第7章
ButwhenMissNightingale(pleaseGod!)shallreturnsafeamongstus:whensheshallceasefromgazinginthegreatmultitudeofwistfuldyingeyes,andcomebacktotheusualsightsoflife:whenthemoansofthewoundedshallbeasorrowfulmemory,notapainfulrealityinherPage109
ears:when,instead,sheshallhear,asshelandsonhernativesoil,theshoutedwelcomesofapplaudingandreverentialhearts,——williteveroccurtothemenofEnglandthatthebest"testimonial"totheworthofsuchwomen,wouldbetogivethesextheybelongto,astatus,which,inourcountryalone,isdeniedthem?andlawsofprotection,whichFrance,Germany,Prussia,——aye,evenAustriaandRussia,——finditeasiertoenactthanourselves。
ItwillgohardwiththeloyaltyofsuchofyourMajesty"sfemalesubjectsassufferlikeme,buttheywillwishthemselvessubjectsinanyothercountry;where,atleast,iftheyaretosuffer,theymustoffendagainstthelaw,andnot,asinEngland,sufferwithoutoffending。TheHaynausofEnglandaretheywhowillnothelptochangesuchlaws!HadIbeenaman,Iwouldhaveworkedouttheirrevisionandreform:butIamonlyawoman——and,inthelandwhichmyQueengoverns,womencountfornothinginimportantmatters。I
amonlyawoman——andbythelawtaughtinthoseInnsofCourtwherethePrinceConsortisaBencher,myexistenceis"absorbedinthatofmyhusband;"
andmyintelligenceisonlysofaravailable,thatitenableshimtosubpoenamypub-Page110
lishersintoCourt,toprovethatIcanearnmybreadwithoutcompellinghimtosupportme。
Evennow,friendssaytome:——"Whywrite?whystruggle?itisthelaw!Youwilldonogood。"Butifeveryoneslackedcouragewiththatdoubt,nothingwouldeverbeachievedinthisworld。ThismuchIwilldo,——womanthoughIbe。Iwillputonrecord,——inFrench,German,English,andItalian,——whatthelawforwomenwasinEngland,intheyearofcivilizationandChristianity1855,andthe16thyearofthereignofafemalesovereign!This,Iwilldo;andotherswhocomeaftermemaydomore。Myson,ormygrandson,maybeLordChancellorofEngland,andmaydowiththisabuseofjustice,whatRomillyandErskine(thelatterofmymother"srace)didwithabusesofjusticeintheirday;
andwhatBroughamandLyndhursthavedonewithabusesofjusticeinours。
Thefeudalbarbarityofthelawsbetween"BaronandFeme"mayvanishfromamongstus,asthefeudalbarbarityofduellinghasvanished;whichisalreadyacheckedabuse,andaforgottenfashion。
Myson,Isay,ormygrandson,mayachievethisreform;andmymemorymaybewiththemwhiletheywork,helplessasIamnow!IsthisPage111
adreamtosmileat?Thisisnotadaytosmileatanyboastofwhataccidentalcircumstanceorindividualenergymaybringabout。
Wehavelatelyseenexamplesofchangedfortune,wildasthedreamsofAlnaschar,butmoresuccessful。
Sixty-eightyearsago,onthedeckofavesselstrugglingthroughastormypassagetotheislandofMartinique,satethemournfulmotherofalittlegirlonlythreeyearsold。Thismotherwasyoung,beautiful,forsaken。Herhusband,beingwearyofher,hadbecome"alittleprofligate,"——andthewife,yearning,——asmanyabroken-heartedgirlhasyearnedbefore,undersuchcircumstancesofneglectanddisappointment,fortheolddearhomeofherchildhood,——wasreturningtoherparentsandfriends。Therewasnofiercenessinthatwoman"sheart。HergriefwasthegentlegriefofFaust"sMargaret:——
"Ichwein",——ichwein",——ichweine!"Inlove,andgenerousdevotionthroughlife,shehadscarcelyherequal;andshehadthroughlifethefatethosewomenwhoseemtodeserveitleast,oftenestobtain。ForthatmournfulCreole,weepingaloneonthestormyseas,——helplesslyPage112
returningtoherownfamily,——wasJosephinedeBeauharnais,theneglectedwifeoftheVicomtedeBeauharnais,afterwardstherepudiatedEmpressofNapoleonI。,andthatlittlechild——whosatetremblinginthestormbyitsmother"sside,——wasHortense,afterwardsQueenofHolland,andmotherofNapoleonIII。
If,——asthatCreolemotherwept,——somevoicehadwhispered,——"Yourlotisgrief;griefnow,andgrief,inspiteofsplendour,intheyearstocome:butyoushallbeEmpressofFrance:thelittlegirlbyyoursideshallbeaQueen;hersonanEmperor;
andthemusicofachancelove-songwhichthatchildshallcomposeinafteryears,shallbecomethegreatsolemnmarchandnationalhymnofFrance;
forevermakingmelodyoftriumphinherson"sears,whethersoundingonhisnativeshoresamongmillionsofelectingsubjects,orplayedintheroyalpalacesofarivalnation,proudofreckoningonhisfriendshipandalliance;proudofhearingthatmelodybecomeafamiliarcompaniontotheirown"GodsavetheQueen!""——Isay,ifsuchawhisperhadcomeonthewildwind,andmingledwiththedashofthestormyspray,wouldnotthefervent-heartedCreolehaveshudderedwithfear,lestPage113
delirium——nothope——hadtakenpossessionofhermind?
