Thetradesmanischeated；——notbyme，forIamcheatedinmyturn；norexceptindirectlybyMrNorton，foritishiswifewhomhedefrauds。ItistheLAWthatcheatsthetradesman。Thelaw，——thatshoulddohimjustice!Helosesjustice；
helosesthesumdueasthePage90
actualdebt；andhelosestheexpensesofapplyingforthatdebtunsuccessfully。Isthat，orisitnot，aridiculousconfusionoflaws，toexistinanykingdom?
Iwilltake，now，yourMajesty'sposition；for，——beitsaidwithallrespectandloyalty，——thiswasnocommon"privatequarrel，"ofwhichscarceanechocanreachthethrone:butamatterwhichitwouldbewantinginreverencetobelieve，canhavebeenindifferenttoyou。ThefirstPrimeMinisterofyourMajesty'sreignisscurrilouslyattackedandslanderedintheEnglishnewspapers，byanEnglishmagistrate。Inalongletterpublishedbythatmagistrateexpressly，asheinformshisreaders，inhis"publiccapacity"，heaccusesthedeadminister，whocannotdefendhimself，notonlyoftheseductionofhiswife，butofbribery，malversation，corruption，andbasenessofeverykind。
Themagistratewhomakestheseaccusations，hasbeenstigmatisedbyeachsuccessiveperson，calledevenbyhimselftointerfereinourquarrel，asentirelyregardlessofTRUTH。TheclergymanofWestminsterChapel，immediatelyPage91
afterourparting，wrotetome，ofMrNorton's"amazingassertions，"
andhisattempttoobtainaretractionoftheirfalsehood。LordMelbournegavehiswordofhonourthattheaccusationonwhichtheactionfordamageswasbased，wasfalse；andhebelieveditwasbroughtformoney。Mybrotherthroughhissolicitordeclaredeverywordofmyhusband'sadvertisementagainstmeinthepapersin1839tobefalse。LordWynfordin1838declaredthediscrepancytobesogreatbetweenMrNorton'srealcase，andhispretenceofbeinganoffendedhusband，thatthepublicknowledgeofitmustbeattended"withlossofcharacter。"MrNorton'sowncounsel，SirJohnBayley，published，in1853，thisdeclaration；"nearlyeverystatementhemademe，turnedouttobeuntrue。"SirF。Thesigersaidhispromisesseemedmade"apparentlyfortheopportunityofbreakingthem。"ALLaccusedhimofuntruth；
atalltimes；downtothatunpardonableandunpardoneddayofAugust，1853，whenhemetmeinalawcourtwithafictitiouspleaofslander，andwascontradictedonoathbythewitnesses:tothat24thAugust，whenhisletterofexplanationwasdisprovedbyme，andhisfalseaccountofhisappointmentbyLordMelbournepubliclyPage92
exposed:tothat31stofAugust，whenthesolicitorwhodrewupthecontractdeclaredofhisstatementwithreferencetothatmatter——"theentireparagraphisuntrue；"tothatmemorable13thofSeptember，1853，whenSirJohnBayleyfinallycontradicted，pointbypoint，everyinventionandslanderousassertionhehadputforward。Thatsuchaman，——provedtobesorecklesslyfalse，——shouldhaveanypoweratalloverthereputationofthedeadortheliving，arisesoutofthelawwhichpermitsan"actionfordamages，"asasortofgamblingspeculation，withoutdefenceorcontradictionbeingpossibletothewife；andthelawwhichallowsthebreachofcontractonapleaof"non-existence"ofthewife；foritisonthesetwolinksofopportunitythatMrNortonhasconnectedthelongchainoffalsehoodsagainstLordMelbourneandmyself。
