anotherforthestrong,——onelawforEngland,andanotherforScotland:andthattheeffectofthisconfusionshouldbebytheadmissionoflaw-giversthemselves,scandal,outrage,andfraud;andanimpossibilityofcarryingouttheendsofjustice。
ThereisneededinEngland,whatisestablishedbylawinothercountries;atribunalformarriageanddivorcecases,withfullpowerofcontrol;andwhythatpowercannotbevestedintheCourtofChanceryastheLordChancellorproposed,itisforthelegistswhocontradictedhimtoshew。Oneargumentagainstitisprobablyentirelyfallacious;andthatistheenormousincreaseofbusinesswhichthesefamilydisputeswouldbring:evenifwearetoadmit,thatjusticeshouldnotbeadministeredifitsadministrationistobecometroublesome。
ThesameargumentwasusedwhentheInfantCustodyBillwaspassed。LordWynfordthendeclaredthat,inconsequenceofthisbill,\"thejudgeswouldhaveaburdenthrownuponthem,whichtheirotherdutiesrenderedthemwhollyunabletobear。Thehusband,besides,wouldbekeptinaconstantstateoflitigationfromoneendoftheyeartotheother。\"
Wehavenowfifteenyears\'
experiencetojudgePage130
thebillupon。Hasthatbeentheresult?Onthecontrary,theexacttruthandclearsightednessoftheanswersmadebyLordLyndhurst,andthethenLordChancellor,havebeenprovedtodemonstration:——\"IfthehusbandweretofeelthattherewasaPowerofControlresidingsomewhere,hewouldnotcompelhiswifetohaverecoursetoanapplicationforitsexerciseinherbehalf……Thebill,infact,tookthematteroutofthehandsofthehusband,andplaceditinthehandsoftheindependentjudgesofthehighesttribunalsinthecountry。Allthebillsaid,wasthatthehusbandshouldnotbejudgeinhisowncase。\"
Whyshouldhebejudgeinhisowncase,inthis,morethaninanyotherlitigatedmatter?Whyshouldtherebesuchadreadofestablishingacontrollingpoweroverhusbands?
Agoodandjustmanneednotfearthatpower;andwhyisabadandunjustmantodefythepossibilityofitsexercise?
HereisLordMelbourne\'sopinioninmycase:theopinionofthatministerwhosedefenceissufficientforPrinceAlbert,butnotsufficientforme:——\"Never,tobesure,wastheresuchconduct!Tosetonfootthatsortofenquirywithouttheslightestrealgroundforit!ButitdoesPage131
notsurpriseme。Ihavealwaysknownthattherewasthereamixtureoffollyandviolencewhichmightleadtoanyabsurdityoranyinjustice。
Keepupyourspirits;agitateyourselfaslittleaspossible;donotbetooanxiousaboutrumoursandtheopinionof\'theworld;\'being,asyouare,innocentandintheright,youwill,intheend,bringeverythinground。Yours,MELBOURNE。\"
Whyisanymantohaveuncontrolledlicencetocommenceaprosecution\"withouttheslightestrealgroundforit?\"Whyisthefactofbeinginnocentand\"intheright\"togofornothinginEnglishlaw,——andwhyisthewifeinsuchacasetohavenomoreclaimonthehusbandthanifsheweredivorced?
Insteadofmyhavinganyrespectfortheselaws,theymustofnecessity,tome,appearsimplyridiculous。
Invainwouldthosewhodesiretoseethemmaintained,affecttosneerdownmyeffortstoexposetheirabsurdity,byaffirmingthatthisisa\"privatequarrel,\"whichouttobekeptprivate。Itisnotintheprivatequarreltheyareinvitedtointerfere,butinthestateoftheEnglishlaw。Thatcanhardlybecalledaprivatequarrel,whichbeganinapublicprosecu-Page132
tion:butifitbeaprivatewrong,itoughttoberedressiblebypublicjustice。Aprivatequarrel,——whatotherquarrelcanlawadjust?
