andtheyreported。LordCranworthundertooktobringinthemeasurewhichwastosetalltorights；andaftersomedelay，hepresentedabill，withhisplanforfuturealterations。Anyonewouldhaveimagined，afterthedecidedadmissionsofevilonthepartofallconcerned，thatthisbillwouldhaveproposedsomesweepingchange；theestablishmentofajudicialtribunal，asinScotlandandFrance，whichshouldhavecompletepowerinmatrimonialcauses；andbetterlawsofprotectionforwomen。Notatall。Thegistofthenewbill，wassimplytotakeawaypowerfromtheEcclesiasticalCourts，andtransferittotheCourtofChancery。Itwasfullofcontradictions。
ItprofessedtodeprivetheHousePage19
ofLordsofthepowerofgrantingdivorces，andyetmadetheHouseofLordsthecourtofappeal\"endernierressort，\"fromtheproposednewtribunal。Itproposedto\"leavethelawasitstood，\"withregardtotherightofthewifetoapplyfordivorce；and，inreality，createdanew，definite，andanomalouslimit；forwhereasatpresentthepowerofapplyingforifnotofobtainingaDivorceAct，existsforallwomenwhoconceivethemselveswronged——theChancellorproposedtoclassifywhatwereinsupportablewrongs，andgranttheremedyonlytosuchwomenascouldpleadthem。Strippedofconfusionandtechnicalities，theobjectofthebillwassimplythis；tomakeitstatutelaw，insteadofParliamentarypractice，asatpresent，thatmarriageshouldbedissolubleinEngland；thathusbandsshoulddivorcetheirwives，butnotwivestheirhusbands；andthatthericherclassshouldhavethebenefitoftheirriches，bytheprocessremainingcomparativelyexpensive。Onlythatallthiswastobearrangedbyadifferentandmoredecentmethod。Thebillwasdiscussed；
opposed；andwithdrawn。Nolawyer，ofwhatevereminence，everyetproposedameasureineitherHouseofParliament，thatalltheotherlawyersdidnotriseonebyPage20
onetotellhimthatthey\"objectedtothemachineryofhisbill，\"
andthatitsprovisionswere\"whollyimpracticable。\"Theydidsoonthepresentoccasion。Inonethingonlytheygenerallyagreed，theycongratulatedLordCranworthuponthatportionofhisplanwhichprovidedthatJusticeshouldhaveherscalesreadyweightedinfavourofthestrongerparty——viz。，thatwomenshouldbynomeansbediscouragedfromforgivingtheirhusbands，byenactingthatadulteryinthemalesexshouldbeconsideredagroundofdivorce——\"asinScotland。\"
Itiswithtimidreluctance，thatIpermitmyselftoalludetothesocialconditionofthatunhappycountry。Toallloyalmindsitmustbematterforgraveandsorrowfulreflection，thatwhileyourMajestyissurroundedwithfaithfulwivesanddiscreetladiesinLondon，——Windsor，——andOsborne，——thelesscautiousportionoftherealminwhichBalmoralissituated，isplungedinthegrossestimmorality。
Englandisvirtuous；butScotlandis\"ahot-bedofvice。\"ItisalanddedicatedtoCupid。StatuesofVenusaresetupinalltheprincipalsquaresofEdinburgh。Themarriage-tieisameretruelovers\'knot。TheladieswhopresentthemselvesatHolyroodaretriumphantMessalinas。AndPage21
onthedecksoftheemigrantvesselswhichcrowdtheharbourofLeith，groupsofmelancholycast-offhusbandsmaybeseen，biddingreproachfulfarewelltothatinhospitablecountrywheretheyonlyexisttoberepudiated!
