第1章
InMarch，1855，inthispresentsession，theSolicitorGeneralstated，thatabillonthesamesubjectwas"nearlyprepared，"andwouldbebroughtforward"immediatelyaftertheEasterrecess。"OnMay10th，beingpressedtonameatime，hestatedthatitwouldbeproposed"assoonastheHousehadexpressedanopinionontheTestamentaryJurisdictionBill。"Thattimehasnotarrived:andmeanwhile，——asonewhohasgrievouslysuffered，andisstillsuffering，underthepresentimperfectstateofthelaw，——IaddressyourMajestyonthesubject。
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Idonotdosointhewayofappeal。Thevagueromanceof"carryingmywrongstothefootofthethrone，"formsnopartofmyintention:forIknowthethroneispowerlesstoredressthem。Iknowthosepleasanttalesofanearlierandsimplertime，whenoppressedsubjectstravelledtothepresenceofsomegloriousprinceorprincess，whoinstantlysettheiraffairstorightswithoutreferencetolaw，arequaintoldhistories，orfairyfables，fitonlyfortheamusementofchildren。
IconnectyourMajesty"snamewiththesepagesfromadifferentmotive；fortworeasons:ofwhichone，indeed，isasequencetotheother。First，becauseIdesiretopointoutthegrotesqueanomalywhichordainsthatmarriedwomenshallbe"non-existent"
inacountrygovernedbyafemaleSovereign；andsecondly，because，whatevermeasureforthereformofthesestatutesmaybeproposed，itcannotbecome"thelawoftheland"withoutyourMajesty"sassentandsignmanual。InEnglandthereisnoSaliquelaw。Iftherewere，——iftheprincipleswhichguidealllegislationfortheinferiorsexinthiscountry，werecarriedoutintheirintegrityasfarasthethrone，——yourMajestywouldbebybirthasubject，andHanoverandEnglandwouldbestillunderoneKing。
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Itisnotso。YourMajestyisQueenofEngland；HeadoftheChurch；HeadoftheLaw；Rulerofmillionsofmen；andtheassembledSenatewhomeettodebateandframelegislativeenactmentsineachsucceedingyear，begintheirsessionallaboursbyreverentlylisteningtothatclearwoman"svoice，——rebellionagainstwhosecommandistreason。
Intheyear1845，ontheoccasionoftheopeningofthenewHallofLincoln"sInn，yourMajestyhonouredthatHallwithyourpresence:whenHisRoyalHighnessPrinceAlbertwasinvitedtobecomeaBarrister:"thekeepingofhistermsandexercises，andthepaymentofallfeesandexpenses，beingdispensedwith。"Itwasanoccasionofgreatpompandrejoicing。NoreigningsovereignhadvisitedtheInnsofCourtsinceCharlesII。，in1671。InthemagnificentlibraryofLincoln"sInn，seatedonachairofstate(PrinceAlbertstanding)，yourMajestyheldalevee；andreceivedanaddressfromthebenchers，barristers，andstudents-at-law，whichwasreadbythetreasureronhisknee:thankingyourMajestyfortheproofgivenbyyourpresenceofyour"graciousregardfortheprofessionofthelaw，"——offeringcongratulations"onthegreatamendmentsofthelaw，Page6
effectedsinceyourMajesty"saccession；"andaffirmingthat"thepuregloryofthoselaboursmustbedeartoyourMajesty"sheart。"
TothataddressyourMajestywasgraciouslypleasedtoreturnasuitableanswer；adding，——"Igladlytestifymyrespectfortheprofessionofthelaw；bywhichIamaidedinadministeringJUSTICE，andinmaintainingtheprerogativeoftheCrownandtherightsofmypeople。"
Abanquetfollowed。Thehealthofthenewbarrister，thePrinceConsort，wasdrunkwithloudcheers。
HisRoyalHighnessputonastudent"sgown，overhisFieldMarshal"suniform，andsoworeitonreturningfromtheHall；andthenthatglitteringcourtlyvision——ofayoungbelovedqueen，withladiesinwaiting，andattendantofficersofstate，anddignitariesinrichdresses，meltedoutofthesolemnlibrary；andleftthedingylawcourtsoncemoretothedullquiet，whichhadbeenundisturbedbysuchaglorioussightfornearlytwohundredyears。
Only，onthegranddayofthefollowingTrinityterm，thenewBarrister，HisRoyalHighnessPrinceAlbert，dinedintheHallasaBencher，incomplimenttothosewhohadelectedhim。
Nowthiswasnotagreatmockery；butaPage7