IthinkitisintheDucdeSt。Simon'sMemoirs，thatapassageoccurs，whichherMajesty，theQueenofHolland，firstpointedouttome；where，speakingofthedeathofonedeartothethrone，theauthorsaysthatthekinglamented，——"maisunpeualaRoyale，"——implyingasmanyhistoricalandevenScripturalphrasesimply，thatthefriendsofkingsandprincesaresoonerforgotten，andlessgrievedfor，thanfriendsPage93
ofequaldegree。Certainlytherecanbenoentirefriendship，wherethereisnorealequality；buttheremaybememoryofserviceandanearnestregard；andIwillnotbelieveforhewouldnothavebelieveditthattheabuseofLordMelbournewasindifferenttoyourMajesty。
Leaningonthehandofthatloyalandtruefriendandservant，yourMajestyascendedthethroneofyourancestors；andtheQueenofthreekingdomssaidtoherminister，"Helpme，"——assheplacedherfootonthesteps。
SoonafteryourMajesty'saccession，hereadtoyouinthatmagnificentandmelodiousvoicewhichmanystillremember，thoseversesfromtheThirdBookofKings，wheretheyouthfulSolomon，beingaskedbyGodinadream，whatgifthewilldesireatthebeginningofhisinexperiencedreign；asks，not"longlife，norriches，northelivesofhisenemies，"——but"anunderstandingheart；tojudgethepeople，anddiscernbetweengoodandevil。"LordMelbourneheldthen，apositionwhichhasscarcelyaparallelinEnglishhistory；——theextremeyouthandsexofhisSovereign，minglingwithhisdutiesascounsellorsomethingofthecharacterofaguardian。Thathefulfilledthoseanxiousduties，whilehelived，withdevotedPage94
zeal，andwasworthytofulfilthem，noonehaseverdoubted。
When，afterhisdeath，rumoursandaspersionsrespectingtheinterferenceofPrinceAlbertwithpublicaffairs，foundtheirwayfromconversationalgossipintoprint，andweremadeasubjectofdiscussionbyvariousorgansofthepress，LordAberdeenintheHouseofLords，andLordJohnRussellintheCommons，readaloud，toeagerandattentivemembers，abrieffranknote，writtenbyLordMelbournetoyourMajesty，expressiveofhisfavorableopinionofthediscretion，ability，andexcellenceofthePrinceConsort。Andthisministerwassotrustedforwisdomandforhonesty，washeldtobesuchanauthorityinmattersofthedeepestmomenttoEngland'swelfare，thatthosefewlineswerereceivedwithaburstofcordialcheering，suchasmanyalongandeloquentorationhasfailedtoproduce。
Hewillread，counsel，instruct，andservenomore。Norisitinhumannaturethathismemoryamongthosewhoknewhimshouldnotfade。ButIwillnotbelievethathehaslamentedsomuch"alaRoyale，"——thatheheldsobriefaleaseinhisSovereign'sregard，——thatevenPage95
whilehisletterwasquoted，hehimselfwasforgotten!
Forhissake，——ifnotforthegreatsakeofjustice，whichallrulersmustreverence，——I
feeladeepconvictionitwasfarotherwisewithyourMajesty；andthatwhenyoufoundoneofthemagistratesofyourCityofLondonamagistratebyLordMelbourne'sownappointmentsuddenlyfillingtheprincipaljournalsofthatcitywithbase，false，andrancorousabuseofyourMajesty'sdeadfriendandservant，itwaspainful——notindifferent——totheRoyalmind。
Whatthen?Whythis:
