ButwhenMissNightingalepleaseGod!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,whatRomillyandErskinethelatterofmymother\'sracedidwithabusesofjusticeintheirday;
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。OneboxcontainingfourthousandgoldNapoleonswasdetained;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。WhenyournephewgoesashewillgoonatriumphalvisittoGreatBritain,theEnglishpeopleshallthrongandcrowdandswarmroundthestatueoftheDukeofWellingtoncastfromtheironofhisvictories,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?
Ormoremarvellousyet
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。WegettwelvemonthsasLordBroughamhassaidfortheembezzlementortheftofafewpence,——buttheycancreepoutofamoneycontract,andnolawtocheckthem。Wegotoprisonforbigamy,becauseweaintrichenoughtobuyadivorceact;but,asfortherichman,whocanpayforadivorceact,hisbigamysetshissonamongthegentry,oramongthepeersofEngland,andhisladyamongtheotherladiesoftheland。
Ourheartsrevoltagainstbeingjudgedbymenwhoare,infact,morePage125
guiltythanourselves,thoughweareprisoners,andsomeofthemaremagistrates,\"Byaveryrecentlyenactedstatute,thelawcompelsthepoormantoberesponsibletothecommunityatlarge,forthemaltreatmentofhiswife。Whyshoulditseemgrievousandshockingtomakenewlawsofrestraintforgentlemenaswellasforpoormen?Istherightofill-usagealuxurybelonginglikethepossibilityofdivorcetothesuperiorandwealthyclasses?
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,Idonotbelieveandnothingshallevermakemebelieve,thatMrNortoneverthoughtthatIwas。Inthatmiserablefactistherootofallmybitterness,andofallhisinconsistency!Heneverhadarealconvictionnotevenanunjustone,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,——thetradespeoplewhoarecheatedbytheselaws,——andtothecommonsenseofthegeneralParliamentofGreatBritain。Itisnotfitthereshouldbeonelawforthepoorandanotherfortherich,——onelawfortheweak,andPage129