第2章

andtheyreported。LordCranworthundertooktobringinthemeasurewhichwastosetalltorights；andaftersomedelay，hepresentedabill，withhisplanforfuturealterations。Anyonewouldhaveimagined，afterthedecidedadmissionsofevilonthepartofallconcerned，thatthisbillwouldhaveproposedsomesweepingchange；theestablishmentofajudicialtribunal，asinScotlandandFrance，whichshouldhavecompletepowerinmatrimonialcauses；andbetterlawsofprotectionforwomen。Notatall。Thegistofthenewbill，wassimplytotakeawaypowerfromtheEcclesiasticalCourts，andtransferittotheCourtofChancery。Itwasfullofcontradictions。

ItprofessedtodeprivetheHousePage19

ofLordsofthepowerofgrantingdivorces，andyetmadetheHouseofLordsthecourtofappeal"endernierressort，"fromtheproposednewtribunal。Itproposedto"leavethelawasitstood，"withregardtotherightofthewifetoapplyfordivorce；and，inreality，createdanew，definite，andanomalouslimit；forwhereasatpresentthepowerofapplyingfor(ifnotofobtaining)aDivorceAct，existsforallwomenwhoconceivethemselveswronged——theChancellorproposedtoclassifywhatwereinsupportablewrongs，andgranttheremedyonlytosuchwomenascouldpleadthem。Strippedofconfusionandtechnicalities，theobjectofthebillwassimplythis；tomakeitstatutelaw，(insteadofParliamentarypractice，asatpresent，)thatmarriageshouldbedissolubleinEngland；thathusbandsshoulddivorcetheirwives，butnotwivestheirhusbands；andthatthericherclassshouldhavethebenefitoftheirriches，bytheprocessremainingcomparativelyexpensive。Onlythatallthiswastobearrangedbyadifferentandmoredecentmethod。Thebillwasdiscussed；

opposed；andwithdrawn。Nolawyer，ofwhatevereminence，everyetproposedameasureineitherHouseofParliament，thatalltheotherlawyersdidnotriseonebyPage20

onetotellhimthatthey"objectedtothemachineryofhisbill，"

andthatitsprovisionswere"whollyimpracticable。"Theydidsoonthepresentoccasion。Inonethingonlytheygenerallyagreed，theycongratulatedLordCranworthuponthatportionofhisplanwhichprovidedthatJusticeshouldhaveherscalesreadyweightedinfavourofthestrongerparty——viz。，thatwomenshouldbynomeansbediscouragedfromforgivingtheirhusbands，byenactingthatadulteryinthemalesexshouldbeconsideredagroundofdivorce——"asinScotland。"

Itiswithtimidreluctance，thatIpermitmyselftoalludetothesocialconditionofthatunhappycountry。Toallloyalmindsitmustbematterforgraveandsorrowfulreflection，thatwhileyourMajestyissurroundedwithfaithfulwivesanddiscreetladiesinLondon，——Windsor，——andOsborne，——thelesscautiousportionoftherealminwhichBalmoralissituated，isplungedinthegrossestimmorality。

Englandisvirtuous；butScotlandis"ahot-bedofvice。"ItisalanddedicatedtoCupid。StatuesofVenusaresetupinalltheprincipalsquaresofEdinburgh。Themarriage-tieisameretruelovers"knot。TheladieswhopresentthemselvesatHolyroodaretriumphantMessalinas。AndPage21

onthedecksoftheemigrantvesselswhichcrowdtheharbourofLeith，groupsofmelancholycast-offhusbandsmaybeseen，biddingreproachfulfarewelltothatinhospitablecountrywheretheyonlyexisttoberepudiated!