Whatwerelawsmadefor,butforredressofprivatewrongs?Weretheymade,todecidedisputesamongnations?WARisfornations:LAWisforindividuals,andinthatcountrywhereprivatewrongscannotberemedied,nationaljusticeisatfault!Averyshallowreaderofhistorymightprove,thatfromtimeimmemorial,changesinthelawsofnationshavebeenbroughtaboutbyindividualexamplesofoppression。Suchexamplescannotbeunimportant,fortheyare,andeverwillbe,thelittlehingesonwhichthegreatdoorsofjusticearemadetoturn。
Thatmycasemaybeonesuchexample,isnoveryambitioushope。ThatthelawsmaybechangedinyourMajesty\'sreign,——inthereignofawomanandaQueen,——noveryexaggerateddreamofromance。MymiseriesdatefromthetimeofyourMajesty\'saccession。
Theyearsthatyouhavespentasahappywifeandmother,Ihavespentinacontinualstruggleforjustice。TheministerwhosenameandwhoseauthorityisadvancedbyyourMajestytojustifybyacclamationthePrinceConsort,isquotedbymyPage133
husbandasameansandacauseformyperpetualinjury。
Itisimpossibleforme,whenIreflectonmyunjustpositionasanEnglishsubject,notalsotoreflectonyourMajesty\'sposition,asQueenofthecountrywheresuchlawsareinforce:andonthepeculiarcircumstanceswhich,——evenhadthecaseoccurredtopersonsobscureandunknown,insteadoftoyourMajesty\'sPrimeMinister,——wouldwarrantthehope,thatthepresentSovereignofEnglandmighttakepeculiarinterestinthereformofthelawswhichhavemadesucheventspossible。
Notloneandvainglorious,likethevirginQueenElizabeth,——norchildless,likethehypochondriacMary,——norheirless,likethefeeble-mindedAnne,——moreof\"thebeautyofwomanhood\"adornsthedestinyofQueenVictoria,thanhasbelongedtothebarrenreignsofformerEnglishQueens;andthelinktoalltheinterestsofwoman\'slifeshouldbegreater。Moremercymaybeexpectedfromher,thanfromtheembittereddaughterofwrongedCatherineofSpain,——morelove,thanfromthehaughtyscionofdegradedAnneBoleyn,——morejustice,thanfromtheweakandcapriciousnieceofCharlesII。,——morethankfulnesstoGod,andwillingnesstohelpHisPage134
lessfortunatecreatures,maybesupposedtoexistintheheartofthatroyalwifeandmother,whohasbeenpermittedbyHimtosailsofarontheseaoflife,withoutonestormasyettoruffleitschangefulsurface!
Inthehistoryofthoseprecedingfemalereigns,Ifindnotraceofanyattempttobettertheconditionoflawsforwomen。
Inthehard,stern,persecutingreignofherwhosemotherhadbeensetasideforthesakeofthe\"Gospellight\"thatshoneinBoleyn\'seyes,——womenwereburntforthefaith\'ssake;
andthatgentleandlearned\"child-wife,\"LadyJaneGrey,sufferedunreprieved,fortheambitionofothers。Sendingherlastpatientsightoheaven,onthesamedaychristenedBlackMonday,thatfifteengibbetswereerectedforotherexecutions。Marywasgloomyandpitiless:forsaken,likehermother,byakingsoonerweariedandmorejustlyweariedthanherinconstantfather,sheleftnotraceofwoman\'ssoftnesstorelievethefierceandjoylesshistoryofherbriefruleoverEngland。
NorAnne;thoughgovernedbywaitingwomenandfemalefavourites;thoughthepoorcrownedslaveofthepassionateDuchessofMarlborough,andthewilyintriganteMrsPage135
Masham;thoughas\"womanly\"asfollycouldmakeher,andtheincapacityforagreatposition;feeblydeclaring,duringthequarrelsofHarleyandBolingbroke,that\"thedisputesofherministerswouldkillher。\"Adiseasewhich,fortunatelyforus,islessdangerousinthepresentreign;consideringtheheighttowhichthefeverofsuchdisputeshasrisen。Inallthethirteenyearsofhernon-government,wefindnofurtherprotectionofwomenthanforthesakeofthatwhichisalwaysmadetheonepleaofprotectioninmercantileEngland——property:andweareratherstartledthansatisfied,whenweread,thatunderQueenAnne,oneHaagenSwensdenwastriedandexecuted\"forstealingandmarryingMistressPleasantRawlins,\"becauseshewasanheiress。
