(t7S CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM W.F.Will cox Cornell University Library HQ 875.A3 1894 Return of the number of divorces in fore 3 1924 021 867 852 ...... The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924021867852 MFSCELLANEOUS. No. 4 (1895). EETUEN OK THE NUMBER OF DIVOECES iir FOREIGN COUNTRIES DURING THE LAST TEIN^ YEARS PART I.— EOREIGN COUNTRIES. Pretented to the House of Commons by Command of Her Majesty, in pursuance of their Address duted July 30, 1894. LONDON: PRINTED yOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, PRINTERS IN ORDINAKT TO HER MAJESTY. And to be pnrchased, either directly or throuf^h any Bookseller, from KYRE AND SPOTTISWOO0E, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, E.C., and 32, Abingdon Street, Westminster, S.W. ; ur JOHN MENZIES & Co., 12, Hanovbb Street, Edinburgh, and 90, West Nile Street, Glasgow; or HODGESi FIGGISj & Co., Limited, 104. Gravton Street^ MvaiMi. -7639.J Price Zdi ^ LONDON ! '°. S. KING k SON, TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Circular addressed to Hex Majesty's Representatives in tlie principal foreign countries, dated August 8, 1894 .. .. .. .. .. ,. .. •• I Paet I. Foreign Countries. "^^ Argentine Republic ., .. ., .. .. .. .. .. 1 Austria ., .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Bavaria and WUrtemberg . . . . . . , . , , . . . . , . 3 Belgium ,. .. .. ., .. .. .. .. ,. 5 Denmark .. .. .. .. .. .. ., .. ,. 7 J? rauCG •• ,, ,a a* .«• •• •• •■ •• •• / Germany .. . .. .. .. ., ,. .. .. 8 VGreeoe,. .. ,, ., .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 VLuxemburg, Grand Duchy of .. .. .. .. .. ^, .. 11 Mexico .. .. .. .. .. .. ,. .. .. 11 Netherlands .. .. .. .. ,. .. .. ., .. 12 Roumania ,. .. .. .. .. .. ,. .. .. 13 itussia .a ,, ,. ,, •« ,, ., ^^ ., 13 Saxony .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .« .. 14 Servia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 bpain •• •.« •« ., »^ ,» ^« ^, ,. ,^ 15 Sweden and Norway .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .^ 15 Switzerland .. .. .. .. ^ .. .. .. ». 16 United States .. .. .. .. >. .. .. .. .. 16 Note.— Returns have not yet been received from Brazil and Chile The Circular was not sent to Her Majesty's Representatives in Italy or Portugal, as there are no legal provisions for Divorce in those countries. (See Miscellaneous No. 2 (1894), pp. 87 and 102.) RETURN to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons, dated July 30, 1894 ; for— " A Return of the Number of Divorces granted in each of the British Colonies and Possessions, and in each of the principal Poreign Countries, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years." Circular addressed to Her Majesty's Representatives in the principal Foreign Countries. My Lord, Sir, Foreign Office, August 8, 1894i. IN conformity with an Address of the House of Commons, I have to request that you will, if practicable, obtain and furnish me with a Return showing the number of divorces granted in the country or countries to the Government of which you are accredited, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years. This Return is required to complete the information recently published relative to the laws of divorce in , and should be forwarded in a form suitable for presentation to Parliament. I am, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLET. Keplies to preceding Circular. ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. No. 1. Mr. Pakenham to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received November 27.) My Lord, Buenos Ayres, October 30, 1894. IN reply to your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th August last, asking for a Return showing the number of divorces granted in this country, together with the population, for each year during the past ten years, I have the honour to state that it has been extremely difficult to obtain any particulars with regard to this subject^ , [104] B 2 as no Eeturns have ever been published ; and that it is only with regard to the City and Province of Buenos Ayres that I have been able to procure any reliable information in conformity with the request contained in your Lordship's above-mentioned despatch. In accordance with the data which have been supplied to me by the Ministry of the Interior, the numbi;r of applications made for divorce during the last ten years in the City and Vrormce^^^Bxienos Ayres have amounted to 2,139, but only in 118 cases ^has a sentence of ^voro^ een granted. In 1884 the population of the City and Province of Buenos Ayres was estimated at 956,000, but it is now reckoned at 1,600,000, viz., the province 1,000,000, and the City of Buenos Ayres 600,000 (the total population of the Republic amounting i,o about 5,000,000), so that the number of cases in which a sentence of divorce has been granted is very small as compared with the population. Divorce in accordance with the Argentine Civil Marriage Code, as I bad the honour to inform your Lordship in the Memorandum inclosed in my despatch of the 16th November last, does not imply the dissolution of the matrimonial bond, but only a separation quoad mensam et thorum. Consequently divorced parties are unable to marry again so long as both remain alive. I hsrVG &c (Signed) ' P. PAKENHAM. AUSTRIA. "NTo. 2. Sir E. Mbnson to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received September 24.) My Lord, Vienna, September 18, 1894. WITH reference to your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th ultimo, I have the honour to inclose a Memorandum by Mr. Praser, giving the latest obtainable statistics of divorce in Austria ; later figures than those for 1889 have not yet been published. I have, &c. (Signed) EDMUND MONSON. Inclosure in No. 2. Statistics of Divorces granted in Austria, 1884 to 1889. THE population of the whole Austrian Monarchy is given during this period at 22,144,244 souls, but the new Census of the 31st December, 1890, gives an increased population of 23,895,413. Later statistics than those for 1889 have not yet been compiled. Austrian divorces are divided into three classes, and this division is, with verv few exceptions, owing to the religion of the parties; for Catholics cannot be " divorced " for any reason whatsoever in Austria, where their marriages remain' indissoluble in the eyes of Austrian civil law as before their Church ; exceptino- in the rare cases in which the Pope assents to " annul " the marriage by a declaration of its mvalidity from the beginning. Therefore, Catholics can only be « judicially separated," whereas persons of other confessions may, for the same causes be "divorced;" and the preponderating population of Catholics in Austria explains the discrepancy m the numbers of each kind. Among the marriages annuUed appear also a few between persons of non- Catholic confessions, whose marriages were declared invalid by the Courts of Law. Number of Judicial Number of Divorces (among persons of all Number of Year Separations Marriages annulled Total. (almost exclusively (chiefly among Catholics). excepting Catholics). among Catholics). 1884 656 65 / 2S\ 744 1885 6S4 91 / 13 ' 768 1886 670 90 / 26 786 1887 671 111 17 799 1888 671 86 23 780 1889 712 108 V '' 1 833 The causes of the Catholic " separations " and of the general " divorces " in 1889 (latest statistics published) were : — Adultery .. .. .. .. .. .. Condemnation to penal servitude of one of the parties . . Desertion .. .. .. .. .. .. Leading a disreputable life .. .. .. .. Conduct or threats dangerous to life or health . . Habitual ill-treatment . . . . . . . . . . Domestic quarrels of constant occurrence (incompatibility of temper) Lasting disease of an infectious nature . . . . . . Other causes .. .. .. .. .. ., 20 27 38 59 14 77 185 3 23 As some of the separations and divorces were granted for more than one of these several causes, the total Appears greater than the actual number granted ; and the relatively small number of divorces in proportion to the population — 800 among 23,000,000 — must be accounted for by the fact that good Catholics will not even go the length of a judicial separation, however urgent the need, and also by the prohibition of another marriage of either or of both the parties, which makes the intervention of the Law Courts superfluous excepting where financial arrangements cannot be agreed to