第3章

Nodoubt，innumberlessinstances，condonationispossible。SofarwewillgrantLordCranworth"sargument。Amanmayyieldtothetemptationofpassion，whoyetatheartlovesandrespectshiswife；andfeels，afterhisdelusionisover，arealshameandrepentance。Noriswantofchastitytheonlysinintheworld；——awomanwhoisachastewifemayfillherhusband"sdayswithunendurablebitterness；andamanwhohaslapsedinhisobservanceofthemarriagevow，mayneverthelessbeakindlyhusbandandfather，withwhomreconcilementwouldbeasafeandblessedgenerosity。Ifweaddtotheseadmissions，woman"snaturallingeringloveforhercompanion；loveundeniable；indisputable；

loveevidencedeachday，evenamongthepoorcreatureswhocomebruisedandbleedingbeforethepolicecourts；refusingtogiveevidence，inacalmerhour，againstthemansuchevidencewouldPage37

condemntopunishment:ifweaddtheloveofchildren；thedreadofbreakingthebondwhichshallperhapshelpastep-motherintothemother"svacatedplace:ifweaddtheobviousinterest，inalmosteveryinstance，whichthewomanhastoremaininherhome；andthehorrormostwomenmustfeelattheideaofthepublicexposureanddiscussionofsuchwrongs；

itisevidenttheywouldnotbesoveryeagertoavailthemselves，inusualcases，oftheextremeremedy。

Butinunusualcases——incasesofthedreary，stormy，desertedlife——whereprofligacy，personalviolence，insult，andoppression，fillupthemeasureofthatwrongwhichpardoncannotreach，——whyistheretobenorescueforthewoman?WhyissuchamantobeshelteredundertheLordChancellor"stermof"onlyalittleprofligate，"——and"condonation"besupposedtheonlypropernoticeofhisconduct?

Whilethelawsthatwomenappealto，areadministeredbymen，weneednotfearthattheirappealswillbetoocarelesslygranted。NostatementcanbemoreincontrovertiblethantheLordChancellor"sdictum，thattheprofligatehusband"sufferslittleintheopinionoftheworldatlarge。"ItwerewellifhewereheldharmlessPage38

onlybypublicopinion:butheisalsoheldharmlessbyLAW。

IntheverysessionduringwhichLordCranworth"sBillwasdiscussed，someremarkablecasesoccurred，bothintheupperandlowerclasses；someofwhichwerepublic，andsomenot。Igivethelatter，therefore，withoutthenames。Itisenoughforme；thatyourMajestyknowsthesecasesdidoccur；andthisrecordofwhattheEnglishlawwas，inyourMajesty"sreign，willremain，——whenthenamesshallsignifynomorethantheN。orM。intheChurchCatechism。

Intheupperclasses，ayoungpeerdesertedhisyoungwife(thennearherconfinementofherfirstchild)，informingherashisreasonfordoingso，thathehadalwayspreferredhismistress，towhomheshouldnowreturn，andbidhiswifefarewellforever。

Inthatcase，whetherbytheinterferenceoffriends，orthegenerosityanddiscretionofthe"condoning"

wife，areconciliationwaseffected:buthadthisdesirableeventnottakenplace，thelawofEnglandisasfollows:——

Thisyoungdesertedwife，notyetamother，wouldremainasmuchthewifeofherdesertinghusband，asiftheywerethehappiestcouplethateverhoney-moonedunderoneroof。

ShedidPage39

wellto"condone，"forshewasutterlyathismercy。If，inthecourseofthelongyearsoflonelinesswhichherfuturewastobring，thehusbandimaginedtherewasanythinginherconductwhichmightbearevilconstruction，hehadthesamerighttodivorceherhehadbeforetheyparted；butshecouldnotdivorcehim。Undernocircumstances，——oflibel，insult，orattempttodefameherwithoutcause，——thoughheaddedhalfadozenmistressestothefirst，couldshebreakhermarriagewithhim。Hewouldhavetheright，foranynumberofyears，todogherfromplacetoplace，sendingattorneysto"makeenquiries"atallherplacesofresidence，calculatedtoslurherreputation，evenifhesucceededinnothingmore。Herpleadinghisdesertion，ortheirseparation，wouldnotbarhisright。TheEnglishlawtakesnocognisanceofseparations，anddoesnotdivorceforthehusband"sadulteryanddesertion，asinScotland。

