Gardiner optimistically supposes one to “‘it may hit them that they could be more economically, even in the event quicker expeditiously, partnered during the London, than in Scotland’” (312)
Ahead of the enactment for the 1753 away from An act on Most useful Blocking off Clandestine Wedding, often called “Lord Hardwicke’s Work,” partners you certainly will get married off public scrutiny when they might find an enthusiastic ordained clergyman to do this service membership. Since the of many clergymen had been prepared to conduct personal marriage ceremonies for an excellent payment, clandestine ous, incestuous, otherwise related to minors) was in fact a challenge (Outhwaite 51-54; Stone, Unclear twenty-five-34). A woman just who registered towards the IslГ¤ndska kvinnor eg an effective sham relationship you will throw in the towel their human anatomy and you can possessions so you can her obvious husband then end up being kept single and you may compromised, perhaps even pregnant that have good bastard child. Marriage ceremonies connected with minors was indeed appropriate, considering the fresh people got hit the common legislation chronilogical age of agree for wedding, which was merely 14 to own boys and a dozen getting girls (Priestly v Hughes 909). The situation which have instance marriages try which they took place more than the latest commonly well-founded objections of family. Legislators desired to avoid the such as for instance tricky marriages from the imposing guidelines facing private ceremonies.
Lord Hardwicke’s Act provided marriage ceremonies must take invest an effective chapel following the book of banns (a notification read aloud towards the three straight Weekends on the parish chapel, declaring an intended marriage and you may giving the opportunity for arguments) or following the people had obtained a different sort of licenses. The new Work and so long as people underneath the chronilogical age of twenty-one to (the age of most) who had been hitched because of the special permit called for parental consent in check to your wedding getting appropriate.
Lord Hardwicke’s Work is the reason organized elopement which have Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana was then fifteen years dated, a minor but beyond the common law age of consent, thus a legitimate relationships would-have-been you are able to, and a straightforward count if Georgiana’s guardians, Colonel Fitzwilliam and you will Fitzwilliam Darcy, got offered the accept new suits. Throughout the absence of for example consent, there had been a couple of you’ll means of continuing. The original could well be to the couples when deciding to take right up residence within the a different parish, in which interfering connections cannot locate them, and have the banns keep reading three straight Sundays throughout the absence of objecting guardians. The requirements of Lord Hardwicke’s Act create up coming become met, additionally the relationships might have took place.
Heiresses, including Georgiana, you’ll remain enticed out-of their families and you may hitched of the fortune-hunters
Next method is to try to hop out the brand new legislation from England and you will wed inside a place in which Lord Hardwicke’s Operate wasn’t appropriate. The fresh Act’s requirements was noticed conformity which appropriate merely for the England. Once the lovers you’ll avoid the new official laws because of the marrying outside England, of numerous decided to go to Gretna Environmentally friendly from inside the Scotland, only over the English edging for this function. Whether or not Wickham’s program is actually thwarted whenever Georgiana admitted this new elopement plans so you’re able to their cousin, the risk in order to Georgiana shows the inadequacy off Lord Hardwicke’s Operate to safeguard against clandestine relationship.
Austen also suggests the persisted likelihood of clandestine relationship let dishonest dudes to help you entice ladies, even when the men had no intention to bring carried out with new promised marriage. Whenever Wickham later works off that have Lydia Bennet, who’s only 16, the first believed that the couple possess eloped to help you Scotland soon gives solution to this new facts from Lydia’s precarious condition. Jane Bennet writes to their own sis E: “‘Risky since the a great and the terrible Lydia might be, our company is today nervous to be hoping it has taken place, to have there can be however, too much cause to worry he’s maybe not gone to Scotland’” (302). Mr. Which suggestion was a reference to the possibility of new couple’s trying out property in London and achieving the fresh banns keep reading about three straight Weekends within their the parish chapel. It truly is slow than simply gonna Gretna Green, but, as the Mr. Gardiner indicates, perhaps a cheaper style of marrying a small instead parental agree. To the relief away from Lydia’s family relations, the happy couple do finally wed for the London. Simply Mr. Darcy’s input conserves Lydia regarding being enticed on guarantee of relationships then abandoned.
