memorandaofMrsNorton’s，incase，ifthenegotiationwentoff，hemightfindinthesejournalssomethingonwhichtogroundsomeaccusationagainstherintheecclesiasticalorothercourts！IreadwithamazementtheseriesofletterswhichMrNortonhadpreviouslyaddressedtohiswife，andinwhichhesignshimself’Greenacre。’IshowedtheseletterstothelateLordWynford。Isaid，ifMrsNortonhadbeenmysister，Iwouldhavemadethempublic：andIconsidersheshowedforbearanceandconsiderationinnotmakingthempublic，whenMrNortonadvertisedherinthepapers。MrNortonadmittedtomehisfirmbeliefofhiswife’sinnocenceofthechargeshehadbroughtagainstherandLordMelbourne；andtheselettersofhis，expresslyexculpatedherfromallblame，andendearinglyentreatedhertoreturnandlivewithhimagain。Ithencertainlychangedmyopinion。
IthoughtMrNortonhaddonehiswifethemostcruelinjuryamancouldinflict，andthathewasboundtomakeeverysacrificeandreparationinhispower。Isawnoearthlyreasonwhyherchildrenshouldbewithheldfromher，andrequiredhimtowriteimmediatelytoScotland（wherethechildrenthenwere）tohavethemsenttoLondonforthwith。Inmypresenceandatmydictationhewrotealettertothateffect，andsealedit。I
posteditmyself，andthoughtallwassettled，asthesolestipulationmadebyMrsNortonwasthereturnofherchildren；butMrNortonwasbaseenoughtowriteasecondletter，unbeknownsttome，toforbidtheircoming；
andcometheydidnot。AssoonasIdiscoveredthisactoftreacheryandbreachoffaith，Ithrewupmyofficeofmediator。IremonstratedinseveretermswithMrNorton，andmyintercoursewithhimceased。ThequestionofMrsNorton’sallowancewasnotenteredupon，asmyinterferenceterminatedatthatpoint。Ideemit，however，thesimplestjusticetoMrsNortontosay，thatIfoundherfrankandstraightforwardthroughout：actingstrictlyuptothissentenceinherfirstlettertome——’Heartily，Page131
andasGodismyjudge，Idesiretomakewhatpeaceispossiblebetweenmeandmyhusband，inspiteofthepast。’Sheleftherinterestsentirelyinmyhands；threwnoobstacleinmypath；andneveronceswervedfromthepromisetoabidebywhatevertermsIshouldlaydown。WithMrNorton（thoughhehadappointedmetoact）Ifoundtheexactreverse。Heabusedhiswifeandhiswife’sfamily；heshuffledaboutthemis—statementshecouldnotdeny；hewouldbeboundneitherbyhisverbalpromisenorhiswrittenpledge；andafteracorrespondencebeganinNovember，anddidnotendtillJanuary，alleffortatarrangementwasgivenup。Onacalmreviewofthesecircumstances，itcanscarcelybewonderedat，thatIutterlychangedmyopinion，andthattheadviceIgavetothewriteroftheGreenacrelettersin1837wasnotthesameadviceIhadgiventothesupposedinjuredhusbandof1836。IgaveMrNorton，onthefancycasehesubmittedtocounsel，good，sound，honestadvice，tothebestofmyability；andIgavehimthelikeadvicewhenhisrealcasebecameknowntome。Ifhehadabidedbythatadvice，andbyhiswrittenpledge，thecuriosityoftheworldwouldnotnowbegratifiedbydetailsofhisprivateaffairs，whichhecompelsotherstopublishpiecemealfortheirownjustification。Iamsorry，forhissake，thatsuchpublicationevertookplace；andIamgladforMrsNorton’ssake；becauseIconsiderthereneverwasamoredeeply—injuredwoman，andthathisconducttohercertainlyhadbeenmarkedby’thegrossestcruelty，injustice，andinconsistency，’thateveranymandisplayed。MrNortonmayattackmewithimpunity；Ishallnotanswerhim；butIwillnotallowhimtopersuadethepublicthatthereisanyinconsistencyinanopinionformedonathoroughknowledgeofhiscase；whichopinion，nowthatallthecircumstancesofthatcasearemoregenerallyknown，hewill，Ithink，findtobeuniversal。