out of Court. So that many more married couples live separate in Austria than appear in these statistics. BAVARIA AND WURTEMBERG. No. 3. Mr. Vansittart to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received September 10.) My Lord, Munich, September 6, 1894. WITH reference to your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th ultimo, I have the honour to inclose herewith two tabular Returns, which I have drawn up from official statistics supplied to Her Majesty's Legation, showing the number of divorces granted in Bavaria and Wiirtemberg, together with the population, in each year during ten consecutive years. As the Bavarian (3-ovemment have informed Her Majesty's Legation that they are not yet in possession of statistics relating to divorces granted during the years 1892 and 1893, I have only been able to draw up a Beturn from the year 1882 to 1891 (ih© latter year inclusive). The jp,eturn for Wiirtemberg begins with the year 1881, and ends with 1892 (the latter inclusive). I trust the inclosed Returns will be found suitable for presentation to Parliament, I have, &c. (Signed) A. G. VANSITTART. Inclosure 1 in No. 3. Table I. — Showing the Number of Divorces granted in Bavaria, together with the Population, in each year, beginning from the year 1882 and ending with the year 189;i. Year. Number of Divorces. Number of Population. One Divorce per populiition as follows ' 1882 .. 1883 ,. 1884 .. 1885 .. 1886 .. 1887 ,. 1888 .. 1889 .. 1890 ., 1891 ., 218 243 245 245 238 240 255 256 233 308 5,338,946 5,366,030„^; 5,393,114,,,^^ 5,420,199 5,447,284 5,474,369 5,501,454 5,528,539 5,594,982 5,629,938 24,490 22,082 22,013 22,123 22,888 22,810 21,574 21,596 24,013 18,279 The last two official Censuses of the population of Bavaria were taken in the years 1885 and 1890. Inclostire 2 in No. 3. Table II. — Showing the Number of Divorces granted in Wiirtemberg, together with the Population, in each year, beginning from the year 1881, and ending with the year 1892. Proportion of Divorces on every 100,000 of the middle^ Year. Number of Number of yearly Population. Divorces. Population. Year. Proportion. 1881 .. 95 1,97.5,000 1881 4-81 1882 .. 122 1,979,000 1882 6-16 1883 .. 150 1,983,000 1883 7-56 » 1884 .. 130 1,988,000 1884 6-54, 1885 .. 144 1,995,185 1885 7-22 1886 .. 161 2,002,000 1886 8-04 1887 .. 135 2,014,000 1887 6-70 1888 .. 132 2,024,000 1888 6-52 1889 .. 155 2,030,000 1889 7-64 1890 ,. 165 2,036,522 1890 8-11 18'Jl .. 149 2,042,000 1891 7-30 1892 .. 153 2,048,000 1892 7-47 The last two official Censuses of the population of Wiirtemberg were taken in the years 1885 and 1890. It should be mentioned that the numbers of the population given in the above Table have been calculated after counting the births and deaths in each year ; but as cei'tain cases of immigration and emigration occur yearly, of which no fixed record seems to be kept, an average cypher has been substituted. ( 5 ) BELGIUM No. 4. Sir F. Plunkett to the Earl of Kimberley.— {Received August 20.) My Lord, Brussels, August 19, 1894. IN compliance with the instruction contained in your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th instant, I have the honour to transmit herewith a Return, drawn up by Mr. Adam, showing the number of divorces granted, as well as the number of marriages celebrated, in Belgium, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years. I have, &c. (Signed) T. R. PLUNKETT. Inclosure in No. 4. Return of Population, Marriages, and Divorces in Belgium for each Year from 1884 to 1893. THE accompanying Table, showing the number of the population on the 31st December of each year, together with a Return of the number of marriages and divorces during the preceding twelve months, in each of the provinces of Belgium,; as well as in the whole kingdom, for tbe ten years period ending the 31st December, 1893, has been compiled from the Statistics published in the " Annuaire Statistique de la Belgique " by the Ministry of the Interior. The figures for 1893, which would only have appeared in the " Annuaire " for 1894, I owe to the kindness of M. E. Nicolai, Director of Statistics in the Ministry of the Interior. (Signed) 0. E. E. ADAM. Brussels, August 18, 1894. 6 a IB O u 6D •F-l -♦3 § P OS oo §-* -3 © «t-i 'd °i .2 * o ^ P-i r^ Si CO 2 o 1 OB 1^ I I P4 P^ OS OS IM to eo CO OS i^ us 00 00 us (Mr-;* rH us eo us 00 00 rH 00^ Os"us" t~ O rH US US i- US OS US ^• i~ OS 00 l-H (MUS*- *~ to OS 5S o> 00 ■* oTuj o (N 00 1-1 ■* OS- Tl< (N rH eo_r- us" US OS t~ 00 OS^OO rH 00 o o 00 t-t »-• O -_ t-^ 00 1-1 Ol ■* °°.°i, to__o CD 0O_ to CN IM CO^ *~-'^- OS_tO^(M 00 oCrf!" ■* t-T to Tl<" OUS •*"t-r oo-ij<" O-rn" to r-T us"cf oToT CO US t~ -»<^<-»^ ^•^'z^^x.oXS^ In 1884 there were 1,773 applications for divorce I b S7^ " " if eei"J " " iil 09- \ ^7 8-b] „ ,, i'^Hi'l 1 5. l/«-*^ »^" .. 6-1 6-^ { ° making an average of 5,727 divorce suits per annum. b i g-tfj According to the Returns of the census, the population of France in 1886 was 38,218,903, and in 1891 was 38,343,191. It should be stated that the above figures comprise not only ordinary appKcations for divorce, but also applications for the conversion of judicial separation into atisolute divorce. . Of these 45,822 applications for divorce, decrees were granted m 40,301 cases, only 2 993 applications being rejected, while 2,528 applications Avere withdrawn. [104] „ 1885 S? 4,650 „ 1886 4,581 „ 1887 »> 6,605 „ 1888 J9 6,247 „ 1889 S» 7,176 „ 1890 91 7,456 „ 1891 J9 7,445 14 S» 20 » 19 5» 22 »» 24 »» 24 If the number of divorces granted is compared with the number of marriages during this period, we arrive at the following Table, which may be of interest, as showing that the number of divorces compared with the number of marriages has almost doubled siaee 1885 : — _ , - r -■ ...:i,.;.; /...■■■. ■■'*'■■ 14 divorces for 1,000 marriages celebrated in 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. It is also interesting to note that it is generally between the fifth and tenth years of marriage that the greatest number of applications for divorce aire made. Pew marriages are dissolved in the first year after the union, but, on the other hand, a good many marriages are annulled between the first and fifth years, as may be seen from the accompanying figures : — Less than 1 year .. .. .. .. .. 3 divorces per 100. From 1 to 5 years. . . . . . . . . . 22 „ „ ,, o ,, 10 ,, •• ., .. .. •• oo „ ,, ,, *" „ ^^ »i»» •• .- •• •• -^^ „ ,1 „ ■*" „ *JU „ •• •• .. •• ../ „ ,, More thaa 30 years . . . . . . . . 2 „ „ It may be added that there have only been five cases of divorce that have occurred after fifty years of marriage, but the number of divorces granted after between forty and fifty years of marriage is relatively high, viz., 126. It is also a noteworthy fact that inhabitants of towns appear more often in the Divorce Courts than inhabitants of the country, and divorce seems particularly common among theiower classes. 42 per cent, of those connected with the 45,822 divorce cases mentioned above being workmen of every kind — day labourers and charwomen ; while those whb have least recourse to the Divorce Court are the peasant and servant classes,' who only make 7 per ceiit. and 6 per cent; respectively of the total aiggregate of divorce cases. This is specially remarkable, since the peasant class forms nearly half the population of Prance. . Of the 45,822 applications foi; divorce, 28,492 were made by the wife and 17,330 by the husband. An analysis of the motives for divorce gives the following results : — - Excesses, cruelty, or severe injuries . . . . . . . . 76 per cent. Adultery of the wife .. ., .. .. ..15 „ „ „ husband .. .. .. .. ..6 „ Various .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3 „ C. H. Paris, February 4, 1895. GERMANY. .' No. 7. Sir E. Malet to the Earl of Kimberlsy. — (Received August 20.) My Lord, Berlin, August 17 , 1S94<. WITH reference to your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th instant, directing me to furnish your Lordship with a Return showing the number of divorces, granted in Germany, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith Tables coijipiled by Mr. Wyndham, showing — 1. The number of divorces pronounced in Germany from 1882 to 1891, with the population in each year. 2. The number of divorces pronounced by each of the District Courts respectively. for the years 1890 and 1891, and giving the population in each judicial district for the year 1890. The figures have heen kindly furnished hy the Statistical Oflace in Berlin. I have, &c. (In the ahsence of Sir Edward Malet), (Signed) MARTIN GOSSELIN. Inclosure 1 in No, 7. Table showing the Number of Divorces pronounced in the Empire of Germany from 1882 to 1891. Year. Population (taken in the middle of the Year). Number of Divoi:ces pronounced. 