TheScotchladieswilldenytheirguilt。TheywilldenythattheupperclassesoftheirnationhaveprovedthemselvesmoreimmoralthantheupperclassesinEngland。ButtheyarecontradictedbytheLordChancellorandthewholehouseofEnglishPeers。Thatbodyofsenatorshavepronounced，thattopermitwomeninEnglandtohavetheprivilegeaccordedtothewomenofScotland，wouldbeproductiveofthegrossestimmoralityandofmultitudinousdivorce。Now，tosupportthatposition，oneofthreethingsmustbecapableofproof。Either，havingwitnessedtheeffectoftheDivorceLawsofScotland，——andperceivingitswomentobeanationoflostcreatures，——Englishlegislatorsrefusetocopythoselaws，lestEnglishwomenbecomeasprofligateasScotchwomen；

orelse(andthisisareasontobecarefullyconsidered)theyfeartotrustEnglishwomenwithaprivilegewhichtheircolderCaledoniansistersarelesslikelytoabuse:or，lastly，theextremeanduniversalprofligacyofEnglishhusbandsleadsthemtodreadPage22

thatifEnglishwomencouldonceobtainthesameprivilegeofdivorce，whichisaccordedtoScotchwomen，twoEnglishmenoutofthreewouldimmediatelybediscardedbytheirhelpmates；inthatstartlingproportionrecordedbySirWalterScottinhispoemoftheBridalofTriermain:——

"Andstilltheselovers"faithsurvives，Theirtruthsoconstantshewn；

Thereweretwowholovedtheirneighbor"swives，AndONE——wholovedhisown。"

Oh!isitnotasadandmarvellousthing，thatprofessionalprejudice，andtheprejudiceofsex，cansowarpandbendhighandhonourableminds，thatamanlikeLordCranworth，inLordCranworth"sposition，——themostresponsibleforjusticeinEngland；——shouldtaketheviewLordCranworthtook——tousetheargumentsLordCranworthused——insupportofwhat?Insupportofameasuretolegaliseaspecialindulgencetotheanimalpassionsofmen。

LordCampbell，whensomedoubtisexpressedwhetherdivorceoughttobepermittedatall，toeithersex，risesandsaysdivorceofthewifeis"inaccordancewithScripture。"

InwhatportionofHolyWritdoeshefinditin"accordancePage23

withScripture"thatadulteryisnosininaman?Arenotmenwarnednotonlyagainstsin，butevenagainstwanderingdesires?Forwhomisthetext——"Whosolookethonawomantolustafterher，hathalreadycommittedadulterywithherinhisheart"?Ortowhomwasthereproachaddressed——"ForthehardnessofyourheartsMosesgaveyouthislaw"?Arewetohaveonereligionforwomenandanotherformen，aswehavealreadyonelawforwomenandanotherformen，——ecclesiasticallawforthewoman，andcommonlawfortheman?

TheholyRomanCatholicruleis，thatmarriageisindissolubleforeitherparty。Thatruleallcanunderstandandreverence。Butthatmarriageshouldbedissolubleforonesexonly，andonlyforthewealthyofthatsex；thatitshouldbemadeasacramentforthepoorandforwomen，andacivilcontractforgentlemen，——whoistounderstandthat?

RomanCatholiccountriesaregovernedbyonegeneralrule；butyourMajestygovernsakingdom"dividedagainstitself。"Splitupintodifferentformsofreligiousdissent，andthelawfollowingthatdissentintoholesandcorners；sothatjusticebecomesasortofgameofhideandseek，andtheywhofindher，lightuponherbyPage24

chance。YourMajesty"ssubjectsnorthandsouthoftheTweedareall"atsixesandsevens"astowhatshouldbethelaw。YettheyareallthesubjectsofoneQueen；theEnglishladieswhomnoamountofill-usagecandivorce，andtheScotchladieswhocandivorcesoeasily。Nay，inthesamefamilydifferentpersonsfindthemselvesunderdifferentlaws。

Iammyselfunitedtoonememberofafamilyinwhichtherearefivemarriages；

intwoofwhich，(beingScotchmarriages)，therightofdivorcewouldbeequal，——whilethree(beingEnglishmarriages)couldonlybedissolvedinfavourofthehusband，andbyActofParliament。Here，then，arefiveofyourMajesty"ssubjects，borninonehome；ofthesameparents:andthreeofthebroodaredraftedofftobeundertheEnglishlaw，——andtwotobeunderScotchlaws，whichcontradicttheEnglishlawineveryparticular!