TheScotchladieswilldenytheirguilt。TheywilldenythattheupperclassesoftheirnationhaveprovedthemselvesmoreimmoralthantheupperclassesinEngland。ButtheyarecontradictedbytheLordChancellorandthewholehouseofEnglishPeers。Thatbodyofsenatorshavepronounced，thattopermitwomeninEnglandtohavetheprivilegeaccordedtothewomenofScotland，wouldbeproductiveofthegrossestimmoralityandofmultitudinousdivorce。Now，tosupportthatposition，oneofthreethingsmustbecapableofproof。Either，havingwitnessedtheeffectoftheDivorceLawsofScotland，——andperceivingitswomentobeanationoflostcreatures，——Englishlegislatorsrefusetocopythoselaws，lestEnglishwomenbecomeasprofligateasScotchwomen；
orelseandthisisareasontobecarefullyconsideredtheyfeartotrustEnglishwomenwithaprivilegewhichtheircolderCaledoniansistersarelesslikelytoabuse:or，lastly，theextremeanduniversalprofligacyofEnglishhusbandsleadsthemtodreadPage22
thatifEnglishwomencouldonceobtainthesameprivilegeofdivorce，whichisaccordedtoScotchwomen，twoEnglishmenoutofthreewouldimmediatelybediscardedbytheirhelpmates；inthatstartlingproportionrecordedbySirWalterScottinhispoemoftheBridalofTriermain:——
\"Andstilltheselovers\'faithsurvives，Theirtruthsoconstantshewn；
Thereweretwowholovedtheirneighbor\'swives，AndONE——wholovedhisown。\"
Oh!isitnotasadandmarvellousthing，thatprofessionalprejudice，andtheprejudiceofsex，cansowarpandbendhighandhonourableminds，thatamanlikeLordCranworth，inLordCranworth\'sposition，——themostresponsibleforjusticeinEngland；——shouldtaketheviewLordCranworthtook——tousetheargumentsLordCranworthused——insupportofwhat?Insupportofameasuretolegaliseaspecialindulgencetotheanimalpassionsofmen。
LordCampbell，whensomedoubtisexpressedwhetherdivorceoughttobepermittedatall，toeithersex，risesandsaysdivorceofthewifeis\"inaccordancewithScripture。\"
InwhatportionofHolyWritdoeshefinditin\"accordancePage23
withScripture\"thatadulteryisnosininaman?Arenotmenwarnednotonlyagainstsin，butevenagainstwanderingdesires?Forwhomisthetext——\"Whosolookethonawomantolustafterher，hathalreadycommittedadulterywithherinhisheart\"?Ortowhomwasthereproachaddressed——\"ForthehardnessofyourheartsMosesgaveyouthislaw\"?Arewetohaveonereligionforwomenandanotherformen，aswehavealreadyonelawforwomenandanotherformen，——ecclesiasticallawforthewoman，andcommonlawfortheman?
TheholyRomanCatholicruleis，thatmarriageisindissolubleforeitherparty。Thatruleallcanunderstandandreverence。Butthatmarriageshouldbedissolubleforonesexonly，andonlyforthewealthyofthatsex；thatitshouldbemadeasacramentforthepoorandforwomen，andacivilcontractforgentlemen，——whoistounderstandthat?
RomanCatholiccountriesaregovernedbyonegeneralrule；butyourMajestygovernsakingdom\"dividedagainstitself。\"Splitupintodifferentformsofreligiousdissent，andthelawfollowingthatdissentintoholesandcorners；sothatjusticebecomesasortofgameofhideandseek，andtheywhofindher，lightuponherbyPage24
chance。YourMajesty\'ssubjectsnorthandsouthoftheTweedareall\"atsixesandsevens\"astowhatshouldbethelaw。YettheyareallthesubjectsofoneQueen；theEnglishladieswhomnoamountofill-usagecandivorce，andtheScotchladieswhocandivorcesoeasily。Nay，inthesamefamilydifferentpersonsfindthemselvesunderdifferentlaws。
Iammyselfunitedtoonememberofafamilyinwhichtherearefivemarriages；
intwoofwhich，beingScotchmarriages，therightofdivorcewouldbeequal，——whilethreebeingEnglishmarriagescouldonlybedissolvedinfavourofthehusband，andbyActofParliament。Here，then，arefiveofyourMajesty\'ssubjects，borninonehome；ofthesameparents:andthreeofthebroodaredraftedofftobeundertheEnglishlaw，——andtwotobeunderScotchlaws，whichcontradicttheEnglishlawineveryparticular!