InElizabeth\'sreign——theQueenwhoprecededAnne,andimmediatelyfollowedsternMary——matterswereevenworse;asindeedtheyshouldbe;forthosewomenwhosepositionsoughtonewouldimaginetoteachthemmostmercy,areoftenthemostsevere。
Theunjustdegradation,——thecruelexecution,——thevainlytouchingappeals,——ofhermother,AnneBoleyn,thatmotherwhoisbyhistoriansstatedtohavebowedherhearttoherlicentioushusbandinherlastPage136
miserableletter,thathemightshowkindnesstoherchild,taughtElizabethnotenderness,andinspiredherwithnopardonforthoseofherownsexwhooffendedher。Wearetoldtobelieveherchaste:tobelievethatshetookheartsbutnevergaveone:thatthebarrenpleasureofvanitysupersededthecontemnedpassionoflove:thatshedazzledandflatteredtheyoung,ardent,andcomely,onlytoweanthemfromothers,nottosecurethemforherself:thatshebroketheheartofsomefoolishAmyRobsart,withoutviewingthegainofasuitorinanyotherlightthanasaconquerorviewsthegainofaprovince:thatshenomoreknewthemeaningofGö;ethe\'syearningandregretfullines:——
\"SeinhoherGang,——Sein\'edleGestalt,SeinesMundesLä;cheln,——SeinerAugenGewalt,UndseinerRedeZauberfluß;,SeinHä;ndedruck,——undachseinFuß;\"thanweknowthemeaningofthecabalisticAbracadabrainoldbooksofmagic。Letusbelieveit。
Lettherebe\"noscandalaboutQueenElizabeth。\"
Inthereign,then,ofthis\"thronedVestal,\"justicewassocorruptlyadministered,that,inPage137
thetenthandlastparliamentsheheld,oneofthemembersdescribedamagistrateas\"apersonwho,foradozenchickens,woulddispensewithhalfadozenpenalstatutes。\"Herhaughtyanduncurbedtemperstruck,withthefiercenessofahawk,atallwhohadthemisfortunetooffendher。
WhenLadyCatherineGreymarriedtheEarlofHertford,theyweredivorcedbytheQueen\'sdirections,aftertheyhadhadtwosons;andbothwereimprisonedandfined。WhenNorfolkattemptedtomarrytheQueenofScots,shesenthimtotheTower。WhenCharles,EarlofLenox,marriedElizabethCavendish,sheimprisonedthemothersofthenewly-weddedpair。WhenLeicestermarriedtheEarlofEssex\'swidow,sheconsignedhimtoprison——notforhissinfullove——butforherqueenlyjealousy。WhenThrogmortonwassupposedtolove,andplottheescapeof,MaryQueenofScots,hewasrackedthreetimes,andafterwardsexecuted;andshevainlyattemptedtoforceonMary\'schoiceherowncreatureDudley,intheearlierdays,beforetheaxeoftheexecutionerappearedthereadiestwayofcuttingtheGordianknotofstatedifficulties;beforethedaughterofAnneBoleyn,whosemotherhadperishedonthescaffold,signedwithherownPage138
handthewarrantthatwastosendanotherQueentothescaffold;
andheardthesamegunsboomintriumph,thatsoundedroughmusicinherfather\'sears,——whentheysenttheirwildechooffreedomfromLondontoRichmond,totellhimhermotherwasaheadlesscorpse。
Andwithalltheseheavygoverningsofthelivingdestiniesandsorrowfuldeathsofothers,seewhatatrue\"woman\"thisgreatqueenwas。Readtheaccountofher,inthelasttwoyearsofherlife;afterthemorehealthyandanimatedenergywasover,whichcausedhertoboxLordEssex\'sears,andthatpettedfavouritetoexclaim,\"Thathewouldnothavetakensuchaninsultfromherfather,muchlessakinginpetticoats。\"ReadtheaccountgivenbySirJohnHarringtonhergodsonandothers,——whichdescribeherfrowningonallherladies,walkingaboutherprivychamber,stampingatillnews,thrustingherrustyswordintothearrasinhergreatrage;swearingmuch,——\"tothenosmalldiscomfitureofthoseabouther,especiallyoursweetLadyArundel;\"
\"orchidingforsmallneglect,insuchwiseastomakethesefayremaidesoftencryandbewaileinpiteoussort;\"andfinallyfearingtogotobedlestsheshouldneverriseagainsittingfortendaysoncushionsontheground;gene-Page139
rallywithherfingerinhermouth,andhereyesbentontheearth:
tillshedied,andwasburied,atanexpenseof#17,428,andherransackedwardrobeattestedherfeminineloveoffinery,bycountlesssetsofjewels,andupwardsoftwothousanddifferentdresses!