thatthethronewasthenmocked——asjusticewasmocked，——asthedecencyofsocialorderwasmocked，——bythisimpunityofatrociouslibelonaministerwhosecharacterstoodsoadmittedlyhigh，thatevenoneofhisposthumousnoteswasdeemedofsufficientauthoritytodefinetheposition，andtodeclarethecharacter，oftheConsortoftheSovereign!Andthisimpunityofabuse，——bythisminister'sownnominee，——noteventheQueenofEnglandcouldpreventorpunish，becausethereexistsinherrealmnolegaltribunalwhichcouldhavetakencognisanceofthisquarrelfromthefirst，——andhaveendeditsdisputes，andsilenceditsever-recurringscandal，Page96
seventeenyearsago，byatimelydecisionbetweentheirresponsiblehusbandandthe"non-existent"wife。
Astomyownposition，——ifotherswereaswearyofreading，asIamofwriting，thesubjectmustindeedbetedious:butitisnecessarytomysummingup。Iam，asregardsmyhusband，inaworsepositionthanifIhadbeendivorced。Inthatcase，Englishmenaresogenerous，thatsomechivalrous-heartedmanmightperhapshavemarriedandtrustedme，inspiteoftheunjustcloudonmyname。Iamnotdivorced，andIcannotdivorcemyhusband；yetIcanestablishnolegalclaimuponhim，noruponanylivinghumanbeing!Myreputation，myproperty，myhappiness，areirrevocablyinthepowerofthisslandereronfalsegrounds；
thisrapaciousdefenderofhisrighttoevadewrittenbonds。Icannotreleasemyself。IexistandIsuffer；butthelawdeniesmyexistence。
Ihavetwosons。Onealreadylaunchedinlife，employedinyourMajesty'sserviceamongjuniordiplomates:
andonewhoisnotyetinanyprofession。
Page97
Heisnotinanyprofession，becauseattheverymomentwhenIhadpromisedandarrangedsotodisposeofhim，MrNortonmadeitimpossible，bybreakingthecontractwhichsecuredmyallowance；andtookawaymymeansofdoingso。
MrNortonstandsonthelegalground，thatnotonlymymother'swillwhichhedesiresmytradesmento"inspectatDoctors'Commons"，andotherresources，wouldreleasehimfromthenecessityofsupportingme，——butthatIamsoablewithmypen，Imightearn#500ayearifIworkedhardenough!WouldtheDukeofBedfordandLordWestminstertwo，Ibelieve，ofyourMajesty'swealthiestsubjectsacceptfromMrNorton，insteadofmoneyduetothem，theassurancethatheconsideredthemquitesufficientlywelloffwithoutit?Andifitweretruethatmyliteraryearningscouldbepermanentandconstant，onwhatconceivableprincipleofjusticeamItotoil，inordertohandovermyallowanceasMrNorton'swife，tobespentonhismistressordividedamongstseveralmistresses，——insteadofpreventingmyyoungersonfromwastinghistalentsandenergieswithoutacareer；oraffordingfurtherassistancetotheeldest——thewisest，kindest，andbestsonwhoPage98
everstruggledtododifficultdutybetweentheparentsofadividedhome?
IowetothelawwhichenablesMrNortontoevadehiscontract，twolostyearsinmyyoungerson'slife，——attheverymomentofyouthwhenemploymentisofmostparamountimportance；
togetherwiththebreachofallmywrittenengagementsinhisbehalf。Mischievousandabsurd，notonlywithreferencetome，buttothosedearesttome，isthisquibbleof"non-existence"bywhichallmynaturalrightsreverttothehusband，——onwhomIhavenoclaim，——andwhoyetdrawsportionsofhisincomefromthedeadmanhepubliclylibelsasmylover，andthedeadfather，whosedaughterheseekspubliclytobrandasawanton!
