InMarch,1855,inthispresentsession,theSolicitorGeneralstated,thatabillonthesamesubjectwas\"nearlyprepared,\"andwouldbebroughtforward\"immediatelyaftertheEasterrecess。\"OnMay10th,beingpressedtonameatime,hestatedthatitwouldbeproposed\"assoonastheHousehadexpressedanopinionontheTestamentaryJurisdictionBill。\"Thattimehasnotarrived:andmeanwhile,——asonewhohasgrievouslysuffered,andisstillsuffering,underthepresentimperfectstateofthelaw,——IaddressyourMajestyonthesubject。
Page4
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。
Page5
Itisnotso。YourMajestyisQueenofEngland;HeadoftheChurch;HeadoftheLaw;Rulerofmillionsofmen;andtheassembledSenatewhomeettodebateandframelegislativeenactmentsineachsucceedingyear,begintheirsessionallaboursbyreverentlylisteningtothatclearwoman\'svoice,——rebellionagainstwhosecommandistreason。
Intheyear1845,ontheoccasionoftheopeningofthenewHallofLincoln\'sInn,yourMajestyhonouredthatHallwithyourpresence:whenHisRoyalHighnessPrinceAlbertwasinvitedtobecomeaBarrister:\"thekeepingofhistermsandexercises,andthepaymentofallfeesandexpenses,beingdispensedwith。\"Itwasanoccasionofgreatpompandrejoicing。NoreigningsovereignhadvisitedtheInnsofCourtsinceCharlesII。,in1671。InthemagnificentlibraryofLincoln\'sInn,seatedonachairofstatePrinceAlbertstanding,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。
Inonlyfourinstancestwoofwhichwerecasesofincest,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,hemaydivorceheriftruthorfalseswearingcandoit:ashiswife,theutmost\"divorce\"shecouldobtain,ispermissiontoresidealone,——marriedtohisname。Themarriageceremonyisacivilbondforhim,——andanindissolublesacramentforher;andtherightsofmutualpropertywhichthatceremonyisignorantlysupposedtoconfer,aremadeabsoluteforhim,andnullforher。
Ofcourseanoppositepicturemaybedrawn。Therearebad,wanton,irreclaimablewomen,astherearevicious,profligate,tyrannicalmen:butthedifferenceisthis:thattopunishandrestrainbadwives,therearelaws,andveryseverelawstosaynothingofsocialcondemnation;whiletopunishorrestrainbadhusbands,thereis,inEngland,noadequatelawwhatever。Indeed,theEnglishlawholdsoutasortofpremiumoninfidelity;forthereisnodoubtthatthewomanwhoisdivorcedforaloverandmarrieshim,sufferslessexceptinconsciencethanthewomanwhodoesnotdeservetosufferatall——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,\"