Click here to view a pdf copy of this documet : PDF Copy
Cameron of Kinnaird, living in the neighbouring of Mrs Malcolm, widow of James Malcolm merchant, cast his eyes upon her daughter Miss Malcolm, a considerable fortune, as an advantageous marriage for his son. The two families set out together from Fife, in order to pass the winter at Edinburgh. Upon their landing at Leith, Mrs Malcolm and her daughter were invited to the house of Mrs Cousnen, Kinnaird's mother-in-law. They suped there, and after supper, without any previous concert, a minister was brought in by Mr Cameron, in order to marry his son to the said Miss Malcolm, at that time just turned of twelve years of age. The mother, for what reason was not made clear by the witnesses, left the room. The ceremony went on, and was completed, and the marriage-lines were subscribed by Miss Malcolm as well as by young Cameron. After this the mother returned, and a bedding being proposed, she struck out, whether dissatisfied with what had been done, or thinking her daughter too young, is uncertain. This occasioned a sort of squabble among them. The mother and daughter went home in a sort of pet, and from that time refused to stand to the marriage.
The Commissaries, upon a declarator of marriage brought before them, found the marriage proved. This occasioned an advocation on the part of Miss Malcolm, in which the Court of Session were of a different opinion. They remitted to the Commissaries to assoilzie from the declarator of marriage, and even to find Cameron the pursuer liable in expenses.
This was an extreme nice case. That the ceremony of marriage was performed is certain; nor was any force proved, or even alleged, sufficient to render the ceremony ineffectual. And if there was a marriage, however irregular or improper, it was not in the power of any court to give redress. The Court, however, moved with indignation at so gross a wrong, gave the above mentioned judgment upon sentiment rather than upon principle. The only legal footing it can stand upon, seems to be what follows: A girl of 12 years of age is no doubt capable of marriage; but then, as a girl of that age is extremely susceptible of undue influence, and to be unjustly trepanned, a marriage in this circumstance requires more accurate evidence of consent than is necessary betwixt adult persons. The present case is similar to that of a testament on death-bed. A bare subscription in liege poustie, is sufficient; but, in extremis, a proof is required of orders given by the testator to write the testament, or at least, that it was read over to him before subscription. In the present case, the parties went to Cousnen's house without any design of marriage; 2do, The mother not present at the celebration; 3tio, A squabble the moment the ceremony was over, and some evidence of repentance on both sides; 4to, Proved upon old Cameron, that he endeavoured to bribe one Mally Hay to swear to an antecedent court-ship, which presumes he was conscious of some defect in the celebration of the marriage. These circumstances laid together may justly infer a suspicion that matters were not carried on so as to make an effectual marriage; and, therefore, in a case of this extraordinary kind, the Court, I think, took the safest side to refuse to give their sanction to this marriage.
