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,ayoungpeerdesertedhisyoungwifethennearherconfinementofherfirstchild,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。
Neitherunlessbyspecialsettlement,contractthroughthirdparties,orsuitforalimonyfollowingasuitintheEcclesiasticalCourtswouldhebeboundtosupporther,orpayanydebtofhers,ifshehadanincomeofherown,sufficientwithouthisaid。Shecouldnotmarryanyotherman:
butmustremain,asPage40
theLordChancellorthingsitjustthatwomenshouldremaininsuchcases,marriedtothenameofthehusband,whohasfreeleave,inlaw,toforsakeher,spendhisfortuneonhismistress,ormistresses,watchhisopportunityifpossibletodivorceher,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。
AthirdcasetowhichI
shallrecurismyown: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。
Whentheincomesosecuredorsupposedtobesecured,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:\"andknowingaswedoknow,thatif,insteadofplainMrGrayandobscureMaryAdams,thesepartieshadbeenLordGraytonandLadyMary,weshouldsimplyhavehad\"Grayton\'sDivorceBill\"goingquietlythroughtheHouseofLords,wecanscarcelywonderifmurmursarise,againstthiswonderfulsystemoflegislation。
InanoldfashionedbookwrittenbyafavouriteofyourMajesty\'sUncle,GeorgetheFourth,theauthorsays:\"ifapoormanweretoappearinthelobbyoftheHouseofLords,prayingtobedivorcedgratisfromhiswife,itislikelythattheSergeant-at-ArmswouldtakePage44
himforsomepoorlunatic,andsendhimtoBedlam;yetIcanseenoreasonwhyacountrymanshouldnotbedivorcedatQuarterSessions,aswellasanoblemanintheHouseofLords。\"NorI——ifdivorceistobeallowedatall。
Inhumblelife,againthoughnoworseoffthanifshehadbeenprovidedforbyacontractbearingthesignaturesofoneoftheMetropolitanMagistrates,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,——withexpressionsofregretseveralcountrymagistratescomingforwardtogivethegamekeeperanexcellentcharacter,sentencedhimtoimprisonment,as\"guiltyofwhatthelawcalledlarceny。\"AndwearefurtheredifiedbyanincidentalstatementofLordBroughamindiscussingabillnowpending,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:thatSirJohnDenhamandtheEarlofChesterfieldwerebothaccusedinhisreignofpoisoningtheirwivesthelatteradministeringthepoisoninthewineoftheHolyCommunion;
andthattheKing\'s\"merry\"favorite,theDukeofBuckingham,killedtheEarlofShrewsburyandheldaloveappointmentwiththeEarl\'swifethesameevening。Weknow,thathisbrother,JamesII。had,byMrs。ChurchillsisteroftheDukeofMarlborough,theDukeofBerwick——theGrandPrior——andothers;and,byMrs。Sedley,adaughtercreatedCountessofDorchester,andone,divorcedfromtheEarlofAnglesea,whobecameDuchessofBuckingham。
AndweknowthatthehusbandoftheslanderedandimprisonedDorotheaofZell,havingmarriedheronlyforthesakeofunitingthedominionsofthefamily,wasutterlyunfaithfultoher;thatMadlle。SchulenbergcreatedDuchessofKendal——MadameKilmanseg——andthat\"bestbelovedmistressoftheKing,\"——thebeautifulCountessofPlaten,afterwardsCountessPage52
ofDarlington——accompaniedhimtotheEnglandwhichhislawfulwifewasheldunworthytosee,andsuppliedherplaceinhisaffections,andhisroyalpalaces,whileshelivedanddiedinprison。
Thisalsoweknow,——thatthesonofthatmournfulqueen,——GeorgeII。,livedashisfatherhadlived——verycheerfully;andtwoanecdotesarerelatedofhiscourt,worthytoberemembered。
One,thatMr。Howard,husbandofoneoftheKing\'smistressesafterwardsCountessofSuffolk,wenttoSt。James\'sPalace,publiclytodemandhiswife;and,beingthrustout,sentalettertoherbytheArchbishopofCanterbury;whoconveyedthesummonstotheQUEEN,whodeliveredthelettertoherrival!Theotheranecdote——equallycurious——thatwhenhisson,thePrinceofWalesdied,theKingwhohadbeenonbadtermswithhim,andhadnevervisitedhiminhislastillnesswasplayingcardsasusualinLadyYarmouth\'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;declaringthechildrenofhisformermarriageourQueenMaryandQueenElizabeth,tobebothbastards。
Otherthoughlessbrilliant
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,thattheyandtheirmanytravellingtrunksshouldbesupersededinfavourofayoungladyiftherebesuchayounglady,whowouldcontentherselfwithasinglebandbox。Societyatlarge,however,wouldbesatisfied。WehaveitontheauthorityoftheLordChancellorand,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。