Thenaturalpositionofwomanisinferioritytoman。Amen!ThatisathingofGod'sappointing，notofman'sdevising。Ibelieveitsincerely，asapartofmyreligion:
andIacceptitasamatterprovedtomyreason。Ineverpretendedtothewildandridiculousdoctrineofequality。Iwillevenholdthatasonecomingunderthegeneralrulethatthewifemustbeinferiortothehusband，Ioccupythatposition。UxorfulgetradiisMariti；IamMrNorton'sinferior；Iamthecloudedmoonofthatsun。Page99
Putmethen——myambitionextendsnofurther——inthesamepositionasallhisotherinferiors!Inthatofhishousekeeper，whomhecouldnotlibelwithimpunity，andwithoutpossibledefence；ofanapprenticewhomhecouldnotmaltreatlawlessly，eveniftheboy"condoned"originalill-usage；
ofascullion，whosewageshecouldnotrefuseonthepleathatsheislegally"non-existent"；oftheday-labourer，withwhomhewouldnotarguethathissignaturetoacontractis"worthless。"Putmeundersomelawofprotection；anddonotleavemetothemercyofonewhohasnevershewnmemercy。Forwantofsuchalawofprotection，allotherprotectionhasbeenvain!IhavehadtheupholdingandIsetitfirst，becauseithasbeenofgreatercomfortandvaluetomethananyother，ofasgenerousandaffectionateafamilyasevercombinedtoshieldoneofitsmembersfromundeserveddisgrace。Sisters，ofspotlessreputation，whostoodbyme"throughevilreportandgoodreport，"tenderlyandsteadilyforyears。
Brothersandbrothers-in-law，amongthebestgentlemenofEngland。Relationsandintimatefriendshipsamongthenoblestandpurestofitswomen。
IhavesonswhomIloveandamproudof，Page100
andwhothankGod!，loveandareproudofme，inspiteofpastmisery。IhadtheverdictoftwelveEnglishgentlemen，sworntoaverdictoftruth；andthesolemnword，——livinganddying，——ofthefriendwhowasaccusedwithmeofsin。Iwasaidedinmyfirstbattleagainstfortune，bypersonsofgreatrankandinfluence。BynonemorekindlythanbyyourMajesty'suncle，theKingoftheBelgians:hewholearned，perhaps，tofeelmore，havingsufferedmore，thanothers；andwhorememberedmeinmyearlygirlhood，andinmymother'shome:hewhoonceheldinEnglandtheplacePrinceAlbertnowfills:whowashusbandandfathertotheheirsoftheEnglishcrown；andwho，intheprimeandprideofhisownyouth，sawthesunsetoneDecembernightonthattriumphantlyhappyposition，andsawitrise——achildlesswidower!
Ihavehadsympathyandassistancefromobscurerfriends；notnobleinname，thoughnobleinnature:
andIhavehadwithme，publicopinion，andthegoodwishesofgoodhearts。
Towhatend?Vain，thoughnotvalueless，hasbeenthisaccumulationofkindness，fromfriends，relativesandstrangers，forwantofsuchlawsofprotection!Theycouldpity，——buttheycouldPage101
nothelp。Theycouldpreventnothingthathasbeeninflictedonme:redressnothing:norblotanythingout。
Inthecourseofmylife，Ihaveseenbutonemoreresoluteattemptatannullingtheeffectofthelawonawoman'sdestiny；andIconceiveeventhattohavefailed。Itwastriedunderthemostfavourablecircumstances。Not，asinmycase，inthereignofaQueen，——where，thoughnoSaliquelawrulesthesuccession，thegeneralspiritofthelawsandofopinionisagainsttheimportanceofwomen:aQueenmarriedtoaforeignprince，oflessrankthantheformerQueen'sconsortsinEngland，——prudentlyandunremittinglyoccupied，eversincehereachedourshores，inconciliatingtheToryparty；amongwhomandespeciallyamongthoseemployedatCourt，stoodLordMelbourne'sbitterestfoes。Notunderthesedisadvantages，butinthestrongreignofaKing:——withourmodernMarlborough，——ouroneGeneral，——thelateDukeofWellington，——forthelady'sunflinchingfriend，——theexperimentofsupportwastried，andfailed。Apensionof#380ayearontheIrishCivilListPage102