Isthat，orisitnot，aridiculousstateofthingstoexistinanykingdom?
Butasifthatdidnotmakethegrotesqueconfusionsufficientlyobvious，itappearsthatevensouthoftheTweed，yourMajesty\'sPeersandCommonscannotintheleastagreeamongthemselveswhatis，oroughttobe，thelawwithrespecttomarriage!
Page25
LordHardwicke\'sMarriageAct，of1754，declarednull，allmarriagesnotcelebratedbyapriestinorders:andmadeitindispensablethattheceremonyshouldtakeplaceinsomeparishchurch，orpublicchapel，unlessbyspeciallicensefromtheArchbishopofCanterbury。ButLordJohnRussell\'sAct，of1836，permitsperson，onthecontrary，tobemarriedaccordingtoanyformtheychoose；
theyneedneverseeachurchorapriest；butbymerelyrepairingtothe\"Registrar，\"givingcertainnotices，andprocuringcertaincertificates，theyacquirearighttohavetheceremonyperformed，inplacesregisteredandappropriatedforthepurpose。
Morerecently，LordRedesdale，——speakingontheLordChancellor\'sBill，——saysheshallopposeanydivorcelaw，andconsidersmarriageshouldbe\"indissoluble:\"ButLordSt。Leonardsaffirms，that\"itwon\'tdoatthistimeofday\"tospeakoftheindissolublenatureofmarriage；andthattheonlyquestionis，whatshallbethemachineryofthenewlawforitsdissolution?LordClancartyanIrishmancomplainsthatIrelandisnotmentionedinthebill，andspeaksofmarriageasa\"divineordinance。\"ButLordCampbellaScotchmanpooh-poohstheideaofitsbeingadivineordinance，andsaysthatmar-Page26
riagewasheldindissolubleintimesofPopery，butisnotheldsonow；andonthatveryaccountajudicialinsteadofanecclesiasticaljurisdictionoughtnowtobeestablished。WhileMr。Phinn，intheotherHouse，thusclearlydefinesthepositionlaiddownbyLordCampbell:——\"Animportantalterationhasbeenmadeinthelawofthecountry。
Uptoarecentperiodithadbeenaquestionagitatedbylawyers，whethermarriagewasnotareligiouscontract，requiringthesanctionofthechurch。
ThatquestionhasbeensettledbytheLegislature，andmarriageisnowaCivilContract。\"
LordRedesdale，——reluctantlysuccumbingtotheChancellor\'s\"civilcontract\"views，——thinks，atleast，divorceshouldnotbemadetoocheap，asitwouldthenbecometoocommon；
onwhich，LordBroughamwhomanyadayofhislongenergeticlife，hasstoodsentineltoguardtherightsofthepeople，shrewdlyenquireswhetherhislordshipmeansthattheproposednewdivorcelaw\"shallnotapplyto19-20thsoftheinhabitantsofthiscountry，butonlytothe1-20thwhocanaffordtopayforit?\"
ThenyourMajesty\'sLordHighChancellordefinesitashisopinion，thatdivorceavinculoshouldremainmoderatelyexpensive，andbePage27
grantedonlytohusbands；——butcanheconvinceyourMajesty\'sLordHighChamberlain，theMarquisofBreadalbane，andtheScotchPeerswhocomefromtheothersideoftheTweed，wherethelawispreciselyreversedinboththoseparticulars?
