyes, and that it seriously impairs the intellectual faculties. Another French medical authority gives it, as the result of his professional experience, that imperfections both of mind and body result from the Marriage of Cousins. In a secluded town, he says, where the inhabitants have little communication with the people of other towns, it is quite a peculiarity for the children to be born with six fingers. Out of 121 Marriages of Cousins, 17 were thus affected.

In America, where the subject of Marriage of Cousins has been largely discussed and investigated, it has been found that 10 per cent. of all the deaf and dumb, 5 per cent. of the blind, and 15 per cent. of the idiots are the result of the Marriage of First Cousins.

The Governors of Maryland and Kentucky advised the legislatures of their respective States to prohibit the Marriage of Cousins under severe penalties. They affirmed it to be a flagrant violation of the laws of nature for cousins to marry, and pointed to the fact that from 17 to 20 per cent. of the fruits of such marriages were to be found as inmates of charitable institutions-787 Marriages of Cousins having produced no fewer than 256 deaf, dumb, blind, or idiotic children.

It is not necessary to state that all Marriages among Cousins are not alike injurious or disastrous. Some constitutions are stronger and better than others; the results, therefore, are not so distressing. It is the duty of all, however, to weigh well the facts associated with the Marriages of Cousins; and if they would have a healthy and vigorous offspring, to choose their partners from families where there is no probability of such results as have been pointed out.

THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.

THE Legislature of Great Britain, though it was somewhat tardy in doing it, has wisely provided that every Birth, Death, and Marriage occurring within the realm shall be duly registered. The process is exceedingly simple; and so far has been found wonderfully efficacious. It is at once a protection against present fraud and imposition, and a ready means of securing accurate information as to family relationships which may by possibility be disputed in the distant future. The Act regulating registrations is known as the 17th and 18th Victoria, chap. 80, and the penalties attached to its violation are severe. The following is the penalty for giving false information :

"Every person who shall knowingly and wilfully make, or cause to be made, for the purpose of being inserted in any Register of Birth, Marriage, or Death, any false or fictitious entry, or any false statement regarding the name of any person mentioned in the register, or touching all or any of the particulars of this Act required to be Registered, shall be punishable by transportation for a period not exceeding seven years, or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.

Strange though it may appear, the Act has been and is being in a great variety of ways evaded and set at nought— one case of evasion in Edinburgh being notoriously well known to the citizens. It is that of a man in a respectable position in life who lives with his deceased brother's widow, and who has had his children by her registered as if they were legitimate, the registrar being kept in ignorance of the fact of the nature of the relationship. Had the registrar

insisted upon the offender producing his marriage certificate, which he ought to have done, and there being none to shew, the registration as legitimate could not have taken place. Even now, although intimately acquainted with the facts, the law officers hesitate to interfere and carry out the laws of the land. How will the incestuous father, mother, and children be registered at their marriages or deaths. In the case referred to, double guilt has been incurred-First, in the concubinage, which is contrary to the laws of the realm; and, Secondly, in the false representation made to the registrar, through which he was illegally induced to record as legitimate the fruits of the incestuous union.

DIVORCES IN THE UNITED STATES.

SINCE writing the foregoing pages on the evil effects resulting to society from lax views and daring violations of the Levitical Code, there have reached us the records of the American Social Science Congress, which met in December last at Chicago. On the subject of Divorce and Divorce Laws, two interesting papers were read, one of them by a lady. It was stated that it had been found impossible to obtain statistics concerning the number and character of Divorces in the United States, but that it was evident that the number was very large and constantly increasing, and that the causes were often frivolous and insufficient. It has been computed that 2000 Divorces are annually granted in the State of Indiana alone-a State having a population of about 1,000,000 of people-and wellinformed residents of that State assert that the number is even greater. Localities differ in the abundancy of Divorces. In counties and towns having a large Catholic population, Divorces are much less frequent than in Protestant communities. In a part of Ohio, settled almost wholly by immigrants from Connecticut, Divorces are as frequent proportionately as they are in Connecticut, where they are excessively numerous. Although accurate statistics cannot be obtained, sufficient is known to show that all over the United States veneration for the marriage tie is decreasing, and Divorces multiply apace. Divorce Laws in many of the States are, it is too evident, very lax. One of the papers stated that— "The Divorce Laws of scarcely any two States in the Union are at all similar, excepting that, in nearly every case, a

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dangerous discretion is given to the Judges of Courts; and in some instances the laws are so lax, and supply so many vague grounds for application, as to almost strip the Judges of the power to refuse an application. For instance, the Indiana law provides that Divorce may be decreed by circuit Judges, and then adds, for any other cause for which the Court shall deem it proper that Divorce shall be granted.' In Iowa, Divorce may be granted when the fact appears that the welfare of the parties require a separation ; and in Illinois, certain Judges are empowered to grant Divorces if they should be satisfied of the expediency of such decree. All these causes tend to increase the ratio and frequency of Divorces. In some States the paramour may take for his wife the guilty partner of his crime the day after she is divorced. All must admit that this state of things indicates a decline of moral feeling, and the law, by its unwise provisions, increases the evil. To cover the evil, the law must give a still greater latitude to Divorce, until people get wholly unaccustomed to forgiving each other's failings, and forbearance becomes a rare virtue.”

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