Note 1452 — Chapter X · RISE OF CIVIL MARRIAGE

On asking leave to present the bill, March 17, 1834, Sir Robert Peel delivered an elaborate speech explaining the need of reform and giving a history of the attempts to remedy the hardships arising from the existing marriage laws since 1753. His speech was well received by all parties: see the summary of Peel's speech and of the debate on the bill in Oppenheim, in ZKR., I, 19-33. In general on the struggle for relief of dissenters see May, Const. Hist., II, 362-64, 392-95; Friedberg, Eheschliessung, 391-401; Fischel, Eng. Const. (London, 1863), 84.