Exactlyfortyyearsbeforethispresenttime,NapoleontheFirst,conqueredbytheallies,cameonboardtheEnglishshipofwar,the"Bellerophon。"Heproposedhimselfasaguest,andhadtosurrenderasaprisoner。HeaskedpermissiontoresideanexileinEngland,andwasorderedunderclosestguardtoSt。Helena。
Theofficersofhissuitehadtheirarmstakenfromthem。TheEmperorhimselfwasrefusedanytitlebutthatofGeneralBonaparte,as"HeadoftheArmy;"
thoughhescornfullyremarkedthattheymightaswellcallhimanarchbishop,forhehadalsobeen"HeadoftheChurch,"andthatatleastheshouldbeFirstConsul,Englandhavingsentambassadorstohimbythatstyleandtitle。HewroteavainappealtothePrinceRegent——"lepluspuissant,leplusconstant,leplusgenereuxdemesennemis;"heenteredavainprotestagainstbeingsenttohisislandprison。Hesaidheneverwouldgothere;
herefusedtonominatethepersonswhoweretoaccompanyhim。HewrotetotheEnglishministry,——"Jenesuitpointprisonnier;jesuisl"hô;tedel"Angleterre。""LafoiBrittaniquesetrouveraperduedansPage114
l"hospitalité;duBellerophon。"Buttheproudhearthadtoyield。Hisgeneralsweredeprivedoftheirarms。Bonapartealonewas"permitted"towearhisswordwhenquittingtheship,byspecialorderfromAdmiralLordKeith。
WhentransferredfromtheBellerophontotheNorthumberland,hisbaggagewasexamined;andfromtheboxescontainingmoney,hisvaletwaspermittedtotakeoutsuchsumaswasconsiderednecessaryforpayingthewagesofservantswhoweretobeleftbehind,forallwerenotallowedtoaccompanyhim。Onebox(containingfourthousandgoldNapoleons)wasdetained;thoughafterwardsdeliveredtoSirHudsonLowetobereturnedtoitsowner。Thattheseproceedingswereunexpected,andinexplicabletotheFrench,wemaypresumefromtheimpossibilityofpersuadingthetwogenerals,SavaryandLallemand,thatthenextstepwouldnotbetodeliverthemupforexecutiontotheFrenchGovernment;andbytheattemptmadebythewifeofGeneralBertrandtodrownherselffromthecabinwindowoftheEnglishship,assoonasthedecisionofthePrinceRegentbecameknown。
Ifanyprophethadthensaidtothatbaffledmanandconqueredhero,NapoleontheFirst:——Page115
"Youcannotescape:Fatehasovertakenyou:humiliation,exile,sickness,anddeath,arenowyouronlypossibleportion:norshallevenyoursonbyyourAustrianbridesucceedyou,——thoughyouweddedtofoundadynastyonthehopeofhisbirth!ButthegrandsonofyourabjuredandrepudiatedJosephine,shall,aftermanyvicissitudes,obtainpeaceablepossessionofthethroneofFrance;andshallbethechiefallyandfriendofyourenemyEngland。Byastrangeconcurrenceofaccidents,thenephewofyourconquerortheDukeofWellington,shallbetheEnglishAmbassadortoyournephew"sCourtatParis。Whenyournephewgoes(ashewillgo)onatriumphalvisittoGreatBritain,theEnglishpeopleshallthrongandcrowdandswarmroundthestatueoftheDukeofWellington(castfromtheironofhisvictories,andinmemoryofWaterloo),andclimbuptherailingrounditspedestal,toseeyournamesakegoby,andcheerhimashepasses。Andwhen,withthefairConsortwhoshallbehisEmpress,hevisitsinstatetheItalianOperaHouseinEngland;thebeautifulDuchessofWellington,——wifeofyourconqueror"sson,——andhercousin,theMarchionessofEly,shallbetheattendantladies,standingPage116