Isthat，orisitnot，aridiculousstateofthingstoexistinanykingdom?

Butasifthatdidnotmakethegrotesqueconfusionsufficientlyobvious，itappearsthatevensouthoftheTweed，yourMajesty"sPeersandCommonscannotintheleastagreeamongthemselveswhatis，oroughttobe，thelawwithrespecttomarriage!

Page25

LordHardwicke"sMarriageAct，of1754，declarednull，allmarriagesnotcelebratedbyapriestinorders:andmadeitindispensablethattheceremonyshouldtakeplaceinsomeparishchurch，orpublicchapel，unlessbyspeciallicensefromtheArchbishopofCanterbury。ButLordJohnRussell"sAct，of1836，permitsperson，onthecontrary，tobemarriedaccordingtoanyformtheychoose；

theyneedneverseeachurchorapriest；butbymerelyrepairingtothe"Registrar，"givingcertainnotices，andprocuringcertaincertificates，theyacquirearighttohavetheceremonyperformed，inplacesregisteredandappropriatedforthepurpose。

Morerecently，LordRedesdale，——speakingontheLordChancellor"sBill，——saysheshallopposeanydivorcelaw，andconsidersmarriageshouldbe"indissoluble:"ButLordSt。Leonardsaffirms，that"itwon"tdoatthistimeofday"tospeakoftheindissolublenatureofmarriage；andthattheonlyquestionis，whatshallbethemachineryofthenewlawforitsdissolution?LordClancarty(anIrishman)complainsthatIrelandisnotmentionedinthebill，andspeaksofmarriageasa"divineordinance。"ButLordCampbell(aScotchman)pooh-poohstheideaofitsbeingadivineordinance，andsaysthatmar-Page26

riagewasheldindissolubleintimesofPopery，butisnotheldsonow；andonthatveryaccountajudicialinsteadofanecclesiasticaljurisdictionoughtnowtobeestablished。WhileMr。Phinn，intheotherHouse，thusclearlydefinesthepositionlaiddownbyLordCampbell:——"Animportantalterationhasbeenmadeinthelawofthecountry。

Uptoarecentperiodithadbeenaquestionagitatedbylawyers，whethermarriagewasnotareligiouscontract，requiringthesanctionofthechurch。

ThatquestionhasbeensettledbytheLegislature，andmarriageisnowaCivilContract。"

LordRedesdale，——reluctantlysuccumbingtotheChancellor"s"civilcontract"views，——thinks，atleast，divorceshouldnotbemadetoocheap，asitwouldthenbecometoocommon；

onwhich，LordBrougham(whomanyadayofhislongenergeticlife，hasstoodsentineltoguardtherightsofthepeople)，shrewdlyenquireswhetherhislordshipmeansthattheproposednewdivorcelaw"shallnotapplyto19-20thsoftheinhabitantsofthiscountry，butonlytothe1-20thwhocanaffordtopayforit?"

ThenyourMajesty"sLordHighChancellordefinesitashisopinion，thatdivorceavinculoshouldremainmoderatelyexpensive，andbePage27

grantedonlytohusbands；——butcanheconvinceyourMajesty"sLordHighChamberlain，theMarquisofBreadalbane，andtheScotchPeerswhocomefromtheothersideoftheTweed，wherethelawispreciselyreversedinboththoseparticulars?