Finally，LordClancartysays，iftheremustbealawofdivorce，hecannotforthelifeofhimseehowwecanestablishadistinctionbetweenthesinofthemanandthewoman，whichneverwasestablishedbydivinelaw；——whiletheBishopofOxford，religiouslyignoringLordJohnRussell\'sBillof1836，LordCranworth\'sopinion，LordCampbell\'sexplanation，andtheactuallawofthenorthernportionofyourMajesty\'sdominions，——saysheshallmovetoomitalltheclausesoftheBillcountenancinganydivorcewhatever。
Andattheendofthisconfusedskirmishofopinions，theBilldrops，andisgivenup；theChancellor，liketheRunicsorceress，exclaims，——
\"Leaveme，leaveme，torepose:\"andallgoawayhome；likeapartyofminerswhohavegivenuptheattempttodigoutpersonsburiedinsuperincumbentearth!TheywouldbeverygladtodosomethingtowardsPage28
amendingthelawsforwomen，butreally\"thesubjectissosurroundedwithdifficulty。\"
Whyisitsosurroundedwithdifficulty?WhyisEnglandtheonlycountryobligedtoconfessthatshecannotcontrivetoadministerjusticetowomen?WhyisitmoredifficultthaninFrance?WhymoredifficultthaninScotland?Simplybecauseourlegistsandlegislatorsinsistonbindingtareswithwheat，andcombiningallsortsofcontradictionswhichtheyneverwillbeablesatisfactorilytocombine。Theyneverwillsatisfy，withmeasuresthatgiveonelawforonesexandtherich，andanotherlawfortheothersexandthepoor。Norwilltheyeversucceedinactingonthelegalfictionthatmarriedwomenare\"non-existent，\"andmanandwifearestill\"one，\"incasesofalienation，separation，andenmity；whentheyareaboutasmuch\"one\"asthoseingenioustwistedgroupsofanimaldeathwesometimesseeinsculpture；
onecreaturewildtoresist，andtheotherfiercetodestroy。
Nordoesallthisconfusionarise，becausethelawisprofessedlytooweakforthenecessarycontrolwhichwouldpreventit。Thelawisstrongenoughwhenitinterfereswithlabour，——withproperty，——withtheguardianshipofchil-Page29
dren，——withtherightsofspeculativeindustry。Wefindnodifficultyincontrollingthemerchantinhisfactories，themasterwithhisapprentices，norintheprotectionofpersonsinallotherdependantpositions。Wefindnodifficultyinpunishingtheabuseofpower，ordiscoveredcrime。Itsufficesthatitbeprovedthatwrongwascommitted，andpunishmentfollowsasamatterofcourse。
Thepoorcabinboyisonthehighseas。Thesteward，orthecaptain，orabrutalmessmate，maltreatstheboy。Heisbruised，——heismaimed，——heismiserable，——thatmeagreshufflingover-workedlad，whoseverysurnameperhapsnobodyknows:somelittleoutcastTom，Jack，orJim，senttoseabytheparish。Istherenolawforhim?
Isit\"sosurroundedwithdifficulty\"thatnopunishmentshallreachthosewhomaltreatedhim?Readthepolicereport。Thoughthatlifeseemedasunimportantasagrainofsand，itiscaredfor。TheSpiritofJusticemovedwiththatship\"overthefaceofthewaters，\"andEnglishlawandpublicgovernmentavengehim，whoperhapshadnotoneprivatefriendintheworld。
Thewanderingpedlartrudgesoverthemoor——hispackisheavy；hisstepisslow；heisdoggedbysomevillainwhosawhimrestbythePage30
way-sideinn。Heistwohundredmilesawayfromhisrealhome。
HecamefromthethriftyNorth，andwillplodbacktherewithhissavings。
Return?No!hewillneverreturn。Thesharpknifeisout——hisbloodsinksintheshortturfwherethemoorlandsheephavebeenfeeding；hismoanislostonthemidnightbreeze；andhispackisstolen。Istherenolawforhim?Goandlistenintheassizecourt。There，inthehotglowofsummer，amidthebuzzofinsectsandvoices，andtheloudoratoryofdeclaimingmen，youwillhearthestillnessofthatmurderousnightdescribed；
andhowitssilenceanddarkness，andthelonelystretchoftheapparentlydesertedheath，failedtoshieldthemodernCainfromtheobservationofthatone\"chancewitness，\"whomGodseemsevertoleavestandingsentineltowatchforundiscoveredcrime。Whowouldhavethoughtthetreasureofthatpoorpedlar\'spackwasworthtwomen\'slives?Yetonewastakenbymurder，andnowthisotherisforfeitedtoJustice；toprove——thatthepoorestoftheQueen\'ssubjectsshallnotwanderonherhighwayswithoutthesameprotectionoflifeandproperty，thatguardsthefringedcanopyofaduke\'sbed!