ingracefulceremony,whiletheThirdNapoleonandhisEugenie,shallbeseatedinfriendlyequalityofdiscoursewithVictoria,QueenofGreatBritain;thenieceandsuccessorofthatPrinceRegenttowhomyourvainappealwaswritten;bywhomtheirrevocabledecreeofyourexileandnothingnesswaspronounced。
"NorshallthesumofFrenchgolddetainedonboardtheBellerophon,beanearequivalentfortheaggregatesumsspentinpreparationandfeasting,insight-seeingsandrejoicings,bythatchangedEnglandwhichdesiresworthilytoreceiveyourimperialsuccessor。TheCityofLondonshallbidhimtoafestivalwhereallthingsshallbememoriesofthepast。Theporcelainonwhichthemeatsareserved,shallbepaintedfortheoccasionwithyourarms;thedoyleysshallbegreenvelvetandgoldspangledwithyourimperialbees。Thewinesshallinclude,MalvoisiegrownonMountIda,whereJupiterwasnursed,——andAmontillado"suppliedat#600abutttoNapoleonI。"AndthatGuildhall,whoseMayor,Aldermen,andCommonCouncilonceaddressedAlexanderofRussiaincongratulationsonyourdownfall,whichtheytermed,"thedeliveranceoftheafflictednationsofEuropefromthemostgallingPage117
oppressionandunprecedentedtyrannythatevervisitedthehumanrace,"——shallechoequallyflatteringaddressestoyournephew,unitedwiththeEnglishagainstRussia,andyearningforthedownfallofAlexander"sheir。Andwhereastwogrievousordershavefrettedyourofficers;
viz。:thatallarmsofeverydescriptionaretobetakenfromFrenchmenofallranksonboardthisship,andthatonlytwelvedomesticsshallbepermittedtoattendtheEmperorandsuitetoSt。Helena,(bywhichmanyofthemmustgowithouttheirservants),——yournephewshallsend,withhishorsesalone,sixteengroomstotheroyalstables;andundertriumphalarches,andpalaceportals,theEnglishsoldiersshallpresentarmstohimashepasses:while,patientlyawaitinghisarrivalinthegreatfortifiedportofDover,heshallfindthePrinceConsortofEngland,PrinceAlbertofSaxeCobourg;nephewofLeopoldofSaxeCobourg,whoweddedyourenemythePrinceRegent"sonlychild——andwedded,afterherdeath,theKingofFrance"sdaughter;inthevacatedthroneofwhichlastking,yournephewshallholdregalstate,suchasnoformerMonarchofFrancehaseversurpassed。"
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Isay,if——inhismournfulpassagetoSt。Helena,——orinhislone,sad,angryrides,toandfromLongwood,——orindrearydays,whengazingacrossthesurroundingwasteofseathatdividedhimfromthetriumphofbattles,andathroneddestiny,andtheendearmentsofwifeandson,andconsignedhimtoalivingdeath,——thisstartlingsketchofthefuturehadbeensuggestedaspossible,byMontholon,orBertrand,orLasCasas,whentalkingwiththeirimperialmaster,wouldnotevenNapoleonhavedeemeditavaindream?
