from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
MARRIAGE BROKAGE. By this expression is meant the act by which a person
interferes, for a consideration to be received by him, between a man and a
woman, for the purpose of promoting a marriage between them. The money paid
for such service is also known by this name.
2. It is a doctrine of the courts of equity that all marriage brokage
contracts are utterly void, as against public policy; and are, therefore,
incapable of confirmation. 1 Fonb. Eq. B. 1, ch. 4, s. 10, note a; 1 Story,
Eq. Jur. Sec. 263; Newl. on Contr. 469.