Neither(unlessbyspecialsettlement，contractthroughthirdparties，orsuitforalimonyfollowingasuitintheEcclesiasticalCourts)wouldhebeboundtosupporther，orpayanydebtofhers，ifshehadanincomeofherown，sufficientwithouthisaid。Shecouldnotmarryanyotherman:

butmustremain，asPage40

theLordChancellorthingsitjustthatwomenshouldremaininsuchcases，marriedtothenameofthehusband，whohasfreeleave，inlaw，toforsakeher，spendhisfortuneonhismistress，ormistresses，watchhisopportunity(ifpossible)todivorceher，and"sufferinglittleintheopinionoftheworldatlarge，"remain，himself，triumphantly，undivorceablethroughlife!Inaninstanceofdesertionsomeyearsago，thehusbandlivedatanhotel，callinghismistressbyhiswife"sname，andtooklodgingsforherinhiswife"sname，withperfectimpunity。Wherewastheremedy?Therewasnone。

Asecondcaselastsession，wasoneinwhichamarriedmanofrankcametoEngland，todisputetheguardianshipofaninfantchildbornofadoubleadultery；themarriedladywhowasitsmotherhavingbeendivorcedforhissake。Theevilbondbetweenthembeingalreadybroken，eachdesiredtoretainthis"pledgeoflove，"thepersonofthelittlechild。Itwasseizedbythemother；

regainedbythefather；madethesubjectofpolicestrugglesontheContinent，andofathreateningscandalinEngland。Whatthelawwouldhavedecidedinthatwonderfulcase，ofamancomingtoclaimunderthelaw，achildbornoutofthelaw，fromthehaplessmotherPage41

whohadalreadysufferedirreparablewronganddegradationonaccountofitsbirth，——Idonotknow，butthisIdoknow，thatthisclaimantofhisillegitimatechildhasthesameright，undertheEnglishlaw，totheguardianshipofhislegitimatechildren，asanyotherhusbandwouldhave:arighttointerferewiththeirpossessionbyhiswife，——thoughhislegitimatechildrenaregirls；andhisopenclaimofhisillegitimatechild，andhishavingbeenthepubliccauseofthedivorceofitsmother，giveshiswifenorightwhatevertodivorcehim"avinculo"；noristheretheremotestpossibility，undertheEnglishlaw，ofbreakinghermarriage。Hiswifesheis；andhiswifeshemustremain，evenifshewerenevertoseehimagain；andifhewerethefatherofasmanynaturalchildrenasCharlesII。

Athirdcase(towhichI

shallrecur)ismyown:inwhich，afterpersonalviolence，ill-usage，an"actionfordamages，"andalongseparation，thehusband——beingdesiroustoraisemoney，——procuredacontracttobesignedbetweenhimselfandhiswife，containingcertainprovisionsastohistrust-funds，andastoherincome，bothbeforeandafterthedeathofcertainparties。Thatcontractwaswitnessedandsignedbythehusbandhimself；bythesolicitorwhodrewitup，Page42——

agentlemandistinguishedinhisownbranchofthelegalprofession:

andbytheHon。EdmundPhipps，brothertotheMarquisofNormanby，yourMajesty"sMinisterattheCourtofTuscany，andtotheHon。CharlesPhipps，TreasurertothePrinceConsort。

