第7章

类别:其他 作者:Caroline Sheridan Norton字数:10275更新时间:18/12/13 16:35:58
ButwhenMissNightingale(pleaseGod!)shallreturnsafeamongstus:whensheshallceasefromgazinginthegreatmultitudeofwistfuldyingeyes,andcomebacktotheusualsightsoflife:whenthemoansofthewoundedshallbeasorrowfulmemory,notapainfulrealityinherPage109 ears:when,instead,sheshallhear,asshelandsonhernativesoil,theshoutedwelcomesofapplaudingandreverentialhearts,——williteveroccurtothemenofEnglandthatthebest\"testimonial\"totheworthofsuchwomen,wouldbetogivethesextheybelongto,astatus,which,inourcountryalone,isdeniedthem?andlawsofprotection,whichFrance,Germany,Prussia,——aye,evenAustriaandRussia,——finditeasiertoenactthanourselves。 ItwillgohardwiththeloyaltyofsuchofyourMajesty\'sfemalesubjectsassufferlikeme,buttheywillwishthemselvessubjectsinanyothercountry;where,atleast,iftheyaretosuffer,theymustoffendagainstthelaw,andnot,asinEngland,sufferwithoutoffending。TheHaynausofEnglandaretheywhowillnothelptochangesuchlaws!HadIbeenaman,Iwouldhaveworkedouttheirrevisionandreform:butIamonlyawoman——and,inthelandwhichmyQueengoverns,womencountfornothinginimportantmatters。I amonlyawoman——andbythelawtaughtinthoseInnsofCourtwherethePrinceConsortisaBencher,myexistenceis\"absorbedinthatofmyhusband;\" andmyintelligenceisonlysofaravailable,thatitenableshimtosubpoenamypub-Page110 lishersintoCourt,toprovethatIcanearnmybreadwithoutcompellinghimtosupportme。 Evennow,friendssaytome:——\"Whywrite?whystruggle?itisthelaw!Youwilldonogood。\"Butifeveryoneslackedcouragewiththatdoubt,nothingwouldeverbeachievedinthisworld。ThismuchIwilldo,——womanthoughIbe。Iwillputonrecord,——inFrench,German,English,andItalian,——whatthelawforwomenwasinEngland,intheyearofcivilizationandChristianity1855,andthe16thyearofthereignofafemalesovereign!This,Iwilldo;andotherswhocomeaftermemaydomore。Myson,ormygrandson,maybeLordChancellorofEngland,andmaydowiththisabuseofjustice,whatRomillyandErskine(thelatterofmymother\'srace)didwithabusesofjusticeintheirday; andwhatBroughamandLyndhursthavedonewithabusesofjusticeinours。 Thefeudalbarbarityofthelawsbetween\"BaronandFeme\"mayvanishfromamongstus,asthefeudalbarbarityofduellinghasvanished;whichisalreadyacheckedabuse,andaforgottenfashion。 Myson,Isay,ormygrandson,mayachievethisreform;andmymemorymaybewiththemwhiletheywork,helplessasIamnow!IsthisPage111 adreamtosmileat?Thisisnotadaytosmileatanyboastofwhataccidentalcircumstanceorindividualenergymaybringabout。 Wehavelatelyseenexamplesofchangedfortune,wildasthedreamsofAlnaschar,butmoresuccessful。 Sixty-eightyearsago,onthedeckofavesselstrugglingthroughastormypassagetotheislandofMartinique,satethemournfulmotherofalittlegirlonlythreeyearsold。Thismotherwasyoung,beautiful,forsaken。Herhusband,beingwearyofher,hadbecome\"alittleprofligate,\"——andthewife,yearning,——asmanyabroken-heartedgirlhasyearnedbefore,undersuchcircumstancesofneglectanddisappointment,fortheolddearhomeofherchildhood,——wasreturningtoherparentsandfriends。Therewasnofiercenessinthatwoman\'sheart。HergriefwasthegentlegriefofFaust\'sMargaret:—— \"Ichwein\',——ichwein\',——ichweine!\"Inlove,andgenerousdevotionthroughlife,shehadscarcelyherequal;andshehadthroughlifethefatethosewomenwhoseemtodeserveitleast,oftenestobtain。ForthatmournfulCreole,weepingaloneonthestormyseas,——helplesslyPage112 returningtoherownfamily,——wasJosephinedeBeauharnais,theneglectedwifeoftheVicomtedeBeauharnais,afterwardstherepudiatedEmpressofNapoleonI。