greatceremony。Itwasenteredintowiththeseriousloyaltyoffaithfulsubjects:withtheenthusiasmofattachedhearts:andIknownotwhatsightcouldbemoregracefulortouching，thanthehomageofthosevenerableandlearnedmentotheiryoungfemalesovereign。TheimageofLawfulPower，cominginsuchfragileperson，tomeetthemonthatvantagegroundofJustice，wherestudentsaretaught，bysublimetheories，howRightcanbedefendedagainstMight，thepooragainsttherich，theweakagainstthestrong，intheirlegalpractice；andhowentirelythecivilisedintelligenceofthenineteenthcenturyrejects，asbarbarous，thosebanditrulesofold，basedonthe"simpleplan，"
"Thattheyshouldtake，whohavethepower，Andtheyshouldkeep，whocan。"
Itwastheverypoetryofallegiance，whentheLordChancellorandtheothergreatlawofficersdidobeisanceinthatHalltotheirQueen；andtheTreasurerkneltatawoman"sfeet，toreadoftheamendmentsinthatgreatsternsciencebywhichgovernmentsthemselvesaregoverned；whosethrallallnationssubmitto；whosevalueeventhesavageacknowledges，——andchecksbyPage8
itsmeansthewildlibertyheenjoys，withsomerudeformofpolityandorder。
Madam，——IwillnotdoyourMajestytheinjusticeofsupposing，thattheverydifferentaspectthelawwearsinEnglandforthefemalesovereignandthefemalesubject，mustrenderyouindifferenttowhatthosesubjectsmaysuffer；orwhatreformmaybeproposed，intherulesmoreimmediatelyaffectingthem。Ithereforesubmitabriefandfamiliarexpositionofthelawsrelatingtowomen，——astaughtandpractisedinthoseInnsofCourt，whereyourMajestyreceivedhomage，andPrinceAlbertwaselectedaBencher。
AmarriedwomaninEnglandhasnolegalexistence:herbeingisabsorbedinthatofherhusband。
Yearsofseparationofdesertioncannotalterthisposition。UnlessdivorcedbyspecialenactmentintheHouseofLords，thelegalfictionholdshertobe"one"withherhusband，eventhoughshemayneverseeorhearofhim。
Shehasnopossessions，unlessbyspecialsettlement；herpropertyishisproperty。LordEllenboroughmentionsacaseinwhichasailorbequeathed"allhewasworth"
toawomanhePage9
cohabitedwith；andafterwardsmarried，intheWestIndies，awomanofconsiderablefortune。Atthisman"sdeathitwasheld，——notwithstandingthehardshipofthecase，——thatthewillsweptawayfromhiswidow，infavourofhismistress，everyshillingoftheproperty。Itisnowprovidedthatawillshallberevokedbymarriage:buttheclaimofthehusbandtoallthatishiswife"sexistsinfullforce。AnEnglishwifehasnolegalrighteventoherclothesandornaments；herhusbandmaytakethemandsellthemifhepleases，eventhoughtheybethegiftsofrelativesorfriends，orboughtbeforemarriage。
AnEnglishwifecannotmakeawill。Shemayhavechildrenorkindredwhomshemayearnestlydesiretobenefit；——shemaybeseparatedfromherhusband，whomaybelivingwithamistress；nomatter:thelawgiveswhatshehastohim，andnowillshecouldmakewouldbevalid。
AnEnglishwifecannotlegallyclaimherownearnings。Whetherwagesformanuallabour，orpaymentforintellectualexertion，whethersheweedpotatoes，orkeepaschool，hersalaryisthehusband"s；andhecouldcompelasecondpayment，andtreatthefirstasvoid，ifpaidtothewifewithouthissanction。
AnEnglishwifemaynotleaveherhusband"sPage10
house。Notonlycanhesueherfor"restitutionofconjugalrights，"
buthehasarighttoenterthehouseofanyfriendorrelationwithwhomshemaytakerefuge，andwhomay"harbourher，"——asitistermed，——andcarryherawaybyforce，withorwithouttheaidofthepolice。
Ifthewifesueforseparationforcruelty，itmustbe"crueltythatendangerslifeorlimb，"andifshehasonceforgiven，or，inlegalphrase，"condoned"hisoffences，shecannotpleadthem；thoughherpastforgivenessonlyprovesthatsheenduredaslongasendurancewaspossible。
Ifherhusbandtakeproceedingsforadivorce，sheisnot，inthefirstinstance，allowedtodefendherself。