Whentheincomesosecured(orsupposedtobesecured)，wasclaimedforcreditors，thehusband，inthiscase，refusedtopayit。ThelawofEnglandprovedtobe，thatthewifebeing"non-existent，"oronewiththehusband，couldnotlegallymakeanycontractwithhim。Thesignatureofthehusband，thesignatureofthebrotherofthoseotherdistinguishedpersonsinyourMajesty"sservice，——andthesignatureofthelawyerwhodrewuptheagreement，——allfailedtomakeitmorevaluablethanasheetofblankpaper。Thewife，whomighthavecompelledtheexecutionofsuchacontracthadshebeenamenialservant，wasleftwithoutaremedy，becauseshewasawife；andwithoutfurtherexplanationthanthat"thelaw"wouldholdherhusbandharmless，formockingherandmockingthegentlemenwhohadaddedtheirsignatures，byofferingthisfictitioussecurity。

Inlowerlife，——occurringasanillustrationofthedivorcelawsfortherich，——arespectablePage43

tradesmanwastriedforbigamy，andconvicted。Thesecondwifedeposed，thathehadcourtedherforsixyears；hadnomoneywithher；

onthecontrary，suppliedherwithmoneysincehisapprehension；hadalwaysbeenverykind；andthattheyhadachildofhis，residingwiththem。Theundivorcedwifewaslivingwithanomnibusman，andhadbeeninalunaticasylum。Mr。RussellGurney，indecidingthecase，observed，withepigrammatictruth，that"thiswasoneofthoseunfortunatecases，inwhich，inthepresentstateofthelaw，ifamanwasnotpossessedofwealth，hehadnopowertoremedyhissituation:"andknowing(aswedoknow)，thatif，insteadofplainMrGrayandobscureMaryAdams，thesepartieshadbeenLordGraytonandLadyMary，weshouldsimplyhavehad"Grayton"sDivorceBill"goingquietlythroughtheHouseofLords，wecanscarcelywonderifmurmursarise，againstthiswonderfulsystemoflegislation。

Inanoldfashionedbook(writtenbyafavouriteofyourMajesty"sUncle，GeorgetheFourth)，theauthorsays:"ifapoormanweretoappearinthelobbyoftheHouseofLords，prayingtobedivorcedgratisfromhiswife，itislikelythattheSergeant-at-ArmswouldtakePage44

himforsomepoorlunatic，andsendhimtoBedlam；yetIcanseenoreasonwhyacountrymanshouldnotbedivorcedatQuarterSessions，aswellasanoblemanintheHouseofLords。"NorI——ifdivorceistobeallowedatall。

Inhumblelife，again(thoughnoworseoffthanifshehadbeenprovidedforbyacontractbearingthesignaturesofoneoftheMetropolitanMagistrates，andthebrotherofyourMajesty"sAmbassador，andPrinceAlbert"sTreasurer)，aMrsAdsettclaimedsupportfromherhusband，agun-maker。ThehusbandverycoollyinformedtheMagistratethathecouldnotsupporther；onthecontrary，forsomemonthsshehadsupportedhim；butshemight"comebacktohim。"Thewiferepliedthathehadamistress，andshehadthreechildren。Themagistratesremarkedthattheywere"verysorry，"butthewifemustgo"tothehomeprovidedforher:"——mistressornomistress:——thelawofEnglandnotmakingthatagroundofspecialprotection。"Starve，orcondone。"Takethechildren，andgotothehusband，whois"alittleprofligate，"——andwhoissupportedbyyou，thathemayspendhismoneyonhisconcubine。

Thatisthelanguageofthelaw。

Itis，however，satisfactorytolearn，thatPage45

althoughwomenarenotprotectedinEngland，propertyisguardedbythemoststringentrules；andtobalancetheindignationwemightfeelatbrokencontracts，earningswastedonmistresses，andgeneraloppression，wearecomfortedbyknowingthatinFebruary，thisyear，SirBaldwinLeightonhavingconvictedhisgamekeeperofsendingapresentoftwodeadrabbitstoapersoninShrewsbury，afterhehadagreedtolookafter2，000acresofland，withoutperquisites，——themagistrates，——withexpressionsofregret(severalcountrymagistratescomingforwardtogivethegamekeeperanexcellentcharacter)，sentencedhimtoimprisonment，as"guiltyofwhatthelawcalledlarceny。"AndwearefurtheredifiedbyanincidentalstatementofLordBrougham(indiscussingabillnowpending)，that，in1849，threemen，eachapproaching70yearsofage，weretriedatdifferentsessions，inacounty，thenameofwhichhewouldnotmention。