wasgrantedtothemalignedwife。ShewasafterwardsmadeextraLadyinWaitingtoQueenAdelaide:andallthatgreatfriends，greatinfluence，andcourtfavourcoulddoforher，wasdone；thehusbandvainlyattackingtheDukeofWellington，inapublishedpamphlet，forhisinterferenceinhisdomesticaffairs；andvainlydeprecatingwhatwasdone，asdoneindefianceofhimself，thelordandrulerofthatbrokenhome。
Butsetthatwoman'sdestinytorights，theCourtcouldnot:norbreakhermarriage:noroverrulewhatwasdeterminedbyherhusbandastohermoreintimatedestiny，——thedeartieofchildren，orattacksonherreputation。Thethronecouldcompensate，butnotredress:couldcompensateinthisoneinstance，butcouldnotpreventsuchinstancesfromrecurring:couldgivethatwomanherplaceamongcourtpageants，butcouldnotpreventherheartachingbeneathherdiamonds:norcreate，byanynumberofroyalsmiles，arecurringdawnforthatlight，which，whenawoman'shome-destinyiswrecked，goesoutintoutterdarkness。
ItisagloriousthingthattheLawshouldbestrongerthantheThrone。ItisoneofdearboastfulEngland'sproudestblindboasts。ButPage103
itisnotagloriousthingthat，beingstrongerthanthethrone，itshouldbeweakerthanthesubject:andthatthatwhichevenakingcanonlydowithinacertainlimit，——oppressoruphold，——maybedonewithboundlessirresponsiblepower，intheonesinglerelationofhusbandandwife。
Ihaveseen，——percontrâ；，——oneinstanceofanEnglishgentlemancrushed，denounced，andsociallydisgraced，aswellaslegallycondemned。Itwasforanaccusationofunfairplayatcards。Amorbiddesiretowin，——withouteventhemotiveoftheneedysharper-poverty，——upsetthecalculationsofhisplaymates，andrenderedtheirgameofskillagameofchance。Oh!whataturmoilthisdiscoverycreated!Nothingelsewasthoughtof:thestillpondofpolitesociety，withitsquietsurfaceofduck-weedandornamentallilies，turnedsuddenlyintoafoamingwhirlpool:theliliesweretossedlikesea-weedinastorm。
TheideaofWHIST-PLAYINGbeingdisturbed；thepleasuresofclub-loungersinfringeduponbysuchdreadfuluncertainties；thegoodold-fashionedgamesthatwiledawayPage104
theirunoccupiedevenings，turnedintotrapsfortheirpurses——thesacredcardsscoredwithprivatemethodsofidentification——thisindeedwasanoutrageonsociallife，law，andorder!Thiscouldnot，——wouldnot，——mustnotbeborneforonedayafteritbecameknown!
Accordingly，themostvigorousmeasuresweretaken——lawproceedingswereinstituted:everybodywasshockedbeyondmeasure:examinationsweregonethrough:oldcompanionsweresummonedtogiveevidenceagainsthim，andgaveit；somewithtearsintheireyesandsomewithout。Thethunderofpublicreprobationrolledroundhishead；thelightningofalegalcondemnationreachedandstruckhim；and，whenthestormwasover，——whenthecalmofpolitelifewasrestored，——whentheliliesandtheslackduck-weedsettleddownoncemoreonthesurfaceoftheirmuch-disturbedpond，itswatershadclosedforeveroverthewreckeddestinyofthatpopularandaccomplishedman!
Sincethen，Ihaveseeneveryspeciesofcheating，unfairness，tyranny，andoppression，asregardswomen，bornewiththemostcomfortablePage105
indifference。Theliliesandtheduckweedliesmilingandsleeping；
andtheythinkitvulgar，andverytroublesome，ifwrongsthatdonotwrongtheirpleasures，andstrugglestoamendlawsthatarealreadyquiteperfectenoughtoprotectthosepleasures，——areforcedontheirunwillingnotice!