1882 .. 1883 .. 1884 .. 1885 .. 1886 ,. 1887 .. 1888 .. 1889 .. 1890 .. 1891 .. 45,719,000 46,016,000 46,336,000 46,707,000 47,134,000 47,630,000 48,168,000 48,717,000 49,241,000 49,767,000 6,34'2 5,764 6,047 6,225 6.078 6,357 6,618 6,457 6,220 6,677 :r: ' Average 1882-91 47,543,000 .6,178 Inclosure 2 in No. 7. . ./!., V ^ Table showing the District Courts by which the Divorces were pronounced, with the Niiniber of Divorces in each District; during the years 1890 and 1891, and the Population for each District for the year 1890. Population Number of Divorces. District. (on December 1, 1890> * 1890. 1891. Augsburg 954.447 1,166[166 4,120^577 15 23 Bamberg . . . . . . ! 23 32 Berlin . . 1. , . . . ; Brunswick .j ...„ .. i;ii5 1,527 i 403[773 ' 45 51 Breslau , . , 4,224L458 j 573 561 Cassel ,. 1 -836 64-8 ' 32 33 Celle : 2,441.033 158 ' 136 Cologne . . 3,994,341 193 209 Colmar . . 1,603.506 175 140 Darmstadt 992,883 97 85 Dresden.. .J ., 3,502,684 902 892 Frankfort-on-Main 1,080,198 90 70 Hamburg 914,176 355 354 Hamm . . 2,974,807 184 187 Jena . . . . . . 1,289,158 1&6 180 Karlsruhe ,. 1,657,867 117 130 Kiel (and Heligoland) . . 1,219,523 173 213 Konigsberg 1,958,663 347 322 Marienwerder 1,367,974 239 177 Munich . . . . . . . . 1,537,658 82 106 Naumburg 2.881.968 490 557 Nuremberg 1,208.373 68 85 Oldenburg 318,171 10 11 Posen .. .. 1.817k349 161 144 Rostock . . . . r 676^320 1 29 45 Stettin . . . . , . 1,520,889 193 196 Stuttgart Zweibrilcken . . . • 2,036,522 123 149 . . . a 728^339 45 62 Total . . * . . . 49,428,470 , 6,^20 6,777 [104.] C 2 ( 10 ) GREECE. No. .8 Mr. Egerton to the Earl of Kimberley. — (Received January 30.) My Lord, ' Athens, January 23, 1894. IN reply to your LordsMp's Circular despatch of the 8th August last, I have the honour to transmit herewith the following information in regard to the number of divorces granted in Greece during the ten years from 1884 to 1893, which has just been furnished to me by the Greek Government : — In 1884 .. 88 divorces were granted „ 1885 .. .. 73 ,,1886 65 ,,1887.. .. 74 ,,1888 66 „ 1889 .. 93 „ 1890 .. 81 ,,1891 .. 78 „189Ji .o 67 „ 1893 .. .. 103 the total amounting to 788. The population of Greece at the last census, in 1889, was 2,187,208. No annual Returns are made, but the ordinary increase of population is believed to be something over 1 per cent per annum. I append a Table, furnished by the Greek Government, showing the number of divorces granted before the different provincial Tribunals. I have, &c. (Signed) EDWIN H. EGERTON. Inclosure in No. 8. Statement of the number of Divorces granted by various Provincial Tribunals in Greece. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893, Totals. Athens.. 35 18 22 19 15 30 33 21 20 38 251 iSyra ... Chaleis 8 1 11 2 8 1 6 3 1 2 7 4 7 2 8 1 6 4 8 3 70 23 Lamia . . . . 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 , , ^ , 2 13 Parnassis 1 , , • • ■ • 1 , , 2 1 5 Nauplia Tripolitza Ealamata . , 3 1 1 4 1 2 4 1 3 *S 3 "l 4 3 1 3 1 3 3 '2 3 "2 1 '2 31 6 18 Eyparissia Sparta. . Patras . . 2 3 4 1 1 8 '2 1 '5 8 "2 7 5 4 5 2 4 5 2 3 7 2 4 3 4 6 17 28 55 Missolonghi Elea .. 1 3 1 2 "3 1 2 "5 2 1 1 2 3 3 2 13 19 Santa Maura , , I • • , , 1 , , 2 1 1 1 7 Zante .. 10 6 6 11 8 7 2 6 5 6 66 Corfu .. 6 5 1 4 6 6 3 7 7 7 52 Cephalonia Arta .. 7 • • 2 3 9 3 4 6 1 4 5 1 5 2 3 7 1 52 11 Larissa . . • • , , • ' , , 3 2 1 , , ^ , 2 8 Trikkala • • • • 1 1 1 6 1 4 2 3 19 Volo .. 1 4 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 6 24 Karditza •• •• •• •• • • •• • • ... •• Totals .. 88 73 65 74 66 93 81 78 67 103 788 ( 11 ) GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBURG. No. 9. Mr. Bland to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received September 17.) My Lord, The Hague, September 15, 1894. IN compliance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith a Return showing the number of divorces granted in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years. I have, &c. (Signed) GODFREY D. BLAND. Inclosure in No. 9. Statistics relative to Number of Divorces and Population in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg for the last ten Years. Year. Number of Divorces. Population. 1884 2 210,,511 (Census of 1880) 1885 2 214,635 1886 3 9i 1887 3 99 1888 3 1889 3 1890 3 211,481 1891 4 99 1892 4 99 1893 1 '9 MEXICO. No. 10. Mr. Dering to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received February 7.) My Lord, Mexico, January 21, 1895. WITH reference to the Circular instruction addressed to Mr. Consul Carden, then in charge of Her Majesty's Legation on the 9th August last, requesting to be furnished with Returns as to divorces in the Mexican Republic during the last ten vears in proportion to the population, I requested the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs, under date of the 16th instant, to enable me to furnish Her Majesty's Govern- ment with the above information, in order to be presented as a Return to Parliament. I have now the honour to forward to your Lordship copy and translation of a note which I have this day received in reply from M. Mariscal, informing me that, according to the laws of Mexico, divorce is not recognized in the territory of the Republic. I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY NE\'ILL DERING. 12 Inclosure in No. 10. Senor Mariscal to Mr. Bering. (Translation.) M. le Ministre. Foreign Office, Mexico, January 16, 1895. IN repiy to your Excellency's courteous note of to-day, referring to any cases of divorce granted in Mexico during the past ten years, I have the honour to inform you that marriage is governed in the Repuhlic by a Federal law which does not permit i divorce a vinculo. . "^ I avail, &c. (Signed) IGNO. MARISCAL. NETHERLANDS. No. 11. Sir H. Rumhold to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received August 20.) My Lord, The Hague, August 16, 1894. IN compliance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th instant, I have the honour to transmit herewith a Return showing the number of divorces granted in the Netherlands, together with the population, in each of the years from 1883 to 1892. Thfe statistics for 1 893 have not yet been published. I ! have, &c. (Signed) HORACE RUMBOLD. Inclosure in No. 11. Statistics as to Divorce and Population from 1883 to 1892. ' '•' Divorces. " '• ■ ' ' "" ' Separations. ■ Population. Years. Per Per Total No. 1,000 Married Couples. Total No. 1,000 Married Couples. Years. Number. 1883 189 0-27 82 0-12 1883 4,225,065 1884 196 0-28 95 0-13 1884 ' 4,278,272 1885 261 0-37 78 Oil 1886 4,336,012 1886 815 0-44 103 0-14 1886 4,390,857 1887 333 0-46 106 0-14 1887 4,450,870 1888 409 0-56 133 0-17 1888 4,505,932 1889 360 0-50 121 0-16 1889 4,548,596 1890 383 0-52 100 0-13 1890 4,664,666 1891 414 0-55 117 0-16 1891 4,621,744 1892 354 0-47 120 0-16 1892 4,669,576 ( 13 ) ROUMANIA. No. 12. Mr. Townley to, the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received November 6.) My Lord, Bucharest, November 3, 1894. WITH reference to your Lordship's Circular despatch, of the 8th August last, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a Table which has been kindly communicated to me by the Roumanian Minister of Justice, showing the number of divorces applied for and granted or refused in this country from 1881 to 1890. Later statistics are not available. It is somewhat difficult to arrive at an accurate estimate of the population of Roumania, as no Census has been taken in this country since 1860, and the various endeavours to do so since that date have not succeeded. I am informed, however, by the Director of the Statistical Department that he instituted researches in 1 884 which enabled him to estimate the population at 5,000,000, and he calculates from the annual Returns of births and deaths that the population must now amount to 5,600,000 souls. I have, &c. (Signed) WALTER TOWNLEY. Inclosure in No. 12. General Statement of the Applications for Divorce tried by the Roumanian Courts of Justice during the period from 1881 to 1890. Applications for Applications for Result of Applications. Year. Divorce made during the year. Divorce tried during the year. Granted. Refused. Adjourned. Total, 1881 .. 