Inthisreign,thecarryingoffofanheiress,andrape,weremadefelonywithoutbenefitofclergy;
butthenthatsevereprotectionwasalsogiventothosewhosufferedrobberytotheamountoffiveshillingsinahouseorout-house;sothattheprotectionofwomenremainedmuchwhereitwas。InthereignofGeorgeI。oneofQueenAnne\'smaidsofhonour,MaryForester,——havingbeenmarriedwhentwelveyearsoldtoSirGeorgeDowning,andthatungallantbaronet,onreturningfromhistravels,declaringthatshewasnotatalltohistaste,thathewouldhavenothingtosaytoher,andthatheutterlydeclinedtakinghertowife;——\"waspersuadedtopreferapetitiontotheHouseofLordstobedivorced。\"Allthebishops,andamajorityofthepeers,wereagainstgrantingthisdivorce;andMaryForesterremainednominalLadyDowning。
ThereignofGeorgeIII。
andofthepreciseQueenCharlotte,beganwithaproclamationPage140
againstviceandprofaneness;yetinSeptember,1771,thatis,elevenyearsaftertheproclamation,thereweretwenty-fivecasespendinginDoctor\'sCommons,beingagreaternumberthanforfiftyyearsbefore:
andinthesummerpreceding,asubjectrecovered#10,000damagesagainstoneoftheroyaldukesdamageshavingbeenlaidat#100,000。Eventhen,thelawseemtohavefolloweditsusualruleofconfusioninsupportofmorality;forinthesameyearitoccurredthattwopersonsreceivedanequalpunishmentofbeingwhippedroundCoventGarden;oneofthosepersonshavingseducedhisownniece,whiletheother——hadstolenabunchofradishes。
That,however,wasadegreebetterthantheproportionofthepresentday;whenasLordBroughamhasshownsomedefectintheworkingof\"Justice\'sjustice,\"mayconsignapoormantoprisonfortwelvemonthsforstealingtothevalueofthreepence;
andagentlemanmaydoprettynearlyashepleases。Itisastateofthingsthatwillnotbebornemuchlonger;weareanxiousthatthepeopleshouldlearnamodernversionofthelessontaughtacenturyagoin\"Ward\'sRhymingDialogues\"aboutthestudyof\"CommonThings。\"TheywillturnPage141
theirattentionalsotothestudyof\"UncommonThings;\"andamongstthemostremarkableofcommon,oruncommon,subjectsforreflection,aretheinequalitiesofjustice。Athingwillbeborneatonetime,thatwillbecomeanimpossibilityatanother。Inthesummerof1717,twosoldierswerewhippedalmosttodeath,andturnedoutoftheservice,onlyforwearingoak-boughsintheirhatsonthe29thofMay。
Whatwouldhavebeensaidordoneundersuchcircumstancesthe29thoflastMay?Aboutsixyearsbefore,whenSirCholmondelyDeringwaskilledinaduel,anattemptwasmadetobringinabillagainstduelling,whichitwasfoundutterlyimpossibletopass;but,in1765,LordByronstoodhistrialbeforethePeersforkillingMrChaworth;in1804,ajuryconvictedCaptainBestofwilfulmurderforhisfatalduelwithLordCamelford;and,in1808,MajorCampbellwasexecutedforhisfatalduelwithCaptainBoyd。Whothinksoffightingaduelnow?Or,whothinksofahundredotherchanges,ascompleteandmoreimportant?