Onewassentencedtosixweeks"imprisonmentwithhardlabour，forstealingtotheamountofabout1d。；anothertoeightweeks"hardlabourforstealingtotheamountof1/2d。；andathirdtofourweeks"hardlabourforstealingtotheamountof1/4d。NorhadhereasontobelievethattherewereanyaggravatingcircumstancesPage46

intheircases。Heknew，indeed，ofanothercase，inadifferentcounty，inwhichamaninhis70thyear，wassentencedtotwelvemonths"

imprisonmentwithhardlabourforstealingtotheamountof3d。Butheassumedthatinthatcasetheremusthavebeenaggravatingcircumstances。

No"aggravatingcircumstances，"

however，onthepartofahusband，canbringthelawtobearuponhim；andwhilethepoormanliesinprisonayear，forthefttothevalueofthreepence；——whilethegamekeeper，hithertorespectedandrespectableinhisstationoflife，isconsignedforabrieferterm，tothesameabodeofguilt，forsendingtworabbitstoatradesman"skitchen，——the"gentleman，"

whospendsonhismistresstheincomeofhiswife，oropenlydefraudsheronasignedcontract，——laughsinthefaceofjustice，andmocksthepowerofthelaw。

Inbrief，thelegalaxiomis，thatsinisnotsininaman，ifitbeagainstawoman；andmoreespeciallyagainstthewomanhevowedatGod"saltartocherishandprotect。Marriageis，accordingtothegreatlawauthoritiesinandoutofParliament，notareligiousbond，butacivilcontract。Thereligiousvow，takenbythemaninmarriage，ismerelytogivehimcivilrightsPage47

overthewoman"swornin"ashisspecialwife。Sheisboundtoaffordhimeveryassistance；tobe"truetilldeath"；tobeobedienttohiswill；andto"condone"hisguiltypleasures——andheisboundtonothingatall，exceptanominalunion，muchresemblinginitsprinciplethatsingularinvention，theRussian"Drosky，"inwhichweseeonehorseharnessedwithinshafts，anddrawingtheweightofthecarriage，andtheothercaracolingandfriskinginthemostlightagreeableandornamentalmannerbyitsside，butbearingnopartoftherestraintimposed。

Mr。Gladstone，speakingontheMarriageAmendmentBill，saysthat"whenthegospelcameintotheworld，womanwaselevatedtoanequalitywithherstrongercompanion，"——andthatthereis"perfectequalitybetweenmanandwomanasfarasthemarriagetieisconcerned，"——andheaskswhetheritisnow"intendedtohaveonemarriagecodeformenandanotherforwomen?"ButIsay，thereisalreadyonemarriagecodeformenandanotherforwomen:andastothegospelviewofwoman"sposition，——invainarewomenpointedoutas"thelastatthecross，andthefirstatthetomb；"invain，oneofthathumbledsexwasmadethemotheroftheSaviourofmankind；invain，allPage48

throughthegospelpages，theirfaith，theirsorrows，theirerrors，areheldupasobtainingattentionandmercyfromthedivine"Manofsorrowsandacquaintedwithgrief，"whoweptwiththesistersofLazarus，andcomfortedthewidowofNain。AsneeristheonlyanswertoMr。Gladstone"s"gospel"

doctrine；andtheonlytextonthesubjectacknowledgedbyParliament，istheOldTestamenttext:"andheshallruleoverher。"WekeepthedoctrineoftheFall——notoftheRedemption。