Letwhist-playing，notwomen，beprotected:theonesignifies，theotherdon't。Theclub-loungerssmileinscorn。"Whatisallthisdisturbanceabout?Woman'srightsandwoman'swrongs?——pooh，pooh；nonsense；Bloomerism；
Americanism!wecan'thavethatsortofthinginEngland。Womenmustsubmit；
thosewhodon't，arebadwomen——dependuponit:allbadwomen。Therearenobadmen。Whoeverheardofabadman?or，atleast，ofhisconductbeingcondemnedbytheworldatlarge，inmatterslikethese?""Butthisreallyisamonstrouscase。""Well，yes，it'sallverywrong——veryshabby——veryunprincipled——certainly；butwecan'tmeddle；allthelawsrespectingwomenareinahopelessstateofconfusion；anditismuchbetteroneortwowomenshouldsufferunjustly，thanthattheauthorityofhusbandsshouldbedoubted。Astoahusband'ssin，andallthat，itcan'tsignifysomuchasthewoman'ssin；Page106
becauseyouknow，thewoman'ssinmaygiveherhusbandaspuriouschildtoinherithisproperty。"
Nowwhereisthelogicofthisreasoning?Whyisitbetteroneortwooroneortwohundredwomenshouldsuffer?Itisnotbetterthatoneortwoapprenticesshouldbestarvedormaltreated，ratherthaninterferewiththeauthorityoftheirmasters；
noroneortwofactorychildren，ratherthaninterferewithmanufacturers:
womenarenotappealingforanexceptionallawintheirfavour；
onthecontrary，theyareappealingnottobemadeanexceptionfromthegeneralprotectionofthelaws。Astothecomparativeharmlessnessofthehusband'ssin，whatdoesthatmean?Itmeansmerelythatinhisownhomehissinhasnoresult；butintheotherhome，wherehesins?Howdoyouguaranteethathissinshallharmnoone?Whyishetohavethelibertytowrongothers，——byawrongthatinhisowncasewouldbesointolerableandunpardonable，——whenthesamereasoningmaybeappliedtothewronghedoes，astothewronghesuffers?Maynothe，also，bethefatherofaspuriouschild?——oneborninafriend'shome?——oneborn，perhapsofsomepoorvictimtemptedtocastitintothatcoldPage107
greyriver，whichrunspasttheSenate-housewherethesehardlawsaresofalselyargued，andpasttheTemplewheretheyaresocarelesslystudied!
ThisisthesameEnglandwheresuchanoutcrywasraisedagainstGeneralHaynau，thathewasafterwardsassaultedinthepublicstreets!AustriansmightwellretortuponEnglishmenthefaultfindinginwhichtheythenindulged。Thereisnotoneofthataristocracyofgentlemen，whowouldnotsmileinscornattheEnglishman'saffectationofabetterlawforwomeninhisowncountry。Istherenopainanddegradationexceptphysicalpainanddegradation?Istherenoindecencybutinideasofnudity?——nobarbaritybutinstripesandblows?
Istherenobrutalityinthecross-examinationindivorcecases，fromwhicheventhefemaleservantsshrink，angryandwounded，atbeingsoquestioned?
IstherenoindecencyinthetrialsbeforetheHouseofLords，whichLordBeaumonttermed"disgustinganddemoralizing?"Istherenopaininthehuntingdownforfeverishyears，withtormentandlibel，awomanwhocanescapefromneither?
AndyettheseEnglishheartsarenoble。Fromamongthese"club-loungers"wehavesentthePage108
bravestmenthateverperishedpatiently，orwithgloriouscourage，onadisastrousbattle-field。Amongthemthereisnotonewhowouldnotguardthewomanofhisownfamilyfrominsultwithhislife；withasmuchchivalryasthoseknightsofromancewhoinlesscivilizeddaysfoughtahand-to-handbattle，forthefameortherightsoftheweakersex。Onlytheycannotbebroughttobelievethattheycaninterfereinarevisionofthelaw，ortoconsiderthenecessityofsuchrevision。Theyloveandrevereparticularnamesamongwomen。TheirheartsglowatthedevotionofthepoorgirlGraceDarling，whoseimpulsiveheroismsavedwreckedsailor'slives:atthegentleprison-visitingsofMrsFry:attheCrimeanpilgrimageofmercyandsicktendance，undertakenbyMissNightingaleandhercompanions。
Theywereallforerectinga"MonumenttoGraceDarling；"thenewspapersatthetimewerefilledwithsuchschemes。