,andthatlittlechild——whosatetremblinginthestormbyitsmother\'sside,——wasHortense,afterwardsQueenofHolland,andmotherofNapoleonIII。 If,——asthatCreolemotherwept,——somevoicehadwhispered,——\"Yourlotisgrief;griefnow,andgrief,inspiteofsplendour,intheyearstocome:butyoushallbeEmpressofFrance:thelittlegirlbyyoursideshallbeaQueen;hersonanEmperor; andthemusicofachancelove-songwhichthatchildshallcomposeinafteryears,shallbecomethegreatsolemnmarchandnationalhymnofFrance; forevermakingmelodyoftriumphinherson\'sears,whethersoundingonhisnativeshoresamongmillionsofelectingsubjects,orplayedintheroyalpalacesofarivalnation,proudofreckoningonhisfriendshipandalliance;proudofhearingthatmelodybecomeafamiliarcompaniontotheirown\'GodsavetheQueen!\'\"——Isay,ifsuchawhisperhadcomeonthewildwind,andmingledwiththedashofthestormyspray,wouldnotthefervent-heartedCreolehaveshudderedwithfear,lestPage113 delirium——nothope——hadtakenpossessionofhermind? Exactlyfortyyearsbeforethispresenttime,NapoleontheFirst,conqueredbytheallies,cameonboardtheEnglishshipofwar,the\"Bellerophon。\"Heproposedhimselfasaguest,andhadtosurrenderasaprisoner。HeaskedpermissiontoresideanexileinEngland,andwasorderedunderclosestguardtoSt。Helena。 Theofficersofhissuitehadtheirarmstakenfromthem。TheEmperorhimselfwasrefusedanytitlebutthatofGeneralBonaparte,as\"HeadoftheArmy;\" thoughhescornfullyremarkedthattheymightaswellcallhimanarchbishop,forhehadalsobeen\"HeadoftheChurch,\"andthatatleastheshouldbeFirstConsul,Englandhavingsentambassadorstohimbythatstyleandtitle。HewroteavainappealtothePrinceRegent——\"lepluspuissant,leplusconstant,leplusgenereuxdemesennemis;\"heenteredavainprotestagainstbeingsenttohisislandprison。Hesaidheneverwouldgothere; herefusedtonominatethepersonswhoweretoaccompanyhim。HewrotetotheEnglishministry,——\"Jenesuitpointprisonnier;jesuisl\'hô;tedel\'Angleterre。\"\"LafoiBrittaniquesetrouveraperduedansPage114 l\'hospitalité;duBellerophon。\"Buttheproudhearthadtoyield。Hisgeneralsweredeprivedoftheirarms。Bonapartealonewas\"permitted\"towearhisswordwhenquittingtheship,byspecialorderfromAdmiralLordKeith。 WhentransferredfromtheBellerophontotheNorthumberland,hisbaggagewasexamined;andfromtheboxescontainingmoney,hisvaletwaspermittedtotakeoutsuchsumaswasconsiderednecessaryforpayingthewagesofservantswhoweretobeleftbehind,forallwerenotallowedtoaccompanyhim。Onebox(containingfourthousandgoldNapoleons)wasdetained;thoughafterwardsdeliveredtoSirHudsonLowetobereturnedtoitsowner。Thattheseproceedingswereunexpected,andinexplicabletotheFrench,wemaypresumefromtheimpossibilityofpersuadingthetwogenerals,SavaryandLallemand,thatthenextstepwouldnotbetodeliverthemupforexecutiontotheFrenchGovernment;andbytheattemptmadebythewifeofGeneralBertrandtodrownherselffromthecabinwindowoftheEnglishship,assoonasthedecisionofthePrinceRegentbecameknown。 Ifanyprophethadthensaidtothatbaffledmanandconqueredhero,NapoleontheFirst:——Page115 \"Youcannotescape:Fatehasovertakenyou:humiliation,exile,sickness,anddeath,arenowyouronlypossibleportion:norshallevenyoursonbyyourAustrianbridesucceedyou,——thoughyouweddedtofoundadynastyonthehopeofhisbirth!ButthegrandsonofyourabjuredandrepudiatedJosephine,shall,aftermanyvicissitudes,obtainpeaceablepossessionofthethroneofFrance;andshallbethechiefallyandfriendofyourenemyEngland。