Gossip About Gretna Green.

Next to Gordon , Joseph Paisley ( sometimes called Pasley ) , became the recognised parson . He was a fisherman , who agreeably united with the duties of that position the pursuits of smuggler and tobacconist . He has been also called a blacksmith , but this was simply a fanciful allusion to the part he took in the Gretna Green marriages—Vulcan being the marriage-maker of the gods as well as their smith . He commenced the matrimonial business in 1789 and

, at first was retiring in his manner of dealing , but afterwards became audaciously unscrupulous , going so far even as to supply fictitious signatures to the certificates , instead of , as at first , resorting to the less culpable proceeding of signing his own name as a witness . It is said of this man that at his death , about 1811 , he weighed twenty-five stone . He was a coarse , blatant individual , and habitually appeared in a sort of priestly dress , even in his constant

dissipations . At his death the priesthood was taken by his son-in-law , Robert Elliott , who kept an account of his transactions , and afterwards published them under the title of " The Gretna Green Memoirs . " In this he states that , between 1811 and 1839 , no less than 7 , 744 persons were united by him at Gretna . The Times , in a review of the book , doubted the accuracy of the assertion , which drew from him a reply in the form of a letter to that paper . He said , " I can show registers for ( that number ) from my commencement , and which either you or any respectable individual may inspect here , and which I can substantiate on oath . "

We give here an extract from the " Memoirs of Elliott . He says : — As the marriage ceremony performed by me and my pi'edeoessoi'S may be interesting to many of my readers I give it verbatim . The parties are first asked their names and places of abode ; they are then asked to stand up , and enquired of if they are both single persons ; if the answer be in the affirmative the ceremony proceeds . Each is next asked , " Did you come here of your own free will and accord ? " Upon receiving an affirmative answer the priest commences filling iu the printed form of the

certificate . The man is then asked , "Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife , forsaking all others , and keep to her as long as you both shall live ? " He answers , '' I will . " The woman is asked the same question , when , being answered the same , the woman then produces a ring , which she gives to the man , who hands it to the priest ; the priest then returns it to the man , and orders him to put it on the fourth finger of the woman's left hand , repeating these words , " With this ring I thee wed , with my body I thee worship , with all my goods I thee endow , in the name of the Father , Sou , and Holy Ghost . Amen . "

They then take hold of each other ' s right hands , and the woman says , " What God joins together let no man put asunder . " Then tho priest says , " Forasmuch as this man and this woman have come together by giving and receiving a ring , I therefore declare them to be man and wife before God and these witnesses , in tie name of the Father , Son , and Holy Ghost . Amen . " The following are among the memorable matches effected through the agency of Robert Elliott , and recorded in his " Memoirs . "

1812 . —Rev . Wm . Fi'eemantle , an English clergyman . C . Ewen Law , son of Lord Ellens borough , to Miss Nightingale . 1815 . —A " droll gaberlunzie , " without legs or arms , to a comely damsel , " both appearing anxious of the ceremony , " to the disgust even of the not toofastidious parson himself . 1816 . —Lord Chief Justice Erskine . Within a year , however , his lordship tried to loosen his matrimonial chains by a divorce by the Scottish law , but failed .

1 S 26 . E . Gibbon Wakefield with Miss Turner . Of the trial which ensued upon this we give particulars below . During the latter part of Elliott ' s "ministration , " competition in the marrying business became brisk , and he had numerous rivals , the most powerful of which candidates for clerical emoluments being another son of Mars , named David Laiiig . The competition became so pronounced that the rival

businesses canvassed for the assistance and co-operation of the postillions , who , commencing by receiving a commission per runaway pair , at last ended by going upon a system of equal shares with their priestly co-partners .