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，ayoungpeerdesertedhisyoungwifethennearherconfinementofherfirstchild，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。
Neitherunlessbyspecialsettlement，contractthroughthirdparties，orsuitforalimonyfollowingasuitintheEcclesiasticalCourtswouldhebeboundtosupporther，orpayanydebtofhers，ifshehadanincomeofherown，sufficientwithouthisaid。Shecouldnotmarryanyotherman:
butmustremain，asPage40
theLordChancellorthingsitjustthatwomenshouldremaininsuchcases，marriedtothenameofthehusband，whohasfreeleave，inlaw，toforsakeher，spendhisfortuneonhismistress，ormistresses，watchhisopportunityifpossibletodivorceher，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。
AthirdcasetowhichI
shallrecurismyown: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。
Whentheincomesosecuredorsupposedtobesecured，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:"andknowingaswedoknow，thatif，insteadofplainMrGrayandobscureMaryAdams，thesepartieshadbeenLordGraytonandLadyMary，weshouldsimplyhavehad"Grayton'sDivorceBill"goingquietlythroughtheHouseofLords，wecanscarcelywonderifmurmursarise，againstthiswonderfulsystemoflegislation。
InanoldfashionedbookwrittenbyafavouriteofyourMajesty'sUncle，GeorgetheFourth，theauthorsays:"ifapoormanweretoappearinthelobbyoftheHouseofLords，prayingtobedivorcedgratisfromhiswife，itislikelythattheSergeant-at-ArmswouldtakePage44
himforsomepoorlunatic，andsendhimtoBedlam；yetIcanseenoreasonwhyacountrymanshouldnotbedivorcedatQuarterSessions，aswellasanoblemanintheHouseofLords。"NorI——ifdivorceistobeallowedatall。
Inhumblelife，againthoughnoworseoffthanifshehadbeenprovidedforbyacontractbearingthesignaturesofoneoftheMetropolitanMagistrates，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，——withexpressionsofregretseveralcountrymagistratescomingforwardtogivethegamekeeperanexcellentcharacter，sentencedhimtoimprisonment，as"guiltyofwhatthelawcalledlarceny。"AndwearefurtheredifiedbyanincidentalstatementofLordBroughamindiscussingabillnowpending，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:thatSirJohnDenhamandtheEarlofChesterfieldwerebothaccusedinhisreignofpoisoningtheirwivesthelatteradministeringthepoisoninthewineoftheHolyCommunion；
andthattheKing's"merry"favorite，theDukeofBuckingham，killedtheEarlofShrewsburyandheldaloveappointmentwiththeEarl'swifethesameevening。Weknow，thathisbrother，JamesII。had，byMrs。ChurchillsisteroftheDukeofMarlborough，theDukeofBerwick——theGrandPrior——andothers；and，byMrs。Sedley，adaughtercreatedCountessofDorchester，andone，divorcedfromtheEarlofAnglesea，whobecameDuchessofBuckingham。
AndweknowthatthehusbandoftheslanderedandimprisonedDorotheaofZell，havingmarriedheronlyforthesakeofunitingthedominionsofthefamily，wasutterlyunfaithfultoher；thatMadlle。SchulenbergcreatedDuchessofKendal——MadameKilmanseg——andthat"bestbelovedmistressoftheKing，"——thebeautifulCountessofPlaten，afterwardsCountessPage52
ofDarlington——accompaniedhimtotheEnglandwhichhislawfulwifewasheldunworthytosee，andsuppliedherplaceinhisaffections，andhisroyalpalaces，whileshelivedanddiedinprison。
Thisalsoweknow，——thatthesonofthatmournfulqueen，——GeorgeII。，livedashisfatherhadlived——verycheerfully；andtwoanecdotesarerelatedofhiscourt，worthytoberemembered。
One，thatMr。Howard，husbandofoneoftheKing'smistressesafterwardsCountessofSuffolk，wenttoSt。James'sPalace，publiclytodemandhiswife；and，beingthrustout，sentalettertoherbytheArchbishopofCanterbury；whoconveyedthesummonstotheQUEEN，whodeliveredthelettertoherrival!Theotheranecdote——equallycurious——thatwhenhisson，thePrinceofWalesdied，theKingwhohadbeenonbadtermswithhim，andhadnevervisitedhiminhislastillnesswasplayingcardsasusualinLadyYarmouth'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；declaringthechildrenofhisformermarriageourQueenMaryandQueenElizabeth，tobebothbastards。
Otherthoughlessbrilliant
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，thattheyandtheirmanytravellingtrunksshouldbesupersededinfavourofayoungladyiftherebesuchayounglady，whowouldcontentherselfwithasinglebandbox。Societyatlarge，however，wouldbesatisfied。WehaveitontheauthorityoftheLordChancellorand，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。