Byastrangeconcurrenceofaccidents,thenephewofyourconquerortheDukeofWellington,shallbetheEnglishAmbassadortoyournephew\'sCourtatParis。Whenyournephewgoes(ashewillgo)onatriumphalvisittoGreatBritain,theEnglishpeopleshallthrongandcrowdandswarmroundthestatueoftheDukeofWellington(castfromtheironofhisvictories,andinmemoryofWaterloo),andclimbuptherailingrounditspedestal,toseeyournamesakegoby,andcheerhimashepasses。Andwhen,withthefairConsortwhoshallbehisEmpress,hevisitsinstatetheItalianOperaHouseinEngland;thebeautifulDuchessofWellington,——wifeofyourconqueror\'sson,——andhercousin,theMarchionessofEly,shallbetheattendantladies,standingPage116 ingracefulceremony,whiletheThirdNapoleonandhisEugenie,shallbeseatedinfriendlyequalityofdiscoursewithVictoria,QueenofGreatBritain;thenieceandsuccessorofthatPrinceRegenttowhomyourvainappealwaswritten;bywhomtheirrevocabledecreeofyourexileandnothingnesswaspronounced。 \"NorshallthesumofFrenchgolddetainedonboardtheBellerophon,beanearequivalentfortheaggregatesumsspentinpreparationandfeasting,insight-seeingsandrejoicings,bythatchangedEnglandwhichdesiresworthilytoreceiveyourimperialsuccessor。TheCityofLondonshallbidhimtoafestivalwhereallthingsshallbememoriesofthepast。Theporcelainonwhichthemeatsareserved,shallbepaintedfortheoccasionwithyourarms;thedoyleysshallbegreenvelvetandgoldspangledwithyourimperialbees。Thewinesshallinclude,MalvoisiegrownonMountIda,whereJupiterwasnursed,——andAmontillado\'suppliedat#600abutttoNapoleonI。\'AndthatGuildhall,whoseMayor,Aldermen,andCommonCouncilonceaddressedAlexanderofRussiaincongratulationsonyourdownfall,whichtheytermed,\'thedeliveranceoftheafflictednationsofEuropefromthemostgallingPage117 oppressionandunprecedentedtyrannythatevervisitedthehumanrace,\'——shallechoequallyflatteringaddressestoyournephew,unitedwiththeEnglishagainstRussia,andyearningforthedownfallofAlexander\'sheir。Andwhereastwogrievousordershavefrettedyourofficers; viz。:thatallarmsofeverydescriptionaretobetakenfromFrenchmenofallranksonboardthisship,andthatonlytwelvedomesticsshallbepermittedtoattendtheEmperorandsuitetoSt。Helena,(bywhichmanyofthemmustgowithouttheirservants),——yournephewshallsend,withhishorsesalone,sixteengroomstotheroyalstables;andundertriumphalarches,andpalaceportals,theEnglishsoldiersshallpresentarmstohimashepasses:while,patientlyawaitinghisarrivalinthegreatfortifiedportofDover,heshallfindthePrinceConsortofEngland,PrinceAlbertofSaxeCobourg;nephewofLeopoldofSaxeCobourg,whoweddedyourenemythePrinceRegent\'sonlychild——andwedded,afterherdeath,theKingofFrance\'sdaughter;inthevacatedthroneofwhichlastking,yournephewshallholdregalstate,suchasnoformerMonarchofFrancehaseversurpassed。\" Page118 Isay,if——inhismournfulpassagetoSt。Helena,——orinhislone,sad,angryrides,toandfromLongwood,——orindrearydays,whengazingacrossthesurroundingwasteofseathatdividedhimfromthetriumphofbattles,andathroneddestiny,andtheendearmentsofwifeandson,andconsignedhimtoalivingdeath,——thisstartlingsketchofthefuturehadbeensuggestedaspossible,byMontholon,orBertrand,orLasCasas,whentalkingwiththeirimperialmaster,wouldnotevenNapoleonhavedeemeditavaindream? Or(moremarvellousyet) if,atadatenotknowntous,becausetooobscure,whenMrKirkpatrick,aScotchgentleman,wasdoingdutyasconsulatMalaga;worriedwiththepettydetailsofhisconsulateposition;theclashofmercantileinterests,theperplexitiesofinternationallaw,theclaimsofmariners,thejealousiesofresidents,thebroilingheatofthesouthernclimate,andthedisputesaboutnothing,whicharealways,inallconsulates,arisingabouttwiceeverymonth,andarealwayssaidinthemostimminentdegreetothreaten\"thedignityoftheBritishflag,\"——if,atthattime,MrKirkpatrick,leaningbackinhischair,hadsaid,\"Thisisallveryannoying,certainly;butIbearitwiththemorecheerfulness,asoneresultofmyPage119 