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，ayoungpeerdesertedhisyoungwife(thennearherconfinementofherfirstchild)，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。
Neither(unlessbyspecialsettlement，contractthroughthirdparties，orsuitforalimonyfollowingasuitintheEcclesiasticalCourts)wouldhebeboundtosupporther，orpayanydebtofhers，ifshehadanincomeofherown，sufficientwithouthisaid。Shecouldnotmarryanyotherman:
butmustremain，asPage40
theLordChancellorthingsitjustthatwomenshouldremaininsuchcases，marriedtothenameofthehusband，whohasfreeleave，inlaw，toforsakeher，spendhisfortuneonhismistress，ormistresses，watchhisopportunity(ifpossible)todivorceher，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。
Athirdcase(towhichI
shallrecur)ismyown: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。
Whentheincomesosecured(orsupposedtobesecured)，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:\"andknowing(aswedoknow)，thatif，insteadofplainMrGrayandobscureMaryAdams，thesepartieshadbeenLordGraytonandLadyMary，weshouldsimplyhavehad\"Grayton\'sDivorceBill\"goingquietlythroughtheHouseofLords，wecanscarcelywonderifmurmursarise，againstthiswonderfulsystemoflegislation。
Inanoldfashionedbook(writtenbyafavouriteofyourMajesty\'sUncle，GeorgetheFourth)，theauthorsays:\"ifapoormanweretoappearinthelobbyoftheHouseofLords，prayingtobedivorcedgratisfromhiswife，itislikelythattheSergeant-at-ArmswouldtakePage44
himforsomepoorlunatic，andsendhimtoBedlam；yetIcanseenoreasonwhyacountrymanshouldnotbedivorcedatQuarterSessions，aswellasanoblemanintheHouseofLords。\"NorI——ifdivorceistobeallowedatall。
Inhumblelife，again(thoughnoworseoffthanifshehadbeenprovidedforbyacontractbearingthesignaturesofoneoftheMetropolitanMagistrates，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，——withexpressionsofregret(severalcountrymagistratescomingforwardtogivethegamekeeperanexcellentcharacter)，sentencedhimtoimprisonment，as\"guiltyofwhatthelawcalledlarceny。\"AndwearefurtheredifiedbyanincidentalstatementofLordBrougham(indiscussingabillnowpending)，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:thatSirJohnDenhamandtheEarlofChesterfieldwerebothaccusedinhisreignofpoisoningtheirwives(thelatteradministeringthepoisoninthewineoftheHolyCommunion)；
andthattheKing\'s\"merry\"favorite，theDukeofBuckingham，killedtheEarlofShrewsburyandheldaloveappointmentwiththeEarl\'swifethesameevening。Weknow，thathisbrother，JamesII。had，byMrs。Churchill(sisteroftheDukeofMarlborough)，theDukeofBerwick——theGrandPrior——andothers；and，byMrs。Sedley，adaughtercreatedCountessofDorchester，andone，divorcedfromtheEarlofAnglesea，whobecameDuchessofBuckingham。
AndweknowthatthehusbandoftheslanderedandimprisonedDorotheaofZell，havingmarriedheronlyforthesakeofunitingthedominionsofthefamily，wasutterlyunfaithfultoher；thatMadlle。Schulenberg(createdDuchessofKendal)——MadameKilmanseg——andthat\"bestbelovedmistressoftheKing，\"——thebeautifulCountessofPlaten，afterwardsCountessPage52
ofDarlington——accompaniedhimtotheEnglandwhichhislawfulwifewasheldunworthytosee，andsuppliedherplaceinhisaffections，andhisroyalpalaces，whileshelivedanddiedinprison。
Thisalsoweknow，——thatthesonofthatmournfulqueen，——GeorgeII。，livedashisfatherhadlived——verycheerfully；andtwoanecdotesarerelatedofhiscourt，worthytoberemembered。
One，thatMr。Howard，husbandofoneoftheKing\'smistresses(afterwardsCountessofSuffolk)，wenttoSt。James\'sPalace，publiclytodemandhiswife；and，beingthrustout，sentalettertoherbytheArchbishopofCanterbury；whoconveyedthesummonstotheQUEEN，whodeliveredthelettertoherrival!Theotheranecdote——equallycurious——thatwhenhisson，thePrinceofWalesdied，theKing(whohadbeenonbadtermswithhim，andhadnevervisitedhiminhislastillness)wasplayingcardsasusualinLadyYarmouth\'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；declaringthechildrenofhisformermarriage(ourQueenMaryandQueenElizabeth)，tobebothbastards。
Other(thoughlessbrilliant)
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，thattheyandtheirmanytravellingtrunksshouldbesupersededinfavourofayounglady(iftherebesuchayounglady)，whowouldcontentherselfwithasinglebandbox。Societyatlarge，however，wouldbesatisfied。WehaveitontheauthorityoftheLordChancellor(and，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。