Therewas，indeed，anold-fashionedtimewhenanattemptwasmadetoshowlegaldiscouragementtomenwhowere"alittleprofligate。"WereadthatinthereignofJamesI。SirPecksaelBrocas——(probably，byhisname，asinnerofDutchextraction)——"havingbeenconvictedofmanynotoriousadulteries，"wasmadetodopenance，bystandinginawhitesheetatSt。Paul"sCross，holdingastickinhishand。

Butforthemostpart，thestateoflaw，andofpublicopinion，hasbeenverymuchwhattheLordChancellorCranworththinksitmayfairlyremain。

IfLordCranworthgoesthroughthatprocesswhichthewisestofwittymen，andthewittiestofwisemen，——thelateSydneySmith，——called"puttingaspinetohistory，"andconnectsPage49

thevariouseventsofdifferentreigns，itmustbeasatisfactiontohimtoremark，howwidelydifferenthasbeenthemeasuredealttosinfulKingsanderringQueens。Wetracetheincontinenceoftheformerbysuccessivecreationsinthepeerage；andthefaultsofthelatter，byrecordsofimprisonmentanddeathonthescaffold。

WhattheexactdegreeofAnneBoleyn"sguiltmayhavebeen，accusedasshewasofcrimeswhichevenatthetimenoonebelievedshehadcommitted:——whatthebalanceofindiscretionorviceinthatfairQueenofScots，whosateinhernarrowprison-roominyourMajesty"sPalaceofHolyrood，embroideringhead-dressesforhervainrivalQueenElizabeth，withaweakattemptatpropitiation:——

Whattherealhistorywas，ofSophiaDorothea，——QueenofGeorgeI。，motherofGeorgeII。，andgrandmotherofFredericktheGreat，——whopinedawaytheyearsofanEnglishreign，inaHanoveriandungeon；partedfromherchildren；havingseenthemanforwhomshewasslandered，dielikeRizzio，poniardedandburiedunderthefloorofherdressing-room:andwhoyetretainedstrengthandcourageforthatnoblereply，whenurgedtosupplicateforareconciliation:——"NoPage50——

ifIamguilty，IamnotworthytobeyourQueen；ifIaminnocent，yourKingisnotworthytobemyhusband:"——

HowfarCarolineofBrunswickwaspre-judgedandfore-doomed，whenshecametothiscountry，tofindtheCountessofJerseyalreadyappointedherlady-in-waiting，andtobewelcomed——notasabride，butasascrip-share，bythatindebtedPrince，whohadpledgedhisroyalwordhewasnotalreadymarriedtoMrs。Fitzherbert:——

Whatthetruthwas，inshort，——respectingalloranyofthesedeadQueens，——overwhosesenselessdustcontendinghistoriansstilldobattle，——wecanneverknow。

Butthiswedoknow；thatthepunishment，here，ofthosesinswhichhavenodistinctioninDivinelaw，wasmetedverydifferentlytothemandtheirroyalhelpmates:

thathistorydescribesthetyranthusbandofAnneBoleyn，asone"whoneversparedmaninhiswrath，orwomaninhislust:"thatthegreat-grandsonofscaffold——sentencedMary——thesonofscaffold-sentencedCharles，——popularlyknownbythenameof"themerrymonarch，"——hadsomanynaturalchildrenbyvariousmothers，thattheyformedquiteagroupinthepeerage；occupyingtheDukedomsofMonmouth——Southampton——Grafton——North-Page51

umberland——St。Alban"s——Somerset——andRichmond；——twoofwhichtitles——GraftonandSt。Alban"s——remainindirectlinefromCharles，downtothepresenttime。Weknow，thathiscourtwasanexampleofthemostextravagantandunpunishedlicentiousness:thatSirJohnDenhamandtheEarlofChesterfieldwerebothaccusedinhisreignofpoisoningtheirwives(thelatteradministeringthepoisoninthewineoftheHolyCommunion)；

andthattheKing"s"merry"favorite，theDukeofBuckingham，killedtheEarlofShrewsburyandheldaloveappointmentwiththeEarl"swifethesameevening。Weknow，thathisbrother，JamesII。had，byMrs。Churchill(sisteroftheDukeofMarlborough)，theDukeofBerwick——theGrandPrior——andothers；and，byMrs。Sedley，adaughtercreatedCountessofDorchester，andone，divorcedfromtheEarlofAnglesea，whobecameDuchessofBuckingham。