residinginthisSpanishtownwillbe,thatmydaughtershallmarryaSpanishgrandee;andthedaughterofthatmarriage,beinggiftedwithgreatbeautyandgrace,shall,allingoodtime,gotoEnglandasvisitoronequaltermswithEngland\'sQueen。Workmenshallhammer,andhang,andgild,dayandnight,toprepareasleepingapartment,andsittingapartment,inWindsorCastle,worthytoreceiveher;andtheQueenshallstandonherownthreshold,togiveherwelcomeandguideherin。AyoungandbeautifulEnglishmarchionessshallbespeciallyappointedtowaituponher。SheshallbeusheredhitherandthitherbythePrinceConsortofGreatBritain。Ballsshallbegivenatcourt,atwhichsheshallreignundisputedstar;theonelovelysight,ofwhichalleyesendeavourtocatchaglimpse,beiteversofleeting。Andallthisshallbedoneformydeargrand-daughter,inrightofhermarriagewiththegrandsonofanothergentleman,ofnogreaterrankthanmyself;anadvocateandjudgeatAjaccioinCorsica; becausethatgentleman\'sson,ayoungartilleryofficerofgreatmilitarygenius,becamesopowerfulandsofamous,thathewascrownedEmperorofFrance;madehisbrotherskings;hissistersPage120 queens;andgrew,indeed,soformidabletoEurope,thatEngland,Russia,Austria,andPrussia,combinedtoannihilatehispower;andsecuredhimatlengthastheprisonerofthatveryEngland——wheretheconsulofMalaga\'sgrand-daughtershall,asItellyou,havesobrilliantareception,inrightofhermarriagewiththeadvocateofAjaccio\'sgrandson\"! IfMrKirkpatrickhadheldthislanguage,andhadmadethisCassandra-likeprophecy,whiletheseeventswereasyetnoteven\"loominginthedistance,\"wouldnotsuchpersonsaswereinterestedinhiswelfare,havewrittenhometohisfriends,totellthemthat\"poorMr。Kirkpatrickwasgoneoutofhismind;\"——andthenexteagercandidatefortheMalagaconsulship,haveprivatelyputhisfriendsonthealertastoapplicationstothegovernmentonhisbehalf,——\"asitwasprobabletherewouldbeanimmediatevacancy,onaccountofthemelancholyvisitationwithwhichithadpleaseHeaventoafflictthepresentconsul\"? Godonlysetsthemeasureofwhatmaybe:andIsaymysonorgrandsonmaybeLordChancellor,andmayaltertheselawsinfavourofthelawless,atpresentinforceinEngland。WehaveseenthelastmemberofthemarvellousPage121 Corsicanfamily,whosehistoryIhavebeensketching——(thepresentrulerofFrance)——declaretohisSenate,thathefearsassassinationtheless,becausehebelieveshehasamissionfromHeavenyetunaccomplished。Ibelieve,——inmyobscurerposition,——thatIampermittedtobetheexampleonwhichaparticularlawshallbereformed。Doesthatalsocreateasmile?Itis,nevertheless,onlyoneformofbeliefinaspecialProvidence。Ifthatisaridiculousbelief,whatbecomesofour\"daysofhumiliation,\"——\"specialprayers,\"——\"fastsofpropitiation,\"——andperpetualcallsuponHeaventointerfereintheaffairsofman?Ifitbearational,andnotaridiculousbelief,wheredoestheinterpositionofHeavenbeginandend?DoesProvidenceonlycondescendtolookdownuponpeopleandobjectsthatwepoorworms,(inthisspeckofoneofHismillionworlds,) choosetoconsider\"important\"?Doesitonlyinterfereinbehalfofsovereigns,nations,andaggregateinterests?MustthenoticeofHeavenbefirstattractedbythedistinctionsofearth?Musttheproperobjectsforselectionbemarkedbyblueribands,madeoutofthecocoonsGodgaveusasacoveringforamoth\'sunfinishedwings,——oreandpreciousstones,whichHescatteredinthePage122 