Shehasnomeansofprovingthefalsehoodofhisallegations。Sheisnotrepresentedbyattorney，norpermittedtobeconsideredapartytothesuitbetweenhimandhersupposedlover，for"damages。"LordBroughamaffirmedintheHouseofLords:"inthatactionthecharacterofthewomanwasatimmediateissue，althoughshewasnotprosecuted。Theconsequencenotunfrequentlywas，thatthecharacterofawomanwasswornaway；instanceswereknowninwhich，bycollusionbetweenthehusbandandapretendedparamour，thecharacterofthewifehasbeendestroyed。AllthiscouldtakePage11
place，andyetthewifehadnodefence；shewasexcludedfromWestminster-hall，andbehindherback，bytheprinciplesofourjurisprudence，hercharacterwastriedbetweenherhusbandandthemancalledherparamour。"
IfanEnglishwifebeguiltyofinfidelity，herhusbandcandivorcehersoastomarryagain；
butshecannotdivorcethehusbandavinculo，howeverprofligatehemaybe。NolawcourtcandivorceinEngland。AspecialActofParliamentannullingthemarriage，ispassedforeachcase。TheHouseofLordsgrantsthisalmostasamatterofcoursetothehusband，butnottothewife。
Inonlyfourinstances(twoofwhichwerecasesofincest)，hasthewifeobtainedadivorcetomarryagain。
Shecannotprosecuteforalibel。Herhusbandmustprosecute；andincasesofenmityandseparation，ofcoursesheiswithoutaremedy。
Shecannotsignalease，ortransactresponsiblebusiness。
Shecannotclaimsupport，asamatterofpersonalright，fromherhusband。Thegeneralbeliefandnominalruleis，thatherhusbandis"boundtomaintainher。"Thatisnotthelaw。Heisnotboundtoher。HeisboundtohisPage12
country；boundtoseethatshedoesnotcumbertheparishinwhichsheresides。Ifitbeprovedthatmeanssufficientareatherdisposal，fromrelativesorfriends，herhusbandisquitofhisobligation，andneednotcontributeafarthing:evenifhehavedesertedher；orbeinreceiptofmoneywhichishersbyinheritance。
Shecannotbindherhusbandbyanyagreement，exceptthroughathirdparty。Acontractformallydrawnoutbyalawyer，——witnessed，andsignedbyherhusband，——isvoidinlaw；andhecanevadepaymentofanincomesoassured，bythelegalquibblethat"amancannotcontractwithhisownwife。"
Separationfromherhusbandbyconsent，orforhisillusage，doesnotaltertheirmutualrelation。
Heretainstherighttodivorceherafterseparation，——asbefore，——thoughhehimselfbeunfaithful。
Herbeing，ontheotherhand，ofspotlesscharacter，andwithoutreproach，giveshernoadvantageinlaw。Shemayhavewithdrawnfromhisroofknowingthatheliveswith"hisfaithfulhousekeeper":havingsufferedpersonalviolenceathishands；
having"condoned"much，andbeingabletoproveitbyunimpeachabletestimony:
orhemayhaveshutthedoorsPage13
ofherhouseagainsther:allthisisquiteimmaterial:thelawtakesnocognisanceofwhichistoblame。Asherhusband，hehasarighttoallthatishers:ashiswife，shehasnorighttoanythingthatishis。Asherhusband，hemaydivorceher(iftruthorfalseswearingcandoit):ashiswife，theutmost"divorce"shecouldobtain，ispermissiontoresidealone，——marriedtohisname。Themarriageceremonyisacivilbondforhim，——andanindissolublesacramentforher；andtherightsofmutualpropertywhichthatceremonyisignorantlysupposedtoconfer，aremadeabsoluteforhim，andnullforher。
Ofcourseanoppositepicturemaybedrawn。Therearebad，wanton，irreclaimablewomen，astherearevicious，profligate，tyrannicalmen:butthedifferenceisthis:thattopunishandrestrainbadwives，therearelaws，andveryseverelaws(tosaynothingofsocialcondemnation)；whiletopunishorrestrainbadhusbands，thereis，inEngland，noadequatelawwhatever。Indeed，theEnglishlawholdsoutasortofpremiumoninfidelity；forthereisnodoubtthatthewomanwhoisdivorcedforaloverandmarrieshim，suffersless(exceptinconscience)thanthewomanwhodoesnotdeservetosufferatall——thewifeofabadhusband，whocaninflictwhathePage14
pleases，whethersheremaininherhome，orattempttoleaveit。
Such，however，is"thelaw":
andifanythingcouldaddtotheridicule，confusion，andinjusticeofitsprovisions，itwouldbethefact，thatthoughitislawfortherich，itisnotlawforthepoor；andthoughitisthelawinEngland，itisnotthelawinScotland!