Protectionforlifeandproperty。Isthatall?Page31
Ishappinessnothing?Isreputationnothing?Isthelawonlyabletowardofftheassassin\'sknife，ormakerestitutionofstolencoin?Isitabletoprotectthepoorest，themeanest，themostapparentlyhelplesspersonsintherealm，andnotabletoprotectwomen?AretheonlylawsinEngland\"sosurroundedwithdifficulty\"thattheycannotpossiblybere-modelledtoanypatternofequaljustice，thelawsbetweenmanandwife?
Ithinknot。Ithinkifmenwouldapproachthemwiththesameimpartialwishtomakerulesofprotection，thatisbroughttobearonothersubjects，theywouldfindthesamefacilityinapplyingthoserules。
Now，withrespecttotheconditionandeffectofthelawsforwomeninScotland，itcameoutincidentallyinthedebateontheMarriageBill，thatthetotalamountofallthedivorcesinthatmisguidedcountry，duringthelastfiveyears，onlyaveragedtwentyinallclasses；andthiswasnotstatedindefenceofScotchmorality，butasameansofcalculatingwhatmightbeexpectedinEnglandunderanewsystem。
InScotland，then，thoughtherightofdivorcebeequal，——andtheprocesssoeasythatevenifthepartyaccusedleftthekingdom，heorshePage32
couldstillbeproceededagainstbywhatwastermed\"edictalcitation，\"——orreadingthecitationaloudatthemarket-crossofEdinburgh，andthepierandshoreofLeith，anaverageoftwentycouplesonly，availedthemselvesofthelaw，theexistenceofwhichsoalarmsEnglishlegislators。
Verysparing，indeed，arethecasesrecordedasdisputedprecedents。TowardstheendofthelastcenturytheDuchessofHamiltondivorcedtheDuke，asaScotchman，thoughmarriedbyEnglishritualinEngland。In1810，LadyPagetdivorcedLordPaget，thoughhepleadedareconciliationafterhisoriginaldesertion。
In1813，CatherinePollockdivorcedRussellManners，fordesertionfortenyearsandinfidelity。Previoustowhichcases，SirT。WallaceDunlophadthesingulargoodfortuneofbeingproceededagainstfordivorcebybothhisfirstandsecondwife。Thefirstwifesucceeded；butthesecondfailed；notforwantofproofofhismisconduct，butbecausehermarriagewasheldtobeanEnglishmarriage，andso，indissolublebytheScotchCourts。
ItisexpresslystatedthatthenumberofScotchcasesinproportiontothepopulation，remainednearlythesameatallperiods，sincePage33
theCommissionerswereappointedin1563downtothepresenttime；
andthattheconjugalrelation\"stoodnotless，butinfinitelymoresacredandsecureinScotland\"sincetotaldivorcewasmadepossible，inlieuofseparationunderecclesiasticallaw。Indeed，itwillscarcelybeurgedthatitisamorefavourableconditionformorality，thatawomanshouldremainforlifenominallymarriedtoamanwhohasdesertedherasundertheEnglishlaw，thanthatsheshouldhavepowertodivorcehimandmarryagain，asundertheScotchlaw。
ButLordChancellorCranwortharguedthequestioninaverysingularmanner；andIgivehisargumentasitstandsintheprintedreportofthedebateofJune14，1854:——First，astothelightercausesofdivorce，admittedinScotland，hesays:——\"Ifmarriagescouldbedissolvedforcrueltyordesertion，thehusbandmaydissolvehismarriagewheneverhepleases；hehasonlytobetyrannicaltohiswife，ortodeserther，toeffecttheveryobjecthehasinview。