Or(moremarvellousyet)
if,atadatenotknowntous,becausetooobscure,whenMrKirkpatrick,aScotchgentleman,wasdoingdutyasconsulatMalaga;worriedwiththepettydetailsofhisconsulateposition;theclashofmercantileinterests,theperplexitiesofinternationallaw,theclaimsofmariners,thejealousiesofresidents,thebroilingheatofthesouthernclimate,andthedisputesaboutnothing,whicharealways,inallconsulates,arisingabouttwiceeverymonth,andarealwayssaidinthemostimminentdegreetothreaten"thedignityoftheBritishflag,"——if,atthattime,MrKirkpatrick,leaningbackinhischair,hadsaid,"Thisisallveryannoying,certainly;butIbearitwiththemorecheerfulness,asoneresultofmyPage119
residinginthisSpanishtownwillbe,thatmydaughtershallmarryaSpanishgrandee;andthedaughterofthatmarriage,beinggiftedwithgreatbeautyandgrace,shall,allingoodtime,gotoEnglandasvisitoronequaltermswithEngland"sQueen。Workmenshallhammer,andhang,andgild,dayandnight,toprepareasleepingapartment,andsittingapartment,inWindsorCastle,worthytoreceiveher;andtheQueenshallstandonherownthreshold,togiveherwelcomeandguideherin。AyoungandbeautifulEnglishmarchionessshallbespeciallyappointedtowaituponher。SheshallbeusheredhitherandthitherbythePrinceConsortofGreatBritain。Ballsshallbegivenatcourt,atwhichsheshallreignundisputedstar;theonelovelysight,ofwhichalleyesendeavourtocatchaglimpse,beiteversofleeting。Andallthisshallbedoneformydeargrand-daughter,inrightofhermarriagewiththegrandsonofanothergentleman,ofnogreaterrankthanmyself;anadvocateandjudgeatAjaccioinCorsica;
becausethatgentleman"sson,ayoungartilleryofficerofgreatmilitarygenius,becamesopowerfulandsofamous,thathewascrownedEmperorofFrance;madehisbrotherskings;hissistersPage120
queens;andgrew,indeed,soformidabletoEurope,thatEngland,Russia,Austria,andPrussia,combinedtoannihilatehispower;andsecuredhimatlengthastheprisonerofthatveryEngland——wheretheconsulofMalaga"sgrand-daughtershall,asItellyou,havesobrilliantareception,inrightofhermarriagewiththeadvocateofAjaccio"sgrandson"!
IfMrKirkpatrickhadheldthislanguage,andhadmadethisCassandra-likeprophecy,whiletheseeventswereasyetnoteven"loominginthedistance,"wouldnotsuchpersonsaswereinterestedinhiswelfare,havewrittenhometohisfriends,totellthemthat"poorMr。Kirkpatrickwasgoneoutofhismind;"——andthenexteagercandidatefortheMalagaconsulship,haveprivatelyputhisfriendsonthealertastoapplicationstothegovernmentonhisbehalf,——"asitwasprobabletherewouldbeanimmediatevacancy,onaccountofthemelancholyvisitationwithwhichithadpleaseHeaventoafflictthepresentconsul"?
Godonlysetsthemeasureofwhatmaybe:andIsaymysonorgrandsonmaybeLordChancellor,andmayaltertheselawsinfavourofthelawless,atpresentinforceinEngland。WehaveseenthelastmemberofthemarvellousPage121
Corsicanfamily,whosehistoryIhavebeensketching——(thepresentrulerofFrance)——declaretohisSenate,thathefearsassassinationtheless,becausehebelieveshehasamissionfromHeavenyetunaccomplished。Ibelieve,——inmyobscurerposition,——thatIampermittedtobetheexampleonwhichaparticularlawshallbereformed。Doesthatalsocreateasmile?Itis,nevertheless,onlyoneformofbeliefinaspecialProvidence。Ifthatisaridiculousbelief,whatbecomesofour"daysofhumiliation,"——"specialprayers,"——"fastsofpropitiation,"——andperpetualcallsuponHeaventointerfereintheaffairsofman?Ifitbearational,andnotaridiculousbelief,wheredoestheinterpositionofHeavenbeginandend?DoesProvidenceonlycondescendtolookdownuponpeopleandobjectsthatwepoorworms,(inthisspeckofoneofHismillionworlds,)
choosetoconsider"important"?Doesitonlyinterfereinbehalfofsovereigns,nations,andaggregateinterests?MustthenoticeofHeavenbefirstattractedbythedistinctionsofearth?Musttheproperobjectsforselectionbemarkedbyblueribands,madeoutofthecocoonsGodgaveusasacoveringforamoth"sunfinishedwings,——oreandpreciousstones,whichHescatteredinthePage122
claywetreadupon,——andtossingplumes,whichwereoncethetailandwingfeathersofadesertbird,fleeingbeforemanoverthehotsands,partofwhosetrackmanshallneversee:partofwhosetrack,tillthedaywhenearthconsumesawaylikeascroll,shallremainamongGod"s"wasteandbarrenspaces";glowinginaridandinsufferablelonelinessbeneaththeAll-seeingEye,astheyglowedonthedaywhenHagarweptontheirborders,andGodansweredthehelplessgushingofaslave-woman"stears,withthe"specialProvidence"ofamiraculousandangel-guardedfountain!
