ping Acts of 1854.
Merchantmen do not carry chaplains; a clergyman in attendance as a
passenger was assuredly not in the minds of those who are responsible
for the Act. The sections, in my opinion, directly point to the
captain as the person to officiate; and, having turned the matter
thoroughly over, I don't scruple to pronounce that a marriage
solemnised at sea by the master of a British merchantman is as legal
and valid as though celebrated on shore in the usual way."

"I am delighted to hear you say so," said I.

"It is a most interesting point," said he. "It ought certainly to be
settled."

"Well, speaking for Miss Bellassys and myself," said I, "we intend to
settle it to-morrow at the captain's convenience. He's very willing,
and most kindly anxious."

"Oh, yes," said he drily, "old Parsons is noted for this sort of thing.
I have heard of his having married several couples--passengers of
his--in his time. I believe he cuts a very great figure at a burial at
sea; but as to his claiming the right of baptising--" he burst into a
laugh, and added, "I came to Europe with him last voyage, and he once
told me that he had mistaken his vocation: he ought to have entered the
church. 'I should have been a bishop by this time,' said he. He has a
very clerical look, certainly!"

I laughed out, and went on deck with my spirits in a dance. To think
of such a marriage as we contemplated! And to find it in all
probability as binding as the shore-going ceremony! Assuredly it is an
ill wind that blows nobody any good, and the gale that had nearly
foundered us was to end in returning us to our native shore--a wedded
pair!

It was a dark night, despite the young moon in the west and a wide
field of stars under which a few high clouds were floating. The wind
was almost directly over the stern, and seemed but little more than a
quiet fanning, owing to the ship running; but it had weight enough to
keep the sails silent, and to fill the ear with the murmur of hurrying
waters. The ship loomed phantasmally in the clear dusk, with a regular
and stately swaying of her pale heights. All was silent and dark on
the main-deck and forward; on the poop glittered a few figures of male
passengers with the dark shape of one of the mates pacing the deck
athwartships, a stirless shadow of a man at the wheel, and someone near
him, with a glowing tip in the middle of his face signifying a lighted
cigar. I filled my pipe and stood musi