claywetreadupon,——andtossingplumes,whichwereoncethetailandwingfeathersofadesertbird,fleeingbeforemanoverthehotsands,partofwhosetrackmanshallneversee:partofwhosetrack,tillthedaywhenearthconsumesawaylikeascroll,shallremainamongGod\'s\"wasteandbarrenspaces\";glowinginaridandinsufferablelonelinessbeneaththeAll-seeingEye,astheyglowedonthedaywhenHagarweptontheirborders,andGodansweredthehelplessgushingofaslave-woman\'stears,withthe\"specialProvidence\"ofamiraculousandangel-guardedfountain! Webelieve,orwedonotbelieve:ifwebelieve,itmustbeonthegoodold-fashionedScripturalbelief,that\"theveryhairsofourheadarenumbered\";thatHeavenhasitsowninscrutablemeansofworkingoutitsowninscrutabledesigns;thatGod\'swaysarenotasourways;thatHisProvidenceguardsthelowest,asitguardsthehighest;andthatwhetherfromhighorlow,itsinstrumentsarechosenbyaselectionofitsown! Mysterioustousaretherulesbywhichitworks:butamongthemostobviouseffectsofthoserulesuponearth,isthiswhichallhistoryteaches;viz。,thatinallcasesofgreatinjusticePage123 amongmen,therecomesaculminatingpoint,afterwhichthatinjusticeisnotborne:whetherthatpointarriveonthewrongofapeasantorthewrongofaking。Thingsripeninhealthandindisease:ripenalikeforbloomandfordisgust。Thereisnostandingstill,inaworldwhichGodsetmoving。 Inourlittlecorneroftheearth,——wheresomuchbesidesisbusyandfermentingforchange,——thetimeisripelycomeforalterationinthelawsforwomen。Andtheywillbechanged。 Invainwouldthesneerersdeclare,\"Thisisfolly;thisisthemererebellionofacleverwomanagainsttheauthorityofhernaturallordandmaster。\"Itisnotso。Realsuperioritywillmakeitselffelt——andmyheartbowslowandreverentiallybeforeit,forIholdthatitdoesnotdependontheglitterofhumangifts。Thatmanisnotmysuperiorwhohasgreatercomelinessofappearance,oraquickerhumanintelligence;buthethatisbetter,stronger-hearted,andamorefaithfulservantofGod。HewhostandsnearertoglorythanI,onthatladdertoHeavenwhichangelstread;andwillsostandinitsclearlight,whenhumancomelinessshallbeblackmould,andthesparkleofhumanintelligence——darkness。 Page124 Madam,——infamilies,asinnations,Rebellionisadiseasethatspringsfromthemalariaofbadgovernment。WRONGSmakeREBELS。Thosewhowoulddwellsubmissiveinthewholesomeatmosphereofauthority,revoltinthejailfeveroftyranny。 Thereistyrannyintheselawswhichupholdthestrongagainsttheweak;whichmakesomonstrousadifferencebetweenrichandpoor。Itoughtnottobepossible,inthisrealmofEngland,thatpoormenshouldbeabletosay,——\"Wearebroughtupforjudgmentbeforethesegentlemen,becauselawsaremadeagainstus,butnotagainstthem:wegetsixmonths\'prisonforill-treatingourwives,butgentlemenseemabletodoastheyplease。Wegettwelvemonths(asLordBroughamhassaid)fortheembezzlementortheftofafewpence,——buttheycancreepoutofamoneycontract,andnolawtocheckthem。Wegotoprisonforbigamy,becauseweaintrichenoughtobuyadivorceact;but,asfortherichman,whocanpayforadivorceact,hisbigamysetshissonamongthegentry,oramongthepeersofEngland,andhisladyamongtheotherladiesoftheland。 Ourheartsrevoltagainstbeingjudgedbymenwhoare,infact,morePage125 guiltythanourselves,thoughweareprisoners,andsomeofthemaremagistrates,\"Byaveryrecentlyenactedstatute,thelawcompelsthepoormantoberesponsibletothecommunityatlarge,forthemaltreatmentofhiswife。