1,263 913 403 194 316 913 1882 .. 1,118 874 469 181 224 874 1883 .. 1,401 950 494 166 290 950 1884 .. 1,480 1,218 634 197 387 1,218 1885 1,527 1,195 629 198 368 1,195 1886 .. 1,283 1,230 658 198 374 1,230 1887 .. 1,578 1,127 722 163 242 1,127 1888 .. 1,588 1,155 758 158 239 1,155 1889 .. 2,210 1,414 865 238 311 1,414 1890 .. 1,916 1,389 762 211 416 1,389 RUSSIA. No. 13. Sir F. Lascelles to the ^arl of Kimberley. — {Received October 1.) My Lord, ^t- Petersburgh, September 21, 1894. WITH reference to your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th ultimo, requestiBg me to obtain, if practicable, certain information relative to the Laws of Divorce in Russia, I have the honour to state that no statistics on the subject have been published in this country up to the present date. I have, &c. (Signed) FRANK C. LASCELLES. ( M' ) SAXONY. No. 14. Mr. Strachey to the Earl of Kimherley. — (Received October 2.) My Lord, Dresden, September 29, 1894. REPLYING to the circular of the Sth August, I have the honour to state that the availahle statistics of divorce in Saxony give the following figures : — Divorces in 1890 1891 1892 1893 902 892 836 935 Population of the kingdom according to the Census of 1890, 3,502,684. I have, &c. (Signed) G. STRACHET. SERVIA. No. 15. Mr. Fane to the Earl of Kimberley. — (Received September 26.) My Lord, Belgrade, September 22, 1894; WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch of the 8th ultimo, I have th& honour to transmit herewith a Return showing the number of divorces in Servia during the years 1882-92 inclusive, with the exception of the year 1885, for which no official statistics are forthcoming. I have, &c. (Signed) EDMUND FANE. Inclosure in No. 15. Statistics of Marriages dissolved in Servia between the years 1882 and 1892. Number. Number of Marriages — Proportion of Marriages dissolved. Year. Population. Marriages solemnized. Dissolved. Declared void. Total. Per 10,000 Inhabitants. Per 1,000 Inhabitants. 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 • • • 1,814,460 1,857,898 1,901,336 1,944,774 1,988,210 2,031,640 2,075,086 2,118,524 2,161,961 2,202,350 2,222,048^ 22,008 22,097 20,370 17,107 23,326 22,555 22,737 21,753 21,555 23,196 21,018 223 269 325 (?) 155 297 357 284 193 173 306 32 23 41 (?) 19 19 25 27 15 8 14 255 292 366 (?) 174 316 382 311 208 181 320 1-41 1-57 1-92 0-88 1-56 1-84 1-47 0-96 0-82 1-44 11-69 13-22 17-97 7-46 14-01 16-80 14-30 9-65 7-80 15-22 Average 2,028,344 21,611 258 22 280 1-38 12-96 ( 15 ) SPAIN. No. 16. Sir G. Bonham to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received August 20.) My Lord, Madrid, August 17, 1894. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch of the 8th instant, in which a Eetum is asted for showing the number of divorces which have taken place in Spain during the past ten years, I have the honour to state that I am informed by the Minister of Grace and Justice, to whom I made an application, that he is unable to comply with my request, as no statistics relating to divorce have been drawn up in this country. I have, &c. (Signed) G. F. BONHAM. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. No. 17. Sir S. St. John to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received September 28.) My Lord, Stockholm, September 24., 1894. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Circular despatch of the 8th August, requesting me to obtain and furnish a Return showing the number of divorces granted in Norway and Sweden, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years. I transmit herewith the statistics required. I have, &c. (Signed) SPENSER ST. JOHN. Inclosure in No. 17. Return of Divorces in Sweden and Norway. Sweden. Norway. ' Year. Population. Divorces. Population. Divorces. 1883 4,603,595 218 • • f 1884 4,644,448 241 1,938,000 7 1885 4,682,769 229 1,954,000 8 1886 4,717,189 226 1,974,000 11 1887 4,734,901 233 1,979,000 6 1888 4,748,257 252 1,980,000 12 1889 4,774,409 240 1,986,000 14 1890 4,784,981 296 2,000,917 13 1891 4,802,751 276 2,015,000 22 1892 4,806,865 316 2,022,000 39 1893 Not yet known. 2,032,000 82 [104j D ( 16 ) SWITZERLAND. No. 18. MrF. R. St. John to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received August 27.) My Lord, ' Berne, August 23, 1894. IN conformity witli the instructions contained in your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th iQstant, I have the honour to forward herewith a Return showing the amount of the population of Switzerland in each of the ten years ended 1892, together with the corresponding number of marriages and divorces, which latter, as your Lord- ship will observe, show an almost invariable tendency to diminish. I have, &c. (Signed) F. R. ST. JOHN. Inclosure in No. 18. PoPULA-TioN of Switzerland during the ten years from 1883 to 1892, both inclusive, witli Returns of Divorce Cases. Divorces. Population. Judgments pronounced. Applications for Divorce Legal Separations. Year. Per 1,000 of rejected. Number. existing Marriages. 1883.. 2,848,445 1,095 82 115 898 1 93 1884., 2,861,238 1,118 107 104 907 1-94 1885.. 2,874,038 1,159 122 117 920 1 96 1886.. 2,891,785 1,139 103 137 899 1-90 1887.. 2,902,553 1,128 121 82 925 1-95 1888.. 2,913,277 1,030 110 79 841 1-76 1889.. 2,924,973 1,069 114 90 865 1-80 1890.. 2,937,348 1,066 108 78 880 1-82 1891.. 2,949.723 1,046 96 73 877 1-84 1892.. 2,962,098 1,036 83 72 881 1-83 UNITED STATES. No. 19. Mr. Goschen to the Earl of Kimberley. — (Received November 5.) My Lord. Washington, October 24, 1894. WITH reference to your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 8th August last, I have the honour to transmit herewith a Report on the subject of divorces in the United States, which has been drawn up in this Embassy by Mr. Spring-Rice. I regret that it has been found impracticable to obtain the statistics for the past ten years desired by the House of Commons. As exphiined in the annexed Report, full Returns could not be obtained for all the States without a very considerable expenditure of time and money, as they would entail a search of the records of some 2,700 separate Courts. Annexed to the Report are despatches from Her Majesty's Consuls at Philadelplria and Boston, and from Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General at New York, who have taken great pains to obtain the information desired. I have, &c. (Signed) W. E. GOSCHEN. 17 Inclosure in No. 19. Eepobt buspeoting Divoeoes in the United States.j ' Information required. THE House of Commons asked for a Eeturn " showing the number of dirorcea granted in the United States, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years." Information supplied hy the Census and Labour Commission of the United States. The Pederal Government is not in possession of any data later than that collected at the several decennial Census periods, and no statement can be given as to the, population for the intervening years. In 1890 the population was 62,622,250, against 50,155,783 in 1880. In the Census of 1880 no statistics were compiled regarding conjugal condition. The Census of 1890 showed the following results : — Number. Per cent. Single , . Married . . ' Widowed Divorced Unknown 37,129,564 22,331,424 2,970,052 120,996 70,214 59-29 35-66 4-74 0-20 O-ll 62,6'?2,260 100-00 These figures take no account of the widowed and divorced who have remarried. The number of divorced men was 49,101, or 0*15 per cent. ; the number of divorced women was 71,895, being 0*24 per cent., or considerably more than the proportion of males. This probably indicates that divorced men have remarried to a greater extent than divorced women. Divorced persons among the aggregate population represented 0'54 per cent, of the married people, that is, there was 1 divorced person to 186 married. Divorce was more common among the native white of native parentage than among the total population, the proportion to the number of married people being for the United States 0-61 per cent. The native white of foreign parentage show a smaller proportion, 0'50 per cent., and the foreign white a still smaller proportion, 0'34 per cent., which is attributed to the fact that the foreign element includes many Irish and Canadian Catholics. Among the negro population the divorced are found to be more prevalent than among any of the other classes. The proportion of divorced to married among the negro element was 0'67 per cent. In 1889 the Commissioner of Labour, in obedience to a Resolution of Congress, published a Report on marriage and divorce in the United States for the years 1867 to 1886. It results from this Report that the number of divorces granted was as follows : — Year. Number. Year. Number. 