This letter, written by James Cleland in the 18th century, addresses the issue of parochial registers in Scotland. At the time, there was no proper system of record-keeping for vital events such as births, marriages, and deaths, and Cleland argued for the establishment of a centralized system to rectify this. His proposals ultimately paved the way for the creation of the civil registration system in Scotland, and this letter offers a fascinating glimpse into the historical roots of this important institution.

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