Andnowitisthefashionamongstlegiststoworkveryheartilyat\"assimilating\"thislawandthatlaw,——\"assimilating\"thelawofevidenceinEnglandandScotland;
andthelawofPage142
partnership;andthecommerciallawforbillsofexchange。Onthislast,theLordAdvocateobserves,that\"itisamatterofastonishmentthatthelawofbillsofexchangehasremainedsolonginthebarbarousstateitisatpresent。\"AndSirErskinePerrywhohasbeeninIndia
says,muchremainstodo,butmuchhasbeendonesinceBentham\'stime,whenthefieldofEnglishlawwas\"awildjungle。\"Doesitnotoccurtotheseandotherauthorities,thatthelawof\"mightisright\"savoursalsoratherofthe\"wildjungle,\"thanofthecalmenactmentsofacivilisedChristiancountry?andthattheprincipleof\"assimilation\"mightbeextendedwithadvantagetothoselawsbetweenhusbandandwife,whichareutterlyatvarianceNorthandSouthoftheriverTweed?
Twentyyearsago,theWarrendercaseoccupiedpublicattention;andLordBrougham,whenspeakingonthatcase,summedup,inhisusualgraphicmanner,theabsurdcontradictionsinvolvedbytheconflictofScotchandEnglishlaw。LordLyndhurst,followinginthesamecase,andremarkingonthesameabsurdities,statedthatLordEldonhadintendedtobringinaBilltoreconcilethedifferencebetweenthelawsofthetwocountries。WhereistheBillofPage143
thatsagaciousoldlawyer,whosecountenancesomuchresembledthephysiognomyofthebirdofMinerva,thatSydneySmithsaid,\"nomanevercouldbeaswise,asLordEldonlooked?\"AttheendoftwentyyearsfromthatdeclarationofLordLyndhurst\'s,wearestillpotteringoverpiecemealchanges:stillbringinginfeebleBillsto\"preventBordermarriages,\"orfinethosewho\"witness\"weddingsatGretnaGreen!
Actually,manyofourownlegislators,andalltheforeignersIevertalkedwithonthesubject,believeGretnatobeanexceptionaltown,orspot,wheremarriageispossiblebysomeexceptionallaw;notknowingthatGretnaismerelythenearestplaceforEnglishpartiestoavailthemselvesofScotchlaw,——thenearestpointinScotlandEnglishloverscanreach。IrishpartiesdidnotgotoGretna。IrishpartieselopedtoPortPatrick,andweremarriedthere,asthenearestpointinScotlandtheycouldreach;anditmayperhapsamazemyreaderstolearn,thattheScotchcomplainedofEnglishimmorality,andattributedtheirskippingacrosstheirborders,toanattempttomakemarriagestheycouldafterwardsevadebyEnglishlaw;cheatingtheinnocentCaledoniansintounionswiththem,andafterwardsdiscardingtheobjectsoftheirPage144
choice;andtheScotchthemselves,consequentlyendeavouredtopreventtheseBordermarriages。Yethereweare,stilllabouringoverthisknottypoint:theseCyclopsofthelaw,whocanonlyseewithoneeye,narrowlypeepingat,andpuzzlingover,onesingleaspectoftheirmanydifficulties;whenitmustbeobvioustocommonsense,onabroadgeneralviewofthosedifficulties,thatwhatisneededisan\"assimilation\"ofthelaw,——whatisneededis,thattheNorthernportionandSouthernportionofyourMajesty\'sdominionsshouldbebroughtunderonelaw;andtheretheconflictwouldcease。
Theretheconflictwouldcease。Idonotsay,thereabetterprotectionwouldbegin;forIcannotprophesywhetherLordCranworth\'sviews,orthoseofLordsEldon,Thurlow,andRosslyn,wouldpreponderate;whether,inthe\"assimilation\"thatwouldtakeplace,abettermercytowomenwouldbeborrowedfromportionsoftheScotchlaw,ortheDesdemonasofScotlandbesmotheredbyajealousEnglishlegislation。
ButthisIwillventuretosay:thatinnocountryinEuropeisthereinfactsolittleprotectionofwomen,asinEngland!InFranceamarriedwomanmaybearrestedfordebt;butPage145
inFranceamarriedwomanisunderthecarefulprotectionofthelaw,andherhusbandunderthestrictcontrolofthelaw;indeed,thelawofFranceviewsthepositionofwomenwithpeculiarindulgence。InGermany,Austria,Prussia,Holland,Sweden,andRussia,asIwillprovebyahandbookofthoselawswhichIampreparingforthepress,therulesofinterferencefortheprotectionofmarriedwomenareinfinitelymorefavorablethaninourowncountry。