1867.. 9,937 1877 16,687 1868., 10,150 1878 16,089 1869.. 10,939 1879 17,083 1870.. 10,962 1880 19,663 1871.. 11,586 1881 20,762 1872.. 12,390 1882 22,112 1873.. 13,156 1883 23,198 1874.. 13,989 1884 22,994 1876.. 14,212 1885 23,472 1876.. 14,800 1886 25,636 [104] E 18. i;. Thus, from 9,937 divorces gran|;ed ;ii the United States in 1867, the total has reached, for 1886, 25,535, an increald 6t' nearly IBl'-^er cent, in twenty years. The population of the United States probably increased about 60 per. cenl^^for the same period. ' ' "^ In 1870 the population was stated- at -38,558,371, and in 1880 at 50,155,783. Thus, for these two years, the only ye£^rs„for, which we, have Returns of the population of the United States, the proportion of divorces to population increased from 0*028 per cent. toJ};Ofl^ per pent. , ^„,,;, , ,',{»,■ r/. .. ... ' v>,. Information from the various States. ij Greait difficulty has been experienced by Her Majesty's Consuls in obtaining the information desired in the several States. The Labour Commissioner, in compiling his Report for the years above enumerated, found that there were about 2,700 counties in the United States, arid that as a rule each county has its Court records con- taining the divorce entries. It was necessary, therefore, to send special agents to examine these records, entailing great labour and expense. It has been found impossible; for the most-part, for Her Majesty's Consuls to adopt a similar procedure, and statistics can only be appended for the States of Ohio and Massachusetts, and for the Consular district of~H-ew York, including the States of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Isl9,i]i,d., and Delaware- Acting Consul- Gene fal Fraser to Mr. Goschen. Sir, New York, October 17, 1894. In compliance with the irequest contained in the second paragraph of your despatch of the 1st ultimo, I hAve the honour to transmit, herewith inclosed, a Return showing the number of divorces granted, together with the population in this Consular: districti for the past ten years. V , '> i v ; - dO I should add that the task of obtain^ing the information given in the Return referred to was an exceedingly laborious one, in consequence of there, being no distinction made between divorce and other Judgmerits in therecords of thei, numerous Courts in which divorces are granted in the States of this Consular district', and consequently each Judgment had to be' s epar ately examined, which took weeks of continuous hard work. "" "•""•""•""•' """■*" .-^ ''..--- " ' ~ I have, &c. (Signed) G. FRASER. Retubit shawing the Number of Divorces graiit^d,, together with the Population, in the Consular District of New York, comprising the States of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and. Delawajre, for the ten years ending 1893.: '■(1, ■ t New York. New Jersey. Connecticut. Bhode Island. Delaware. ' Yew. -No. of Divorces. . '?■' Population. No. of - Divorces. Population. No. of Divorces. Population. No. of Divorces. Population. '■•\' No. of- Divorces. Population. 1884 .. '^ lfS3 ' -^,448,^63' 220 1,252,171 "I'SBU" ■~ 672;ill ■2Bb ■ 2^r,7^- — n 155,360 1885 . . •^ 936 5,540,; 61 213 1,278,033 !■ 383 684,46fe 227 304,284 41 157,458 1886 .. "^l.Oflfti^ .ra,631,i 59 231 1,311,41'3 . 387 ( ,696,82* 257 . 312,506., \.>-9 159,673 1887 .. 1,262; .'4723,35,^ 240 1,344,793:, 38f;. <709,18fe 248 320,728 1 ■■iftrl? 161,822 1888 .. l,lir6. 5,814,^55 269 1,378,173 430.., 721,53S 224 328,950 ■ ,. .10 164,235 1889 .. 1,192,. ' &,906,353 258 1,411,553 53^,, ' J^3,89fe 274 337,172- 0.]^ 166,347 1890 .. 1.20?'. S,997,S53 232 1,444,933 i «r ■ 746,258 244 345,506 • 168,493 1891 .. 1,300 ^ B-,255,599 311 1,483,467 1 47S«' 761,172 275 . 353,671- • 1 19 169,162 1892 .. I.Z16 . 6,513,344 278 1,522,000 ' 50Ct:- 776,086 263 361,836. . 18 169,831 1893 .. 1,476 , 6i690,842 292 1,628,600 . 390 oi 791,000 278 370,000 : 20 170,500 19 Consul Clipperton to Mr. Goschen. Sir, Philadelphia, September 28, 1894. I BEG to inclose herewith statistics as to divorces granted in Ohio, and the nnmber of marriages each year from 1865 to 1893 inclusive. I regret that I cannot ^ive you, as you request, the population of Ohio in each year during the past ten years, hiit I inclose herewith a Tabl,e giving t]ie pqpulation of the State by counties, compiled from the last Eederal Census. The Stalte hals no means of ascertaining its population except ^J ^^^ djecennial Eeder^l Census. ' ; I have, &c. ; (Signed) EOBT. CHAS. CLIPPEETON. Population of Ohio, by Cdunties, 1890. Adams , . Allen Ashland . . Ashtabula Athens . . Auglaize . . Belmonti . . Brown Butler Carroll Champaign Clark . . Clerinont . . Clinton . . Columbiana Coshocton Crawford. . Cuyahoga Darke Defiance . . Delaware . . Erie Fairfield . . Fayette . . Franklin . . Fulton Gallia Geauga . . Greene . . Guernsey . . Hamilton.. Hancock . . Hardin .. Hamson . . Henry .. Highland.. Hocking .. Holmes . . Huron Jackson . . Jefferson . . Knox . . Lake Lawrence Licking . . .■•.-it 26,093 40j644 22,223, 43,665 85;i94; ^8,100 ^7,413. 29,899 - ^8,597 17,566i 26y%80 62,277 33,353 24,240 59;029 26,703 31,927 309,970 42^961 25,769 27,189 35,462 33,939 22,309 124i087 22,023 27,005 13,489 29,820 28,645 374,573 42,563 28,939 20,830 25,080 - 2,9,048 22,658 21,139 31,949 '39,415 27,600 ~T5;235 39,556 43,^79 Logan , Lorain . . Lucas Madison . . Mahoning Marion . . Medina . . Meigs ! Mercer . . Miami' . . Monroe . . Montgomery jMorgan . . Morrow . . Muskingum jNoble Pttawa . . jPa,ulding . . Perry Pickaway. . Pike Portage . . -Ppeble' .. Putnam . . Richland . . Koss Sandusky . . Scioto :' ^ , . Seneca Shelby . . Stark Summit . . Trumbull . . Tuscarawas Union , . Van Wert , Vinton Warren . . Washington Wayne . . Williams . . Wood . . Wyandot.. 27,386. 40,295; l62,'296 20J057 55,979 24,727 21,742 29^813 27,220 39J754 25J175 100j8i5,2 19 14S ::i8;i?ft ' Sl;210 , 20,753 21j974 26^932 Sl^lSl .. 26i959 17,4«2 27,868, 23,43>1 30,188 38,072 39,454 30,617 35,377 40,869 24,707 84,170 54,0^9 :42,37^ 46,6I«i' 2S,8'6^? Total 42,380 39,005 24,897 44,392 21,722 3,672,316 [1041 20 Table showing the Number and Causes of "Divorces granted; the Total J^umber of Divorces granted ; and the Number of Marriages each year, from 1865 to 18yd, inclusive. Adultery. Absence and neglect. Cruelty. Drunkenness. Fraud. Miscellaneous Total. o H i o Year. ■g 9 Id s o § 1 J 1 ■s 1 O 1 a 13 s 1 1 1 6 1 1 13 1 1 S 1 1 -s 1 h o ■a •s 13 ■fe 1 1865* 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877+ 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 2 3 3 2 2 2 127 106 139 160 161 135 192 186 192 180 156 1.^8 155 159 158 202 245 186 239 54 H 17 33 19 37 150 129 126 119 143 165 165 165 177 122 160 134 130 144 165 155 155 186 183 2 3 4 3 4 4 139 124 154 161 185 176 243 278 288 211 235 248 277 332 384 359 388 407 407 30 H 17 35 30 51 306 319 355 359 420 377 • ■ 5*84 648 718 661 6118 659 635 749 917 932 959 990 1,025 1< 1 19 20 15 12 13 31 24 22 19 41 31 29 33 27 35 28 44 53 84 )9 i4 !2 4 )6 >6 153 140 159 180 186 191 269 265 288 283 233 219 278 280 354 343 442 519 534 4 7 7 6 8 7 9 9 9 12 9 13 lb 6 11 10 11 7 14 11 9 19 25 27 23 8 9 3 6 4 9 83 113 126 115 112 HI 127 168 182 145 142 118 127 162 172 194 181 258 335 1 3 1 1 2 11 5 6 8 7 10 V 11 5 11 6 10 15 6 11 16 9 15 13 8 9 3 3 16 10 6 8 9 12 10 11 15 10 16 12 11 8 12 14 14 19 IS 1. 