The friends of the respective parties, so soon as the budding sympathy between them was observed, in order to prevent the blight of wishes so appropriate, had called in the aid of the matrimonial surveyor-general of Leaphigh, an officer especially appointed by the king in council, whose duty it is to take cognizance of the proprieties of all engagements that are likely to assume a character as grave and durable as that of marriage.

Dr.Reasono showed me the certificate issued from the Marriage Department on this occasion, and which, in all his wanderings, he had contrived to conceal within the lining of the Spanish hat the Savoyards had compelled him to wear, and which he still preserved as a document that was absolutely indispensable on his return to Leaphigh; else he would never be permitted to travel afoot in company with two young people of birth and of good estates, who were of the different sexes.

I translate the certificate, as literally as the poverty of the English language will allow.
Extract from the Book of Fitness, Marriage Department, Leaphigh, season of nuts, day of brightness.
Vol.

7243, p.

82.
Lord Chatterino: Domains; 126,952 3/4 acres of land; meadow, arable and wood in just proportions.
Lady Chatterissa: Domains; 115,999 1/2 acres of land; mostly arable.
Decree, as of record; it is found that the lands of my Lady Chatterissa possess in quality what they want in quantity.
Lord Chatterino: Birth; sixteen descents pure; one bastardy--four descents pure--a suspicion--one descent pure--a certainty.
Lady Chatterissa: Birth; six descents pure--three bastardies--eleven descents pure--a certainty--a suspicion--unknown.
Decree as of record; it is found that the advantage is on the side of my Lord Chatterino, but the excellence of the estate on the other side is believed to equalize the parties.
(Signed) No.