Page:Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton's life.djvu/55

 the most part are lot, detroyd, or obliterated; for want of care, & due preervation.

thus are the national records, of all others mot important, the most neglected! on this occaion, I cannot help oberving, that tis too much the cae thro'out the kingdom. frequently the tak of keeping a Regiter book is committed to a parih clark, illiterate, that can carcely write, ottish, or indolent. a tak on which the fortunes, & emoluments of the whole kingdom, in a great meaure depends. the etling decents, births, buryals, marriages, titles to etates, & matters of highet conequence, both civil & religious, are thus left at random, without any reaonable proof, or certainty, adequate to the weight of matters depending thereon.

Is it to be wondered at, when the publick, always penurious toward the parochial clergy, have provided no tipend, much less a proportionable one, to its necesity, & ue. is it to be wonder'd at, when the public tamely uffers the solemnization of matrimony, the very foundation of all Society, & government, to be done at the Fleet, & in obcure, private rooms, by