ThereforeIdonotatallproposetoalterwhathasbeen——Iwillnotsaythelaw，——becauseinpointoffacttherehasbeennolaw——butthepracticeonthissubject。\"
Then，astothatgraverinterruptionofdomesticquiet，inconstancy，hesays:——Page34
\"Ifadulteryonthepartofthehusbandistoentitlehimtoadivorce，——inasmuchasthehusbandwhichmaybebadmorality，butitisthefactsufferslittleonthataccountintheopinionoftheworldatlargeforitisnotoriousthat，whilethewifewhocommitsadulterylosesherstationinsociety，thatpunishmentisnotawardedtothehusbandwhoisguiltyofthesamecrimehemay，withoutanygreatsacrificeonhisownpart，butbymerelybeingalittleprofligate，getridofhiswifewheneverhechoosestodoso。\"
AndLordCampbell，inasubsequentdebate，July1，strikesoutanothersuggestion；heobjectstograntingdivorcestowomen，onaccountoftheeasewithwhichadulteryinthehusbandisoroughttobeforgivenbythewife!
\"HethoughthisnobleandlearnedfriendhadwiselyabstainedfromfollowingtheexampleofScotlandandothercountries，inwhichthewifehadarighttohavethemarriagedissolvedonaccountoftheadulteryofthehusband。Themoralguiltincurredbythehusbandwasthesame，——butinmostcasesitmightbeCONDONED。\"
Inshort，whatbetweentheirdreadofencouragingthehusbandtobe\"alittleprofligate，\"inordertogetridofhiswife，——andfearofincliningthewifetobeunforgiving，intheprospectofgettingridofherhusband，——theythinkitbestthatjusticeshouldbenotmerelyimpro-Page35
bable，asatpresent，butmadeutterlyimpossibleforthewomantoobtain。
AgainIsay，itisperfectlymarvellouswhatcleverandhonourablemenwillsayanddowhenblindedbystrongprejudice!Herearethesetwogreatlawyerstalkingasthoughthedivorceofthewifecouldbemadecompulsoryonthewife，ordependantonhersimpleresolution。Isthewife，afterall，tobeherownjudge?No；thejudgeisherjudge；theLordChancellorhimselfisherjudge；theHouseofLordsisherjudge。Thepossibilityofapplyingforadivorceavinculo，doesnotsuddenlyinvestherwithanauthoritylikethatofthepatriarchAbraham，tosendforthherhusband，likeweepingHagar，intothedesertworld。Sheistoapplyforherdivorcetothejudicialtribunal:tothatChancellorwhospeaksofanadulteroushusbandasbeing\"alittleprofligate:\"tothatHouseofLordswhichhasentertainedfeminineapplicationswithsomuchjealousyandreluctance，thattherehavebeenbutfourcasestwoofthemcasesofincest，inwhichthewife\'spetitionfordivorcehaseverbeengranted。Withthesejudges，andnotwiththewife，reststhedecisionwhethershehasrefusedthatindulgencewhichoughttobeapartofhernature，andistheprincipalcharmofhersex，Page36——
orwhether，wronged，outraged，andforsaken，shehasbornetothelastvergeofendurancebeforesheappealedtothelaw!Withthesejudges，andnotwiththewife，remainsthegreatdecreewhichwillpronouncewhether\"condonation\"wasorwasnotabsolutelyimpossible，underthecircumstancesshepleadsasherargumentforliberty。