AndweknowthatthehusbandoftheslanderedandimprisonedDorotheaofZell，havingmarriedheronlyforthesakeofunitingthedominionsofthefamily，wasutterlyunfaithfultoher；thatMadlle。Schulenberg(createdDuchessofKendal)——MadameKilmanseg——andthat"bestbelovedmistressoftheKing，"——thebeautifulCountessofPlaten，afterwardsCountessPage52

ofDarlington——accompaniedhimtotheEnglandwhichhislawfulwifewasheldunworthytosee，andsuppliedherplaceinhisaffections，andhisroyalpalaces，whileshelivedanddiedinprison。

Thisalsoweknow，——thatthesonofthatmournfulqueen，——GeorgeII。，livedashisfatherhadlived——verycheerfully；andtwoanecdotesarerelatedofhiscourt，worthytoberemembered。

One，thatMr。Howard，husbandofoneoftheKing"smistresses(afterwardsCountessofSuffolk)，wenttoSt。James"sPalace，publiclytodemandhiswife；and，beingthrustout，sentalettertoherbytheArchbishopofCanterbury；whoconveyedthesummonstotheQUEEN，whodeliveredthelettertoherrival!Theotheranecdote——equallycurious——thatwhenhisson，thePrinceofWalesdied，theKing(whohadbeenonbadtermswithhim，andhadnevervisitedhiminhislastillness)wasplayingcardsasusualinLadyYarmouth"sapartments。Apagearrivedtotellhimhissonwasnomore。Herosewithoutemotion，crossedtoLadyYarmouth"scard-table，andleaningoverherchair，saidquietly，"Fritzisdead。"AndthiswasaKingwhoseQueen"condoned"everything。

OnthedetailsofthehistoryofGeorgeIV。"sPage53

queen，noonewoulddesiretodwell。ButDr。Lushingtonhadcourage，inpleadinghercause，toremarkontheridiculeofaman"seekingtobedivorcedattheageofsixty，fromawifefromwhomhehadbeentwenty-fouryearsseparated，byhisownact，andforthegratificationofhisownappetites。"

Herdeathdidnotappeasehim。ThechiefMagistrateofLondon，SirR。Baker，resignedonaccountoftheKing"sdispleasureattheroyalcorpsebeingsufferedtopass；andMajor-GeneralSirR。Wilsonwasremovedfromthearmybyroyalorder，fortheparthehadtakenintheQueen"sfavour；onwhichoccasionthepublicfeelingwasmanifestedbyapublicsubscriptionbeingraisedtocompensatetheGeneralforthelossofhiscommission，totheextentof#10，000。

"There"ssuchdivinitydothhedgeaking，"thatitisrarelytheirvicesfindopposition，eveninthechurch。Charlemagnedivorcedandmarriedninewives。WhenHenryVIII。neededdivorces，convenientCranmerandtheconvocationgrantedthreeinsuccession，——andwhenthevenerableFisher，BishopofRochester，objectedtotheKing"sviews，hepaidforitwithhispoorremnantoflife。Hislettersareextant，aneglectedprisonerinthetower；writingvainap-Page54