18 16 6 6 6 7 12 12 13 5 8 9 11 13 13 10 22 15 11 S8 33 26 30 U 32 46 35 24 19 38 8 30 38 61 57 54 46 63 59 40 36 60 67 40 323 280 328 359 381 372 394 428 425 498 4S8 515 528 458 447 441 505 548 610 634 733 703 777 754 746 796 800 918 864 895 1,004 1,047 1,080 1,185 1,291 1,437 1,283 i,2a7 1,192 1,245 1,405 1,660 1,672 1,811 2,084 2,136 837 1,169 975 847 1,003 1,008 1,077 1,026 1,224 1,159 1,299 1,236 1,289 1,432 1,472 1,578 1,673 1,806 1,965 1,741 1,654 1,633 1,750 1,953 2,270 2,306 2,544 2,737 2,913 22,198 30,479 29,230 28,231 24,910 25,459 23,627 26,303 26,460 26,678 23,489 26,183 25,156 23,796 26,399 27,805 28,566 30,528 31,994 28,720 28,773 28,633 29,180 30,265 32,818 33,255 33,800 34,755 35,071 * The number of divorces granted husband and wife respectively were not separately s tated in the Annual Reports issued from this ofSce from 1865 to 1870, inclusive. t The causes of divorce granted husband and wife, respectively, were not given in the Reports from 1877 to 1880, inclusive. Consul Yeats Brown to Mr. Goschen. Sir, Boston, September 17, 1894. With reference to your Circular despatch of the 1st instant, I am unable to procure a E/cturn of divorces granted in each year during the last ten years, but I have the honour to inclose a short E-eport on divorces in the State, in which, among other things, I am able to show in some detail the divorces granted in the twenty years ending with 1890. I have, &c. (Signed) M. YEATS BROWN. Divorces. The Statute causes for which divorce from the bonds of matrimony may be granted in Massachusetts are as follows : — 1. Adultery. 2. Impotency. 3. Sentence to imprisonment with hard labour for five years or more. 4. Desertion for three consecutive years next prior to the filing of the libel. 6. Separation without consent, refusal to cohabit, and union for three years with a religious sect or society holding the relation of husband and wife unlawful. 6. Extreme cruelty. 21 7. Gross and confirmed habits of intoxication. 8. Cruel and abusive treatment. 9. Neglect to provide. 10. Gross and confirmed drunkenness from opium or other drugs. Of these causes, the one relating to union with a religious sect holding the relation of husband and wife unlawful is practically inoperative, since no divorces have been granted upon this ground for the past twenty-three years at least. A marriage may be annulled and declared void, as provided by the Statutes, in consequence of violation of the provisions of the laws concerning marriage (Public Statutes, cap. 145, sec. 11). The statistics with regard to divorces in Massachusetts for the period of twenty years ending with 1890, gathered from the 49th Annual Eeport of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, are as follows : — Divorces granted in twenty years ending 1890. For Adultery. For Desertion. For Intoxication. For all other Causes. Total. Grand Total. Males. Females. Males. Females. Males. Females, Males. Females. Males. Females. 1,891 1,517 1,941 3,341 161 1,267 32 1,765 3,525 7,890 11,416 The population of the State according to the Census of 1890 was 2,238,943. From the s^me official E-eport it appears that the ratio of divorces to marriages in the twenty years ending with 1890 was as follows : — Years. Number of Marriages. Number of Divorces. Batio of Divorces to Marriages. 1871 . 1872 . 1873 . 1874 . 1875 . 1876 , 1877 . 1878 . 1879 . 1880 . 1881 . 1882 . 1883 . 1884 . 1885 . 1886 . 1887 . 1888 . 1889 . 1890 . 15,746 16,142 16,437 15,564 13,663 12,749 12,758' 12,893 13,802 15,538 16,768 17,684 18,194 17,333 17,062 18,018 19,533 19,739 20,397 20,838 326 343 449 647 577 527 553 600 546 580 409 515 655 614 646 601 796 624 766 654 1 t 48-4 , 47-1 , 36-6 , 24-1 , 23-6 , 24-2 , 23-1 , 21-4 , 23-4 , 26-8 , 40-9 , 34-3 , 27-8 , 28-2 . 26-4 „ 30-0 . 24-5 , 30-6 , 26-9 „ 31 -9 Total 8 and Averages . . 330,848 11,415 1 to 29 -9 Of the whole number of libels for divorce disposed of in ] 890, 87*4 per cent, were not contested. The figures for other years are not quoted. The same Report gives statistics relative to the length of married life of libellants for divorce for the period of nine years ending with 1890. The number of suits entered during this period was 6,365, and the average length of married life of those who entered their suits was 11*32 years. 22 ■ .■ . , ■ ■ ' '-1 , .,',,--.• . '■ "' The average for the different causes was as follows : — ■ , , . , For adultery, 10-09 years; for cruel and abusive ti;e9.^ment, 10-16 years; for desertion, 12-03 years; for extreme cruelty, 10*21 years ;, for imprisonment, 11-52 years; for iinpotency, 8*5; intoxication, 11-92 years; non-support, 12-43 years; nullity of marriage, 6-6 years. , ,, Of the whole number of libellants, 29, or -46 of 1 per cent., had been parried less than six months; 27, or -4 of 1 per cent., from six months to one year; 979, or 15-4 per cent., from one to five years ; 2,052, or 32-2 per cent., from five to ten years ; 2,110, or ?8-4 per cent , from ten to twenty years; 644, or lO'l per cent., terom twenty to thirty years ; 181, or 2'8 per cent., over thirty years ; and in ten, cases .the length of married life was not stated. , , (Signed) M. YEATSf !BE0WN. No. 20. Mr. Goschen to the Earl of Kimberley. — {Received November 29.) My Lord, . Washington, November 20, 1894<. WITH reference to my despatch of the 24th ultimo, I have the honour to forward herewith, for your Lordship's which I! have redjeived from Her information, a Return of the divorce^ and population. Majesty's Acting Consul at New Orleans. I havei &Cj j v ; (Signed) W. E. GOSCHEN. Inclosure 1 in No. 20. Acting Consul Donnelly to Mr. Goscfien. Sir, ' I New Orleans, November 7, 1894. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Circular despatch of the 1st September, requesting pie tp forwafd "a JKettiXn showing the number of divor-^cs granted, together with the population, in each year during the past ten years." The only way of obtaining th^ required particulars, as regards the number of divorces in the ten years from 1880 to 1890, is by correspondence Mvith the Clerfcg,.of the State Courts of or^nary jurisdiction in this Consular district; these would number several hundreds, and I ^oublfc if the information could, even then, be procured, except by payment of- the fees for the necessary^ search, which would, necessarily, amount to a con- siderable sum!. ;' ( ; ! i As regards population, the last Census taken was in 1890 — none taken for the intermediate years between 1880 and 1890, or since 1890 to the present y^At. I annex a Return giving such particulars as I have been able to get. ,; I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES A. DONNELLY. 23 cs >— < OS Q ^® rS GO 00 «H i^ 00 (D CS ITS ® fl et-( _•> O JO O iH aQ CO !3 00 ^^ a| 1s ft O o c " o 2 a O -t= Qg O O 05 is 03 .„ U>4 •r— t 05 -4-J p a ^ ^ «1 s o rt d ital leve ars. o ++ I-- ■* CO o 00 00 OO U3 to • QQ 5 o (N T-H t—t 5D Hg^ t— t CO CO ro Cm o I~ (N (M •o T-H (U > .,-1 s ■ 3 , •* CO 00 CO >o OS c 00 ■* >o 1—1 t^ eo ' v. to 00 00 1—1 r-H 1—1 ■>!< ^ U3 B ■ 00 a 1—1 ] 2 o CO t~ o ^ Oi I^ 6D , 00 U3 o 00 -* OS o 00 T-4 (N '^t ■f "♦l ] 53 1 s »— 1 1 1^ 1 00 ^ t— t o I s ^ 00 05 i s eo 05 .•Xi 0) 00 CO CO p -* '1 >-l ^ (M o •* ■* Tol Num fro 67 to (N us' to 00 *-H « (0 ■* ■* «D i^ ^ .S eq 00 OS us a S * 05 i> o> OT o t~l C4-I rH ■♦1 1—1 1-1 •* lu o *, Ph a t- (M t» o OS o 00 < H s» o » ae * S * ? e a O n !? 1- ^5, 2 i: 55 1 2*. ^ ^ a- CO ^. ^ o s >- 09 Cb OD ? ^ «o fi* 4k s g •« » s 2 ^ 1 g) « g <» 3 ^ •1. 6» r ?• g5 ti^ ^ i ft. o H ■l O PS w o izi CI o H »-^ w CD g? K c M CO Pt Q 3d D S 3. S- t^ g » !> c- 2! i2{ umber iiring tl a § ^ O • c» ^ «. ' p a o ?i f ffl ^ » -.-. 2 B '-N M I? QO o O • WT oT n3* « DIVORCES (FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND BRITISH COLONIES). FURTHER RETURN to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons, dated 30 July 1804 i—for, " RETURN of the Number of Divorces granted in each of the British Colonies and Possessions, and in each of the principal Foreign Countries, together with the Population, in each Year during the past Ten Years." Part II.— BRITISH COLONIES. Colonial Office | K. H. M E A D E. August i895.j (Mr. Henniker Heato?i.) Ordered, by The House of Coramons, to be Printed, 30 August 189.5. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, BY EYEE AND SP0TTI8W00DE, PBINTERS TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, E.O., and 32, Abingdon Street, Westminster, S.W. ; or JOHN MENZIES & Co., 12, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, and 90, West Nile Street, Glasgow ; or HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., Limited, 104, Grafton Street, Dublin. £ 443 — Sess. 2. [ 2] CONTENTS. Serial No. From or to whom. Colony. Date. Subject. Page. To Governors of Colonies. Sir F. B. T. Carter Sir W. F. Hely- Hutchinson. Sir W. G. Cameron - 6 Tlie Earl of Glasgow TheEarlof Hopetoun SirVV.C.F. Robinson Sir H. W. Norman Viscount Gormanston 10 11 12 The Earl of Aberdeen Lieut.