Finally，LordClancartysays，iftheremustbealawofdivorce，hecannotforthelifeofhimseehowwecanestablishadistinctionbetweenthesinofthemanandthewoman，whichneverwasestablishedbydivinelaw；——whiletheBishopofOxford，religiouslyignoringLordJohnRussell"sBillof1836，LordCranworth"sopinion，LordCampbell"sexplanation，andtheactuallawofthenorthernportionofyourMajesty"sdominions，——saysheshallmovetoomitalltheclausesoftheBillcountenancinganydivorcewhatever。

Andattheendofthisconfusedskirmishofopinions，theBilldrops，andisgivenup；theChancellor，liketheRunicsorceress，exclaims，——

"Leaveme，leaveme，torepose:"andallgoawayhome；likeapartyofminerswhohavegivenuptheattempttodigoutpersonsburiedinsuperincumbentearth!TheywouldbeverygladtodosomethingtowardsPage28

amendingthelawsforwomen，butreally"thesubjectissosurroundedwithdifficulty。"

Whyisitsosurroundedwithdifficulty?WhyisEnglandtheonlycountryobligedtoconfessthatshecannotcontrivetoadministerjusticetowomen?WhyisitmoredifficultthaninFrance?WhymoredifficultthaninScotland?Simplybecauseourlegistsandlegislatorsinsistonbindingtareswithwheat，andcombiningallsortsofcontradictionswhichtheyneverwillbeablesatisfactorilytocombine。Theyneverwillsatisfy，withmeasuresthatgiveonelawforonesexandtherich，andanotherlawfortheothersexandthepoor。Norwilltheyeversucceedinactingonthelegalfictionthatmarriedwomenare"non-existent，"andmanandwifearestill"one，"incasesofalienation，separation，andenmity；whentheyareaboutasmuch"one"asthoseingenioustwistedgroupsofanimaldeathwesometimesseeinsculpture；

onecreaturewildtoresist，andtheotherfiercetodestroy。

Nordoesallthisconfusionarise，becausethelawisprofessedlytooweakforthenecessarycontrolwhichwouldpreventit。Thelawisstrongenoughwhenitinterfereswithlabour，——withproperty，——withtheguardianshipofchil-Page29

dren，——withtherightsofspeculativeindustry。Wefindnodifficultyincontrollingthemerchantinhisfactories，themasterwithhisapprentices，norintheprotectionofpersonsinallotherdependantpositions。Wefindnodifficultyinpunishingtheabuseofpower，ordiscoveredcrime。Itsufficesthatitbeprovedthatwrongwascommitted，andpunishmentfollowsasamatterofcourse。

Thepoorcabinboyisonthehighseas。Thesteward，orthecaptain，orabrutalmessmate，maltreatstheboy。Heisbruised，——heismaimed，——heismiserable，——thatmeagreshufflingover-workedlad，whoseverysurnameperhapsnobodyknows:somelittleoutcastTom，Jack，orJim，senttoseabytheparish。Istherenolawforhim?

Isit"sosurroundedwithdifficulty"thatnopunishmentshallreachthosewhomaltreatedhim?Readthepolicereport。Thoughthatlifeseemedasunimportantasagrainofsand，itiscaredfor。TheSpiritofJusticemovedwiththatship"overthefaceofthewaters，"andEnglishlawandpublicgovernmentavengehim，whoperhapshadnotoneprivatefriendintheworld。

Thewanderingpedlartrudgesoverthemoor——hispackisheavy；hisstepisslow；heisdoggedbysomevillainwhosawhimrestbythePage30

way-sideinn。Heistwohundredmilesawayfromhisrealhome。

HecamefromthethriftyNorth，andwillplodbacktherewithhissavings。

Return?No!hewillneverreturn。Thesharpknifeisout——hisbloodsinksintheshortturfwherethemoorlandsheephavebeenfeeding；hismoanislostonthemidnightbreeze；andhispackisstolen。Istherenolawforhim?Goandlistenintheassizecourt。There，inthehotglowofsummer，amidthebuzzofinsectsandvoices，andtheloudoratoryofdeclaimingmen，youwillhearthestillnessofthatmurderousnightdescribed；

