To such a character, one would gladly attach the Dissertation in question, but no Richard Gay, it appears, is mentioned in the records of Sidney College. There were many Gays in Devonshire of the family of John Gay the poet.
Permit me to make another inquiry: Is there any tolerably good account in existence of the private or domestic life of the celebrated Lord North, minister and favourite of George III.? Of his political career, a pleasing sketch is given by Lord Brougham, in his Historical Sketches of Statesmen, and many delightful anecdotes of his incomparable temper and playful wit are known; but of his domestic history I cannot find a trace.
EDWARD TAGART.
Wildwood, Hampstead.
PARISH REGISTERS, RIGHT OF SEARCH.
(Vol. iv., p. 473.)
As the Query herein appears to be one which it is more the province of the lawyer to answer, I take the liberty of submitting the following for your correspondent's consideration.
The ecclesiastical mode of registration appears now to be regulated by 52 Geo. III. c. 146., which still remains in force (except with regard to marriages, which was repealed on the introduction of the civil method) as far as regards baptisms and burials; and by the 16th section of that act, a proviso is enacted, that nothing in that act should diminish or increase the fees theretofore payable, or of right due, to any minister for the performance of the before-mentioned duties, &c.
The before-mentioned duties here referred to were, that they (the officiating ministers) should keep the registers of public and private baptisms, marriages, and burials in books for that purpose provided by the parish, that they should as soon after the solemnisation of the ceremony as possible enter it in the register. That such Register Books should be kept in the custody of the minister in an iron chest, which was to be kept locked, except for the purpose of making the entries as above, or for the inspection of persons desirous to make search therein, or to obtain copies, or for production as evidence, or for inspection as to their condition, or for the purposes of that act. That, within a stated period, the ministers should make copies (annually) of the registers, verify them, and transmit the copies to the registrar of the diocese. Now these just mentioned are the duties referred to in the act, so far as they concern our inquiry; and the fees payable have been the fee of one guinea for keeping the registers, a fee allowed by the parish for sending copies of them to the registrar of the diocese; but I do not observe any fee for any person searching, or even obtaining copies of any entry of baptism or burial, if they feel so disposed.
The civil method of registration is regulated by the 6 & 7 Will. IV. c. 86.; and by the 35th section it is enacted:
"That every rector, vicar, or curate, and every registrar, registering officer, and secretary who shall have the keeping for the time being of any Register Books of births, deaths, or marriages, shall at all reasonable times allow searches to be made of any Register Book in his keeping, and shall give a copy certified under his hand of any entry or entries in the same on payment of ... for every search extending over a period not more than one year, the sum of one shilling, and sixpence additional for every additional year; and the sum of two shillings and sixpence for every single certificate."