-Governor Wav Tlie Earl of Aberdeen Newfoundland Natal - Cape Culony New Zealand - Vi'jtoria - Wcstei-n Aus- tralia. Queensland Tasmania Canada South Australia Canada 1894; Aug. 25- Oct. 1 - - - (Received Oct. 15.) ■^ ' nn- .1 Oct. 9 . . . (Received Nov. 6.) Nov. 7 - - - ^Received Nov. 26.) Oct. 18 - - (Received Nov. 28.) Nov. 16 - (Received Dec. 26.) Nov. -26 - (Received Dec. 31.) 1895: liov. 27, 1894 (Received Jan. 7, 189.5.) Der. 7, 1894 (Received Jan, 14, 1896.) Dec. 28, ,1894. (Received Jan. 21, 1895.) Jan. 29 - (Received Mar. 6.) April 19 (Received May 7.) Asks for information as to the numl^er of di- vorces granted during the past iO years. Reports that there is no law of divorce in the , Colony. Furnishes the Return asked for. - ditto - ditto ditto ditto - ditto - ditto - ditto ditto Reports that no figures relative to Prince Edward Island are included in the Re- turn enclosed in his Despatch of 2Bth December, as no di- vorce system exists in the Island. la 12 IS [ 3 J RETURN of the Number of Divorces graatpd in each of the British Colonies and Possessions, and in each of the jtrincipal Foreign Countries, together with the Population, in each Year during the past Ten Years. Part II.— BRITISH colonies. — No. ].— The Marquess of Ripon to the Governors of Colonies under Responsible Government. (Circular.) Sir, Downing-street, 25 August 1894. IilAvE the^'^honour to inform you that an Address has been presented by the House of Commons to Her Majesty for a Return of the Number of Divorces granted in each of the British Colonies and Possessions in each year during the past 10 years ; and I have to request that you will be^ood enough to furnish me, at your earliest conveniene;e, with a Memorandum giving the information desired in this Return, so far as it relates to the Colony under your government. I have, &c. Ripon. ^mVYOVl^DLAl^J), Sir F. B. T. Carter to the Marquess of Ripon. (Received 15 October 1894.) Government House, St. John's, My Lord Marquess, 1 October 1894. With reference to your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 25th August last, asking to be informed as to the number of divorces granted in this Colony during the past 10 years, I have the honour to inform yon that there is no law relating to divorce in force in this Colony. I have, &c. R B. T. Carter, Administrator. 0.163. A 2 I^ATAL. Natal. No. 3. — Sir W. F. Heli/-Hutchinson to the Marquess of Ripon. (Received 6 November 1894.) Government House, Pietermaritzburg, My Lord, Natal, 9 October 1894. In reply to your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 25th of August last, I have the honour to transmit herewith a return showing the' number of divorces granted in this Colony in each year during tlie 10 years ended 31st December 1893. Divorces under Native law, not being dissolutions of marriages recognised by any European law, are not included in the return. I have, &c. Walter Hely-Hutchinson. Enclosure in No. 3. Return showing the Number of Divorces granted in Natal during the period of Ten Years from 1884 to 1893. Year. Number of Cases. Year, Number of Cases. 1884 . 18 1890 - 2 1885 - 7 1891 - 2 1886 - 7 1892 - 10 1887 - - - 5 5 189.'^ - 4 1888 1889 _ 3 Total - - 63 5 October 1894. W. Broome, Registrar Supreme Court, Natal. CAPE COLONY. — No. 4. — Sir W. G. Cameron to the Marquess of Ripon. (Received 26 November 1894.) GoTernment House, Cape Town, My Lord Marquess, - 7 November 1894. I HAVE the honour to enclose, for your Lordship's information, with reference to your Circular Despatch of 25th August, a copy of a Minute from Ministers on the subject of the number of divorces granted in the Colony. I have, &c. W. G. Cameron, General, Administrator and High Commissioner. Cape ofGoodHopi Enclosure in No. 4. From Ministers, Cape Town, to his Excellency the Administrator, Cape Town. Prime Minister's Office, Cape Town, 6 November 1894. In acknowledging the Minute of the 29th September of his Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, Ministers have the honour to transmit herewith a return of the number of divorces granted in this Colony in each year during the past 10 years. J. Gordon Bprigg. Number of Divorces granted in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope during the Ten Years, 1884 to 1893, inclusive, by the Supreme Court, the Eastern Districts Court, and the High Court, respectively. > t . 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 25 15 2 1890. 1891. 29 26 5 1892. 1893. Totals Supreme Court Eastern Districts Court - High Court 21 26 1 25 28 1 21 30 1 21 16 3 18 20 6 44 27 26 8 37 32 7 46 26 12 270 255 46 Total for the C olonyl in each Year - -J 48 54 52 40 42 61 60 76 84 Grand the a Totai bove p( for th sriod ■ e Colony for ) 571 Attorney General's Office, Cape Town, 27 October 1894. 0.163. ^ 3 NETf PALAND. M«w Zkalawd. — No. 5. — The Earl of Glas^om to t\ie Marquess of Ripori. (Received 28 November 1894.) My Lord, Wellington, 18 October 1894. In reply to your Circular Despatch, dated 25tli August 1894, I have the honour to fot ward a return from my Government showing the number of divorces granted in this Colony during the past 10 years. - I have, &c. Glasgow. Enclosure in No. 5. B.KTUEN of Divorces granted in the Colony of New Zealand during the past Ten Years. 1893 25 1892 18 1891 20 1890 21 1889 17 1888 32 1887 16 1886 ----- 24 1885 - - - - - 19 1884 - - - - . 16 VICTORIA. TlOTOBIA. — No. 6. — The Earrof ^o/)e^oM « to the Marquess of Ripon, (Received 26 December 1894.) Government House, Melbourne, My Lord, 16 November 1894. In reply to your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 25th August ultimo, I have the hoaour to transmit a ret'irn of the number, of divorcfs granted in this C )lony during the period from 31st October 1884 to 31st October 1894. I have, &c. Hopetoun. Enclosure in No. 6. VlOTOIO. JjlKM-^'iL MELBOURNE. 31st October 1884] to . . - - 31 St October 1885 J 31st October 18861 to L . . - 31st October 1886J 3l8t October 1886] to , .. - 31st October 1887 J 3lBt October 1887"] to I - 31 St October 1888] 3 1st October 18881. ) . <* to ]. - 81 8t October 1889 I'VI I. Di^soJiitiMil of Mai-riageB. Judicial Separations. Nullity of Marriages. 20 - 1 21 1 - 18. 1 1 f'-).i ' •' ' 28 ' 3l8t October 1889 to 31 St October 1890j 31st October 1890'] to 31 St October 189 1 J 31st QC'tobfcr 18911 to ' Slst October 1892J 3l8t October 1892] to Slst October 1893 J Slst October 18931 10 Slst October \ . 29 7tl -li 18931 1894J » '■ ! BALLARAT. 509 1880 - ; 1891 - 1892 - 1893 - 1894 - BENDIGO. kJ'ii'r WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Western Australia. — No. 7. - Sir fV. C. F. Robinson to the Marquess of Ripon. (Received 3] December 1894.) Government House, Perth, My Lord, 26 November 1894. Tn reply to your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 25th of August, 1 have the honour to transmit lierewith a return of the number of divorces granted in Western Australia during the last 10 years. I hav*^, &c. W. C. F. Robinson. Enclosure in No. 7. Return of Divorces granted in IVestern Australia from 1884 to 1894. Year. Petition by Husband. Petition by Wife. Total. Year. Petition by Husband. Petition bv Wife. Total. 1884 - 1 - - 1890 2 - 2 1885 - ~ 1 1 1891 - - - 1886 - 1 1 2 1892 2 - 2 1887 - 1 1 1893 1 - 1 1888 - : 1 1 1 1 1894 TOTAl "■ 1889 - 11 21 November 1894. F. A. Moseley, Registrar Supreme Court. QUEENSLAND. — No. 8. — UEENSLAND Sir H. W. Nomuin to the Marquess of Ripon. (Received 7 January 1896.) Government House, Brisbane, My Lord Marquess, 27 November 1894. In compliance with the request contained in your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 25th of August last, I liave the honour to submit herewith a letter from my Chief Secretary covering a return of the number of divorces granted in each year during the past 10 years in the Colony of Queensland. I have, &c. H. W. Norman. Enclosure in No. 8. Chief Secretary's Office, Brisbane, Sir, 26 November 1894. 