MAR legally disqualified from perform- ing the same, and have executed it in due form of law. The disabilities of contrafting marriage are of two kinds, viz. 1. Canonical, that is, those which are void or voidable in the Ecclesiasti- cal Law, such as coiisanguiniti/, or relation by blood. anJ ajfiniti/, or relation by marriage ; together •with some bodily infirmities. 2. Legal, that is, such as are created or enforced by the municinal laws; tor instance, a prior marriage ; lu- nacy ; want of consent either of parents or guardians ; and mino- rity. Thus, in tJ:e last mentioned case, if a boy under 14, or a girl under 12 years of age, marry, they may, on attaining the age of con- sent, declare tl;e marriage void, without any divorce in the Eccle- siastical Court. There are various other regula- tions, made by dilierent statutes, with a view to secure the happiness of subjects in this most important state, but our limits will not per- mit us to detail vhem. Hence we shall only observe, that several afts impose a penalty of lOOl. oi every clergyman who marries a couple, either Avithout publication of the banns, or without a license. And, if any woman, under the age of l6 years, be married without her pa- rents' or guardians' consent, the clergyman performing the cere- niony is, by the 4ih autl 5tii- of Phil, and Mary, c. 8, liable to a line, or five years imprispnment ; aud the woman's estate is to be enjoyed during her husband's life, by the next heir. — Fart':er, no mar- riage is valid, unless soienmized in a church, or ether place where banns are usually published ; ex- cept if a special license be obtained for tiie purpose, , MAR [171 By the 26th Geo. IL c. 33, every person knowingly otfending and a6ting to the contrary, is guilty of felony, and liable to be trans- ported for fourteen years ; provided the prosecution be commenced within three years after such ille- gal solemnization of marriage. M.RRAM See Sea-ALTWEED, Marrow, in animal economy, an oily matter secreted by the ar- teries of the internal membrane, which covers the bones. Its par- ticular u.-^e, to the living body, has not hitherto been clearly ascer- tained ; though it is probably of the same service to the l)ones, as fat is to the soft parts ; namely, to ren- der their fibres less brittle, by its lubricating property. With regard to its medicinal ef- fects, marrow is doubtless more subtle and penetrating than any- other animal fat ; and ought there- fore to be eaten with great caution. As it is much relished by epicures, it will be proper to observe, that marrow is with ditiiculty digested, unless thinly spread on toasted bread, with the addition of salt, and used with moderation. — We believe, however, that it might wiih more advantage and propriety be employed for liniments and oint- ments prepared for immediate ap- plication ; because it will, in this respect, be found superior to hog's- lard, though it more speedily turns rancid. MARSH, signifies a traft of ground partly covered with water, yet so as to permit grass or other vegetables to rise- above its surface: these, whiie gradually decaying, occasion putrid exhalations, which are extremely pernicious to the health of mani<ind. Alarsli-lands are chiefly employ- ed for the grazing of cattle, which, in