andhowitssilenceanddarkness，andthelonelystretchoftheapparentlydesertedheath，failedtoshieldthemodernCainfromtheobservationofthatone"chancewitness，"whomGodseemsevertoleavestandingsentineltowatchforundiscoveredcrime。Whowouldhavethoughtthetreasureofthatpoorpedlar"spackwasworthtwomen"slives?Yetonewastakenbymurder，andnowthisotherisforfeitedtoJustice；toprove——thatthepoorestoftheQueen"ssubjectsshallnotwanderonherhighwayswithoutthesameprotectionoflifeandproperty，thatguardsthefringedcanopyofaduke"sbed!

Protectionforlifeandproperty。Isthatall?Page31

Ishappinessnothing?Isreputationnothing?Isthelawonlyabletowardofftheassassin"sknife，ormakerestitutionofstolencoin?Isitabletoprotectthepoorest，themeanest，themostapparentlyhelplesspersonsintherealm，andnotabletoprotectwomen?AretheonlylawsinEngland"sosurroundedwithdifficulty"thattheycannotpossiblybere-modelledtoanypatternofequaljustice，thelawsbetweenmanandwife?

Ithinknot。Ithinkifmenwouldapproachthemwiththesameimpartialwishtomakerulesofprotection，thatisbroughttobearonothersubjects，theywouldfindthesamefacilityinapplyingthoserules。

Now，withrespecttotheconditionandeffectofthelawsforwomeninScotland，itcameoutincidentallyinthedebateontheMarriageBill，thatthetotalamountofallthedivorcesinthatmisguidedcountry，duringthelastfiveyears，onlyaveragedtwentyinallclasses；andthiswasnotstatedindefenceofScotchmorality，butasameansofcalculatingwhatmightbeexpectedinEnglandunderanewsystem。

InScotland，then，thoughtherightofdivorcebeequal，——andtheprocesssoeasythatevenifthepartyaccusedleftthekingdom，heorshePage32

couldstillbeproceededagainstbywhatwastermed"edictalcitation，"——(orreadingthecitationaloudatthemarket-crossofEdinburgh，andthepierandshoreofLeith)，anaverageoftwentycouplesonly，availedthemselvesofthelaw，theexistenceofwhichsoalarmsEnglishlegislators。

Verysparing，indeed，arethecasesrecordedasdisputedprecedents。TowardstheendofthelastcenturytheDuchessofHamiltondivorcedtheDuke，asaScotchman，thoughmarriedbyEnglishritualinEngland。In1810，LadyPagetdivorcedLordPaget，thoughhepleadedareconciliationafterhisoriginaldesertion。

In1813，CatherinePollockdivorcedRussellManners，fordesertionfortenyearsandinfidelity。Previoustowhichcases，SirT。WallaceDunlophadthesingulargoodfortuneofbeingproceededagainstfordivorcebybothhisfirstandsecondwife。Thefirstwifesucceeded；butthesecondfailed；notforwantofproofofhismisconduct，butbecausehermarriagewasheldtobeanEnglishmarriage，andso，indissolublebytheScotchCourts。

ItisexpresslystatedthatthenumberofScotchcasesinproportiontothepopulation，remainednearlythesameatallperiods，sincePage33

theCommissionerswereappointedin1563downtothepresenttime；

andthattheconjugalrelation"stoodnotless，butinfinitelymoresacredandsecureinScotland"sincetotaldivorcewasmadepossible，inlieuofseparationunderecclesiasticallaw。Indeed，itwillscarcelybeurgedthatitisamorefavourableconditionformorality，thatawomanshouldremainforlifenominallymarriedtoamanwhohasdesertedher(asundertheEnglishlaw)，thanthatsheshouldhavepowertodivorcehimandmarryagain，asundertheScotchlaw。

