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，\"