1 HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt from your Excellency of a Circular Despatch, dated the 25th August, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating that an Address has been presented by the tlouse of Commons to Her Majesty for a return of the number of divorces granted in each of the British Colonies and Possessions in each year during the past 10 years, and requesting to be furnished with the information desired in the return so far as it relates to this Colony. The accompanying return, whicli has been received from the Department of Justice, furnishes the information asked for in Lord Ripon's Despatch. I have, &c. Hugh M. Nelson. QUEENSLAHD. Return showing the Number of Decrees for Divorce, Judicial Separation, and Nullity of Marriage, made during the last Ten Years in Queensland. Divorces. Judicial Separation. Nullity of Marriage. Year. Decrees made Absolute. Decrees not made Absolute. Total, 1886 - _ 1 « 1 1886 - 1 - - - 1 1887 - 2 - 1 3 188S - 2 - - - 2 1889 - 12 - - 1 13 1890 - 5 4 2 - 11 1891 - 4 - 1 - 5 1892 - 5 4 - - 9 1893 - 2 3 2 - 7 1894 - 4 2 1 7 TOTAI, - 37 13 7 2 59 W. Cahill, Under Secretary for Justice. TASMATflA. — No. 9. — Viscount Gormanston to the Marquess oi Ripon. (Received 14 January 1895.) Government House, Hobart, Tasmania, My Loi;d, ^ 7 December 1894. In compliance with the request contained in your Lordship's Circular D.espatch, dated the 25th August last, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship copy of a memorandum, which I have received through my Prime Minister, giving a return of the number of divorces granted in tliis Colony in each of the past 10 years. , , „ Gormanston. Tasmania. 0.163. B Tabuania. 10 Enclosure in No. 9. Retukn of the Number of Divorces granted in the Colony of Tasmania in each Year during the past Ten Years. Number of D ivorces granted in the Colony of Tasmania in (he year 1884 _ . — Ditto - - ditto - - ditto - 1885 - - 2 Ditto - - ditto - - ditto - 1886 - - 6 Ditto - - ditto - ditto - 18S7 - « - Ditto - - ditto - - ditto - 1888 - - 4 Ditto - - ditto - - ditto 1889 - - 4 Ditto - - ditto - - ditto - 1890 - - 2 Ditto - - ditto - - ditto - 1891 - - 3 Ditto - - ditto - ditto - 189-2 - - 5 Ditto ditto ditto 1893 Total - - 7 33 Registry Office, Supreme Court, Hobart, ■24 October 1894. G. Patten Adams, Registrar of the Supreme Court of Tasmania. ■Canada, CANADA. — No. 10. The Earl of Aberdeen to the Marquess of Ripon. (Received 21 January 1895.) [Further Despatch, No. VI.] My Lord, Montreal, 28 December 1894. In reply to your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 2.">th August last, requesting that you might be supplied with information relative to the number of divorces granted in Canada during the past 10 year*, I have the honour to transmit copy of an approved Minute of tiie Privy Council submitting the required information. I have, &c. Aherdem. Enclosure in No. 10. Extract from a Report of the Committee of the Honourable The Privy Council, approved by his Excellency on the 24th December 1894. On a Report, dated the 3rd December 1894, from the Secretary of State, adverting to the Circular Despatch from the Colonial Office, dated the 25th of August last, advising your Excellency of the adoption of an Address to Her Majesty by the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, for a return of the number of divorces granted in each of the British Colonies and Possessions in each year during the past 10 years, and with reference to the Order in Council of the 8th Octoher last, made upon consideration of the said Despatch, — The 11 The Minister states that, as is set forth more in derail in the schedule hereto attached, divorces were granted within the Dominion of Canada to the number and by the authority below mentioned during the period indicated : — {a) By the Parliament of Canada, 42. (6) By the Supreme Court of British Columbia, 23. (Three of these were " Judicial Separations.") (c) By the Court of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes of Nova Scotia, 34. The Committee, on the recommendation of the Secretary of State, advise that your Excellency be moyed to forward a certified copy of this Minute, if approved, together with its annexes, to the Right honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. John J. McGee, Clerk of the Privy Council. Canada. Statement of Divorces granted by the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada, during Ten Years from 1885 to 1894. 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 4 2 5 3 4 2 1891 1892 1893 1894 4 5 7 6 Total Number of Divorce Bills\ . passed during the period mentioned j (Certified.) Ottawa, 18 October 1894. Edovard J. Langevin, Clerk of the Senate of Canada. Number of Divorces granted, in the Supreme Court of ^nft«A CoZwrnSza, from 1st of January 1884 to the 31st October 1894. During the year 1884 - 2 5» jj 1885 - - Nil. ■^j » 1886 - - 1 M »> 1887 - - 2 5» »> 1888 - - 3 9> jj 1889 - - 3 5» -j» 1890 - - 3 '> jj 1891 - - 3 JJ j» 1892 - - 3 1 a Judicial Separation. J5 j> 1893 - - 2 ditto » „ 1894 Total - - - 1 A Judicial Separation'. 23 31 October 1894. Harvey Combe, Deputy Begistrar. 12 •^SuswaiWa. Memorandum of Suits brought in Her Majesty's Coujrt for Divorce and Matrimpnial '*" Causes for the Province oi Nova Seotia for Years 1884 (1st Jatwjary) to- ?8ith November 1894/ in M*hieh suits decrees absolute forthe dissolutioni of the marriage were granted. 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 4 1890 4 1891 4 1892 1 1893 2 1894 5 Total 2 3 3 5 1 34 SOUTH AUSTBALIA. ■Sooth Adstralia. — No. I ] . — Lieutenant Governor Way to the Marquess of Ripon'. (Received 5 March 1895.) Government House, Adelaide, ^ My Lord, 29 January 1895. With reference to your Lordship's Despatch, marked " Circular," and dated "the 25th August 1894, concerning the number of divorces granted in each of the British Colonies and Possessions, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a Memorandum from the Master of the Supreme Court of this Colony giving the information desired so far as it relates to South Australia. 2. I greatly regret the delay that has occurred in transmitting this return to your Lordship. The Despatch vras forwarded to the Government Offices on the 20th October last, and was not returned until the 23rd instant. i have, &c. S. J. Way. Enclosure in No. II. Return showing the Number of Divorces granted in the Colony of South Australia during the Ten Years ending 31st December 1893. Year. 1884 - 1885 - 1886 - - - 1887 - 1888 - 1889 - 30 October 1894. Number of Divorces. 8 9 10 3 2 6 Year. 1890 . 1891 - 1892 . 1893 . 1894 to date Number of Divorces. 2 5 7 8 7 Alej(, Buchanan^ Master Supreme Court. 13 CAl^ADA. — No.] 2.— Canada. The Earl of Aberdeen to the Marquess of Ripon. (Received 7 May 1895.) Government House, Ottawa, My Lord, 19 April 1895. In reply to your Lordship's Despatch of the 8th March last*, asking for a return of the number of divorces granted in Prince Edward Island in each of the last 10 years, 1 have the honour to enclose herewith copy of an approved Minute representing that, as no provincial divorce system exists in that Island, it was not deemed necessary to make special mention of it in the returns transmitted with my Despatch of the 28th December lastf. I have, &c. Aberdeen. Enclosure in No. 12. Extract from a Report of the Committee of tiie Honourable the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency on the 1 1th April 1895. The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration a Despatch, hereto attached, dated 8th March 189b, from the Marquess of Ripon, requesting to be furnished at the earliest possible date with a return of the number of divorces granted in Prince Edward Island in each of the last 10 years. The Secretary of "State, to whom the question was referred, submits, with reference to the Minute of Council dated 24th December 1894, upon divorces and judicial separations within the Dominion from 1884 to 1894, that it was not deemed necessary to make special mention of Prince Edward Island more than of any of the other Provinces of Canada which are without a divorce system . The Minister observes that the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island reporl;ed, on the 3rd November 1894, that he had been advised by his Ministers "that there has been tlo divorce system in existence in the Province within the last 10 years." The Committee advise that your Excellency be moved to forward a certified copy of this Minute to the Right honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency's approval. John J. McGee, Clerk of the Privy Council. * Not printed. / • t No. 10. 4>. Co 03 CO 5C Si- » _ 35 2, a. p - 3 ,SP 3

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