peals，inthedrearymonthofDecember，tothesecretaryofthatbloatedandtriumphantmonarch；pleading，notforlifeorliberty，butthathisclothingwassorentthatitdidnotkeephimwarm，andhisdietsoslenderthathewaswellnighstarved，beingoftengivenfoodhewastoofeebleandagedtoeat。Whatthen?InthatTowerofLondonwepassaswegodowntherivertokindlyNellGwynne"shospitalatGreenwich，theweakoldbishopwaslefttostarveandshiverthroughtheinclementwinter，andwasexecutedinthepleasantmonthofJune:andinayearfromthattime，the"DefenderoftheFaithandFatheroftheReformation"hadcutofftheheadofhisadoredAnneBoleyn，andwasdressedinwhiteandsilverasanexultantbridegroom，tomarryafresherlove；declaringthechildrenofhisformermarriage(ourQueenMaryandQueenElizabeth)，tobebothbastards。

Other(thoughlessbrilliant)

examplesofthedazzledwayinwhichthevicesofgreatandpowerfulmenarecontemplated，mightbequoted；ofwhichoneispleasant，onaccountoftheingeniousfrivolityofthegroundofjustification。When，inLuther"stime，theElectorofHessewantedtounitehimselftotheCountessdeSaal，heassuredLutherthathismainreasonwas——Page55

economy:thattheextremeexpenseofthetrainofattendantcarriages，baggage-waggons，etc。，necessarywhenhemadeprogressesthroughhiselectoratewiththatrespectedprincesshislegitimatewife，wasreallymorethanthefinancesofthecountrywouldbear；whilewiththeCountessdeSaalhewouldfeeljustifiedinadoptingamuchmoresimplestyleoftravelling；(anhistoricalwarningtowoman，againsttoomanyimperials!)

Luther，likeCranmer，bowedtothereasoningofhisruler，——andLordCampbellmaythinktheElectresscouldnotdobetterthan"condone"；butImuchfearthejudges"wiveswouldbeagooddealstartledbyitsbeingheldreasonable，whentheirhusbandsgocircuits，thattheyandtheirmanytravellingtrunksshouldbesupersededinfavourofayounglady(iftherebesuchayounglady)，whowouldcontentherselfwithasinglebandbox。Societyatlarge，however，wouldbesatisfied。WehaveitontheauthorityoftheLordChancellor(and，indeed，ontheevidenceofourownexperience)，thattheprofligatehusband"sufferslittleornothingintheopinionoftheworld。"Thestereotypedhomilyforthetwosexesisdifferent。Totheman，thelawofthelandandthelawofcustom，Page56

speakingbythemouthoftheLordChiefJusticeofEngland，saysthus:——

"Plenaindulgentia!"Fearnothing!Letwhatwillhappen，nothingcanhurtyou。Bringyourmistressesintoyourhouse，orleaveyourhometoresidewiththem。Giveyourwife"snametoone，andtravelaboutwithherunderthatprofaneddesignation。You，mypoorfriend，shalllosenoneofyourrightsasahusbandandfather。Yourwifemayperhapsresent；butIhopeshewillratherseethewisdomof"condoning。"Yourcrimeisnocrimeintheeyesofsociety；

andastoScripture，themarriagebondisonlyacivilcontract；whathavewelawyerstodowithDivineLaw?Yourwifeoughttoforgiveyou。Youhavenotbeenguiltyofincest。Thereisnoearthlyreasonsheshouldnotwaitpatientlyuntilyouaresatiatedwithyourpresentcourseoflife，andgladlywelcomeyouback。Thereisnothingtopreventherpardoningthedesertionandpersecutionofyears；evenifyouhavelibelledherreputation，andendeavouredtogetridofherbydivorce；byaccusingherofthesinwhichatheartyouknewshewasnotguiltyof，andyouare。

Ifshewerebutguilty，andprovedso，——then，Page57

indeed，allwereeasy!Totheirrevocableshame，totheinevitableforsaking，topovertyandoblivion——letherpass!itisdoom——butitisalsojustice:itisthemightyarmoftheLawwhichhasseizedher，andwillflingherfromtheTarpeianrockofsocialcondemnation，intothedarkgulfofoverwhelmingdisgrace。