Webelieve,orwedonotbelieve:ifwebelieve,itmustbeonthegoodold-fashionedScripturalbelief,that"theveryhairsofourheadarenumbered";thatHeavenhasitsowninscrutablemeansofworkingoutitsowninscrutabledesigns;thatGod"swaysarenotasourways;thatHisProvidenceguardsthelowest,asitguardsthehighest;andthatwhetherfromhighorlow,itsinstrumentsarechosenbyaselectionofitsown!
Mysterioustousaretherulesbywhichitworks:butamongthemostobviouseffectsofthoserulesuponearth,isthiswhichallhistoryteaches;viz。,thatinallcasesofgreatinjusticePage123
amongmen,therecomesaculminatingpoint,afterwhichthatinjusticeisnotborne:whetherthatpointarriveonthewrongofapeasantorthewrongofaking。Thingsripeninhealthandindisease:ripenalikeforbloomandfordisgust。Thereisnostandingstill,inaworldwhichGodsetmoving。
Inourlittlecorneroftheearth,——wheresomuchbesidesisbusyandfermentingforchange,——thetimeisripelycomeforalterationinthelawsforwomen。Andtheywillbechanged。
Invainwouldthesneerersdeclare,"Thisisfolly;thisisthemererebellionofacleverwomanagainsttheauthorityofhernaturallordandmaster。"Itisnotso。Realsuperioritywillmakeitselffelt——andmyheartbowslowandreverentiallybeforeit,forIholdthatitdoesnotdependontheglitterofhumangifts。Thatmanisnotmysuperiorwhohasgreatercomelinessofappearance,oraquickerhumanintelligence;buthethatisbetter,stronger-hearted,andamorefaithfulservantofGod。HewhostandsnearertoglorythanI,onthatladdertoHeavenwhichangelstread;andwillsostandinitsclearlight,whenhumancomelinessshallbeblackmould,andthesparkleofhumanintelligence——darkness。
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Madam,——infamilies,asinnations,Rebellionisadiseasethatspringsfromthemalariaofbadgovernment。WRONGSmakeREBELS。Thosewhowoulddwellsubmissiveinthewholesomeatmosphereofauthority,revoltinthejailfeveroftyranny。
Thereistyrannyintheselawswhichupholdthestrongagainsttheweak;whichmakesomonstrousadifferencebetweenrichandpoor。Itoughtnottobepossible,inthisrealmofEngland,thatpoormenshouldbeabletosay,——"Wearebroughtupforjudgmentbeforethesegentlemen,becauselawsaremadeagainstus,butnotagainstthem:wegetsixmonths"prisonforill-treatingourwives,butgentlemenseemabletodoastheyplease。Wegettwelvemonths(asLordBroughamhassaid)fortheembezzlementortheftofafewpence,——buttheycancreepoutofamoneycontract,andnolawtocheckthem。Wegotoprisonforbigamy,becauseweaintrichenoughtobuyadivorceact;but,asfortherichman,whocanpayforadivorceact,hisbigamysetshissonamongthegentry,oramongthepeersofEngland,andhisladyamongtheotherladiesoftheland。
Ourheartsrevoltagainstbeingjudgedbymenwhoare,infact,morePage125
guiltythanourselves,thoughweareprisoners,andsomeofthemaremagistrates,"Byaveryrecentlyenactedstatute,thelawcompelsthepoormantoberesponsibletothecommunityatlarge,forthemaltreatmentofhiswife。Whyshoulditseemgrievousandshockingtomakenewlawsofrestraintforgentlemenaswellasforpoormen?Istherightofill-usagealuxurybelonging(likethepossibilityofdivorce)tothesuperiorandwealthyclasses?