Itisnotlawforthepoor。
SincethedaysofKingHenryVIII。，forwhosepassionsitwascontrived，ourmethodofdivorcehasremainedanindulgencesacredtothearistocracyofEngland。Thepoorerclasseshavenoformofdivorceamongstthem。Therichmanmakesanewmarriage，havingdivorcedhiswifeintheHouseofLords:hisnewmarriageislegal；
hischildrenarelegitimate；hisbrideoccupies，inallrespects，thesamesocialpositionasifhehadneverpreviouslybeenwedded。Thepoormanmakesanewmarriage，nothavingdivorcedhiswifeintheHouseofLords；hisnewmarriageisnull；hischildrenarebastards；andhehimselfisliabletobeputonhistrialforbigamy:theallottedpunishmentforwhichcrime，atonetimewashanging，andisnowimprisonment。Notalwaysoffendingknowingly，——fornothingcanexceedtheignoranceofthepoorPage15
onthissubject；theybelieveaMagistratecandivorcethem；thatanabsenceofsevenyearsconstitutesanullityofthemarriagetie；orthattheycangiveeachotherreciprocalpermissiontodivorce:andamongsomeofourruralpopulations，thegrosserbeliefprevails，thatamanmaylegallysellhiswife，andsobreakthebondofunion!Theybelieveanything，——ratherthanwhatisthefact，——viz。，thattheycannotdolegally，thatwhichtheyknowisdonelegallyintheclassesabovethem；thatthecomfortoftherichman"shome，ortheindulgenceoftherichman"spassions，receivesaconsiderationinEnglandwhichthepoorneednotexpecttoobtain。
ItisnotthelawofScotland。
InyourMajesty"skingdom，nothingbut"TherapidrunningofthesilverTweed"dividesthatportionoftherealmwherewomenareprotectedbylaw，——fromthatportionwheretheyareunprotected，thoughlivingunderthesameSovereignandthesamegovernment!
When，inQueenAnne"sreign，thelegislativeunionofScotlandwascompleted，thelawsrelatingtotrade，customs，andexcise，wereassimilatedtothoseofEngland；butotherlawsPage16
remaineduntouched；andinnothingistherealargerdifferencethaninallmattersrelatingtomarriage，divorce，andlegitimationofchildren。
InScotland，thewifeaccusedofinfidelitydefendsherselfasamatterofcourse，andasafirstprocess，——insteadofsufferingbytheinfamousEnglishactionfor"damages，"wheresheisnotallowedtointerfere，thoughtheresultmaybetoruinher。
InScotland，thepropertyofthewifeisprotected；rulesaremadeforher"aliment"orsupport；
andherclothesand"paraphernalia"cannotbeseizedbyherhusband。
InScotland，aboveall，thelawhaspowertodivorceavinculo，soastoenableeitherpartytomarryagain；andtherightofthewifetoapplyforsuchdivorceisequalwiththerightofthehusband；thatlicenseforinconstancy，takenoutundertheEnglishlawbytheEnglishhusband，——asoneofthemasculinegender，——beingutterlyunknowntotheScottishcourts。
ThisconditionoftheEnglishlaw；itsanomalies，itsinjustice，itsactionsfordamagesandcrim。con。，anditsperpetualcontradictions，havelongmarkeditoutforreform。AtvariousPage17
times，andonvariousoccasions，ithasbeenpronounced，——notbywailing，angry，andcomplainingwomen，butbymen，——senatorsandjudges，——tobe"barbarous"——"indecent"——"oppressive"——"anomalousandpreposterous"——"utterlydisgraceful。"WhentheMarriageReformBillwasbroughtin，thelateLordBeaumontstigmatisedtheexaminationsbeforetheHouseofLordsindivorcecases，as"disgustinganddemoralising。"
LordCampbellspokeofpassingBillsofDivorcethroughthetwoHousesofParliamentasa"scandalouspractice。"LordSt。Leonards，whileheaffirmedthatnomeasurewouldbesatisfactory，thatdidnotreconciletheconflictofourjurisprudencewiththeScottishlaw，declaredthepresentEnglishactionfor"damages"tobea"disgracetothecountry"——"astigmaonthelawofEngland"——"anactionwhichshockedone"ssenseofwhatwasright。"
LordBrougham，——solongassixteenyearsago，——spokeofthelawasregardsawoman"searningsinthismostforciblelanguage，——"Couldanythingbemoreharshorcruel，"hesaid，"thanthatthewife"sgoodsandchattelsshouldbeatthemercyofthehusband，andthatshemightworkandtoilforanunkindfathertosupporthisfamilyandchildren，whilethePage18
husbandrepaidherwithharshnessandbrutality，heallthetimeriotingandrevellinginextravaganceanddissipation，andsquanderinginthecompanyofguiltyparamourstheproduceofherindustry?Thelawwassilenttothecomplaintsofsuchawoman。"
Inshort，thegentlemenofEngland——membersofbothHouses——haveseverallydenouncedinthemostunmeasuredterms，thepresentlawsforwomen；andunanimouslyagreedthattheyoughttobereformed。Commissionerswereaccordingly"orderedtoreport，"