Mixed Marriages.

In the case of a mixed marriage, where one of the parties is a subject of the country in which the marriage is proposed to take place, it should be clearly understood that the party who is not a British subject must, previous to being married in the consulate, have complied with the requirements of the marriage law of such country, so far as it may be possible to do so.

General Principles of Law in Foreign Countries.

The general principle of the law of most foreign countries, apparently, is to recognize as a valid marriage such a solemnization as would constitute a legal marriage in the country, or by the laws of the country, to which the contracting parties belong.

Return of Marriages to be made annually.

The consul will, in the month of January of every year, transmit to the Secretary of State a true copy, under his hand and seal, of all the entries in the register book of marriages made during the preceding year; and if no marriage has been registered, the consul will send a "nil" return, certified under his hand and seal.

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS ABROAD.

The Act does not provide for the registration of births and deaths of British subjects abroad. It is, however, very important that registers should be accurately kept by such consular officers as are furnished with them, and they should give publicity to the fact that such registers are kept in their consulates.

Annual Return to be made.

In the month of January of every year the consul should transmit to the Secretary of State a true copy of the entries in each register book of births and deaths made during the preceding year, certified to under his hand and seal. Should no entry have been made, a "nil" return must be sent.

Illegitimate Children.

Illegitimate children, born abroad of English parents, are not British subjects, and therefore, not being entitled to British protection, should not be registered.

PROPERTY OF BRITISH SUBJECTS DYING ABROAD.

The administration of the property of British subjects dying abroad must, as a general rule, be left to the next of kin, or to the person legally authorized to take charge of it; subject always to local law, or to the provisions of treaties.

Assistance to be rendered.

Consuls should render every assistance in their power for the protection of such property, but should not interfere directly in its management, unless enjoined by treaty or local law, or unless there should be no one on the spot legally competent to act as representatives.

Persons dying Intestate.

In cases of intestacy, and the consul knowing that there are next of kin in England or elsewhere, he should communicate with them and ascertain their wishes as to the disposition of the estate. In the case where the consul has to remit to the next of kin the proceeds of the estate of such intestate British subjects, it is necessary that he should, before making such remittance, obtain from the parties such evidence as will satisfy him of their right to the property, and in transmitting the proceeds, agreeable with any instructions he may have received, he should so provide as to obtain a receipt for the same before its being handed over.

Commissioners of Inland Revenue to be informed.

The consul, when making a remittance to Great Britain in conformity with the preceding paragraph, must inform the Commissioners of Inland

Revenue of the amount of such remittance, the names of the parties to whom it is to be paid, and through whom such payment is to be effected.

Where Next of Kin are unknown, Proceeds to be sent to Treasury.

When the consul has been unable to ascertain the existence of any next of kin, and has administered to the property (not being that of a British seaman), the proceeds must be remitted to the Lords of the Treasury, on behalf of the personal representatives of the deceased. The consul may, at his discretion, retain and remit to their lordships any small articles or trinkets which he may think would be valued by the surviving relatives.

The consul must, at the same time, furnish the Lords of the Treasury with a detailed statement of all particulars relating to the property, and he will use his utmost diligence, by inquiries on the spot or elsewhere, to obtain all information tending to the identification of the deceased and the discovery of the relatives.

Commission.

Consuls must bear in mind that it is only in cases of proved intestacy that a commission of 2 per cent. is leviable under the Consular Act, and Order in Council of the 1st of May, 1855.

PASSPORTS.

A consular officer, when called upon for a passport, must satisfy himself that the applicant is really a British subject, and that a passport is useful or necessary to enable him or her to travel in or beyond the country in which it is applied for. In no case is the consul permitted to issue a passport to a person not a subject of her Majesty, or not holding British employment. (For form of passport, see Appendix.)

Visas.

Where local regulations require that British subjects passing through a place where there is a British consul resident should have their passports visé, the consul may affix a visa; but before so doing he should satisfy himself of the identity of the holder of the passport. In no case is a British consul to viser the passport of a person not a subject of her Majesty, or not holding British employment.

Passport Fees.

The fee leviable for a passport is 5s.; that for a visa, 28.