Itoughtnottobepossibleeither,inthisrealmofEngland,thatthespiritofsectarianismshouldbestrongerthanthespiritofjustice。IntheParliamentaryDebatesoflastsession,(March1,1854),nolessthantwelveclosely-printedcolumnsofthe"Times"newspaperarefilledwithspeechesfromvariousmembers,relativetoaninquiryintothetreatmentofRomanCatholicladiesintheconventualestablishmentsoftheirreligion;and,onanotheroccasion,withthebattlingwhetheraCatholicgentlemanshouldorshouldnotbeabletoputhisdaughterstoaCatholicschool;theschool-girl"slettersbeinggravelyreadtotheassembledSenateofEngland。Whatanimpulsetohumanityisanadversecreed!WhowouldbelievethattheseProtestantdebaters,soanxioustocontrolRomanCatholicsPage126
intheirdomesticrelations,areutterlyrevoltedattheideaofsubmittingtoanycontrolthemselves!Thatthesecarefulguardiansoffemaleproperty,whoarestruckwithhorrorattheideaofayoungheiressbeing"over-persuaded"togivehermoneytoanunnery,——willplacidlyseeanyamountoffraudcommitted,aslongasitismerelyintheirownProtestantcircle。ThereismorefervourandfermentastothehangingofgarlandsinKnightsbridgeChurch,ortheplacingofChrist"semblemonMissSellon"saltar,thaninanydebatefortheamendmentoftheMarriageLaws,thathasbeenforcedonthereluctantattentionofParliament。
Neitheroughtittobepossiblethatthepleasuresofafewidlersshouldbebetterprotectedthanthefemaleportionofawholecommunity。IfMrNorton,amagistrateandmemberofthearistocracy,hadcheatedatagameofcardsinoneoftheclubsofLondon,allEnglandwouldhavebeeninaferment。Nay,evenifhehadrefusedtopaya"debtofhonour"——toaman——itwouldhavebeenreckonedamoststartlingandoutrageousstep!But,becausethematterisonlybetweenhimandhiswife,——becauseitis"onlyawoman,"——thewholecomplexionofthecaseisaltered。Onlyawoman!whomhecanPage127
libelwithimpunity,tofindaloopholeforescapeorexcuse。
Ideclare,upontheholySacramentsofGod,thatIwasnotLordMelbourne"smistress;and,whatismore,Idonotbelieve(andnothingshallevermakemebelieve),thatMrNortoneverthoughtthatIwas。Inthatmiserablefactistherootofallmybitterness,andofallhisinconsistency!Heneverhadarealconviction(notevenanunjustone),tomakehimconsistent。Hewavered,becausehewasdoing,notwhathethoughtnecessaryandjust,butwhatheimaginedwould"answer:"andsometimesonethingappearedlikelytoanswer,andsometimesanother。Hethoughtthecoursehetookrespectingmeandmychildren,in1836,wouldanswer;andsofaritdidanswer,thatheistwothousanda-yearthericher。Hethoughthisdefencetothetradesman"saction,in1853,wouldanswer;andsofaritdidanswer,thatheisfivehundreda-yearthericher。Butheneverbelievedtheaccusationsonwhichhehastwicefoundedhisgainfulmeasuresofexpediency。Heacknowledgedthathedidnotbelievethem,tootherswhohavepublishedhisacknowledgment。
Itoughtnottobepossiblethatanyman,bymockinvocationstojustice,shouldserveamerePage128
purposeofinterestorvengeance;itoughtnottobepossiblethatanymanshouldmake"thelaw"hisminister,inseekingnotthatwhichisjust,butthatwhichmay"answer。"
Iappealwhetherthisoughttobe!Beyondthefactioussectarianismwhichseesnointerestindebates,unlesstheyunfurlthestandardofreligiouswar!Beyondthecircleofprotectedwhist-players;andthefewHaynausofpolitesocietywhoseenoreasonforinterferenceintheinsultanddegradationofEnglishwomen,thoughtheyraiseanoutcryatthebarbarouscustomofothercountries!
Beyondthesenateoccupiedwithahotdiscussionwhetherdogsshallbepermittedtodrawcarts,——whetherthearmsofScotlandareproperlyquarteredwiththearmsofEngland,——whetherRomanCatholicgentlemenshallsendtheirchildrentoRomanCatholicschools,——butnotwiththelawsofprotectionfortheirownwives,sisters,anddaughters!IappealfromthesesectsandsectionstothewiderEngland:tothemercantileclasses,——theworkinglawyers,——thetradespeople(whoarecheatedbytheselaws),——andtothecommonsenseofthegeneralParliamentofGreatBritain。Itisnotfitthereshouldbeonelawforthepoorandanotherfortherich,——onelawfortheweak,andPage129