ButLordChancellorCranwortharguedthequestioninaverysingularmanner；andIgivehisargumentasitstandsintheprintedreportofthedebateofJune14，1854:——First，astothelightercausesofdivorce，admittedinScotland，hesays:——"Ifmarriagescouldbedissolvedforcrueltyordesertion，thehusbandmaydissolvehismarriagewheneverhepleases；hehasonlytobetyrannicaltohiswife，ortodeserther，toeffecttheveryobjecthehasinview。

ThereforeIdonotatallproposetoalterwhathasbeen——Iwillnotsaythelaw，——becauseinpointoffacttherehasbeennolaw——butthepracticeonthissubject。"

Then，astothatgraverinterruptionofdomesticquiet，inconstancy，hesays:——Page34

"Ifadulteryonthepartofthehusbandistoentitlehimtoadivorce，——inasmuchasthehusband(whichmaybebadmorality，butitisthefact)sufferslittleonthataccountintheopinionoftheworldatlarge(foritisnotoriousthat，whilethewifewhocommitsadulterylosesherstationinsociety，thatpunishmentisnotawardedtothehusbandwhoisguiltyofthesamecrime)hemay，withoutanygreatsacrificeonhisownpart，butbymerelybeingalittleprofligate，getridofhiswifewheneverhechoosestodoso。"

AndLordCampbell，inasubsequentdebate，July1，strikesoutanothersuggestion；heobjectstograntingdivorcestowomen，onaccountoftheeasewithwhichadulteryinthehusbandis(oroughttobe)forgivenbythewife!

"HethoughthisnobleandlearnedfriendhadwiselyabstainedfromfollowingtheexampleofScotlandandothercountries，inwhichthewifehadarighttohavethemarriagedissolvedonaccountoftheadulteryofthehusband。Themoralguiltincurredbythehusbandwasthesame，——butinmostcasesitmightbeCONDONED。"

Inshort，whatbetweentheirdreadofencouragingthehusbandtobe"alittleprofligate，"inordertogetridofhiswife，——andfearofincliningthewifetobeunforgiving，intheprospectofgettingridofherhusband，——theythinkitbestthatjusticeshouldbenotmerelyimpro-Page35

bable，asatpresent，butmadeutterlyimpossibleforthewomantoobtain。

AgainIsay，itisperfectlymarvellouswhatcleverandhonourablemenwillsayanddowhenblindedbystrongprejudice!Herearethesetwogreatlawyerstalkingasthoughthedivorceofthewifecouldbemadecompulsoryonthewife，ordependantonhersimpleresolution。Isthewife，afterall，tobeherownjudge?No；thejudgeisherjudge；theLordChancellorhimselfisherjudge；theHouseofLordsisherjudge。Thepossibilityofapplyingforadivorceavinculo，doesnotsuddenlyinvestherwithanauthoritylikethatofthepatriarchAbraham，tosendforthherhusband，likeweepingHagar，intothedesertworld。Sheistoapplyforherdivorcetothejudicialtribunal:tothatChancellorwhospeaksofanadulteroushusbandasbeing"alittleprofligate:"tothatHouseofLordswhichhasentertainedfeminineapplicationswithsomuchjealousyandreluctance，thattherehavebeenbutfourcases(twoofthemcasesofincest)，inwhichthewife"spetitionfordivorcehaseverbeengranted。Withthesejudges，andnotwiththewife，reststhedecisionwhethershehasrefusedthatindulgencewhichoughttobeapartofhernature，andistheprincipalcharmofhersex，Page36——

orwhether，wronged，outraged，andforsaken，shehasbornetothelastvergeofendurancebeforesheappealedtothelaw!Withthesejudges，andnotwiththewife，remainsthegreatdecreewhichwillpronouncewhether"condonation"wasorwasnotabsolutelyimpossible，underthecircumstancesshepleadsasherargumentforliberty。