with all chance of
success, unless the delay could be satisfactorily explained.

The mode of proceeding is by an action at law. For this an attorney
must be retained, who will manage the whole affair to its termination.
The first proceeding (the writ, service thereof, &c.) costs from L2 to
L5. The next proceeding--from a fortnight to a month after service of
the writ--costs about L5 more. The whole costs, to the verdict of the
jury, from L35 to L50, besides the expenses of the lady's witnesses.
If the verdict be in her favour, the other side have to pay her costs,
with the exception of about L10. If the verdict be against her, the
same rule holds good, and she must pay her opponent's costs--probably
from L60 to L70.

[TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH.]

1562. Before Going to Law.

Before legal proceedings are commenced, a letter should be written to
the gentleman, by the father or brother of the lady, requesting him to
fulfil his engagement. A copy of this letter should be kept, and it
had better be delivered by some person who can prove that he did so,
and that the copy is correct: he should make a memorandum of any
remarks or conversation.

1563. Examples.

We give an abstract or two from the law authorities: they will, we
have no doubt, be perused by our fair readers with great attention,
and some satisfaction.

"A man who was paying particular attentions to a young girl, was
asked by the father of the latter, after one of his visits, what his
intentions were, and he replied, 'I have pledged my honour to marry
the girl in a month after Christmas'; and it was held that this
declaration to the father, who had a right to make the inquiry, and
to receive a true and correct answer, taken in connection with the
visits to the house, and the conduct of the young people towards
each other, was sufficient evidence of a promise of marriage."

1564. Length of Engagement.

"The Common Law does not altogether discountenance long engagements
to be married. If parties are young, and circumstances exist,
showing that the period during which they had agreed to remain
single was not unreasonably long, the contract is binding upon them;
but if they are advanced in years, and the marriage is appointed to
take place at a remote and unreasonably long period of time, the
contract would b