Whyshoulditseemgrievousandshockingtomakenewlawsofrestraintforgentlemenaswellasforpoormen?Istherightofill-usagealuxurybelonging(likethepossibilityofdivorce)tothesuperiorandwealthyclasses? Itoughtnottobepossibleeither,inthisrealmofEngland,thatthespiritofsectarianismshouldbestrongerthanthespiritofjustice。IntheParliamentaryDebatesoflastsession,(March1,1854),nolessthantwelveclosely-printedcolumnsofthe\"Times\"newspaperarefilledwithspeechesfromvariousmembers,relativetoaninquiryintothetreatmentofRomanCatholicladiesintheconventualestablishmentsoftheirreligion;and,onanotheroccasion,withthebattlingwhetheraCatholicgentlemanshouldorshouldnotbeabletoputhisdaughterstoaCatholicschool;theschool-girl\'slettersbeinggravelyreadtotheassembledSenateofEngland。Whatanimpulsetohumanityisanadversecreed!WhowouldbelievethattheseProtestantdebaters,soanxioustocontrolRomanCatholicsPage126 intheirdomesticrelations,areutterlyrevoltedattheideaofsubmittingtoanycontrolthemselves!Thatthesecarefulguardiansoffemaleproperty,whoarestruckwithhorrorattheideaofayoungheiressbeing\"over-persuaded\"togivehermoneytoanunnery,——willplacidlyseeanyamountoffraudcommitted,aslongasitismerelyintheirownProtestantcircle。ThereismorefervourandfermentastothehangingofgarlandsinKnightsbridgeChurch,ortheplacingofChrist\'semblemonMissSellon\'saltar,thaninanydebatefortheamendmentoftheMarriageLaws,thathasbeenforcedonthereluctantattentionofParliament。 Neitheroughtittobepossiblethatthepleasuresofafewidlersshouldbebetterprotectedthanthefemaleportionofawholecommunity。IfMrNorton,amagistrateandmemberofthearistocracy,hadcheatedatagameofcardsinoneoftheclubsofLondon,allEnglandwouldhavebeeninaferment。Nay,evenifhehadrefusedtopaya\"debtofhonour\"——toaman——itwouldhavebeenreckonedamoststartlingandoutrageousstep!But,becausethematterisonlybetweenhimandhiswife,——becauseitis\"onlyawoman,\"——thewholecomplexionofthecaseisaltered。Onlyawoman!whomhecanPage127 libelwithimpunity,tofindaloopholeforescapeorexcuse。 Ideclare,upontheholySacramentsofGod,thatIwasnotLordMelbourne\'smistress;and,whatismore,Idonotbelieve(andnothingshallevermakemebelieve),thatMrNortoneverthoughtthatIwas。Inthatmiserablefactistherootofallmybitterness,andofallhisinconsistency!Heneverhadarealconviction(notevenanunjustone),tomakehimconsistent。Hewavered,becausehewasdoing,notwhathethoughtnecessaryandjust,butwhatheimaginedwould\"answer:\"andsometimesonethingappearedlikelytoanswer,andsometimesanother。Hethoughtthecoursehetookrespectingmeandmychildren,in1836,wouldanswer;andsofaritdidanswer,thatheistwothousanda-yearthericher。Hethoughthisdefencetothetradesman\'saction,in1853,wouldanswer;andsofaritdidanswer,thatheisfivehundreda-yearthericher。Butheneverbelievedtheaccusationsonwhichhehastwicefoundedhisgainfulmeasuresofexpediency。Heacknowledgedthathedidnotbelievethem,tootherswhohavepublishedhisacknowledgment。 Itoughtnottobepossiblethatanyman,bymockinvocationstojustice,shouldserveamerePage128 purposeofinterestorvengeance;itoughtnottobepossiblethatanymanshouldmake\"thelaw\"hisminister,inseekingnotthatwhichisjust,butthatwhichmay\"answer。\" Iappealwhetherthisoughttobe!Beyondthefactioussectarianismwhichseesnointerestindebates,unlesstheyunfurlthestandardofreligiouswar!Beyondthecircleofprotectedwhist-players;andthefewHaynausofpolitesocietywhoseenoreasonforinterferenceintheinsultanddegradationofEnglishwomen,thoughtheyraiseanoutcryatthebarbarouscustomofothercountries! Beyondthesenateoccupiedwithahotdiscussionwhetherdogsshallbepermittedtodrawcarts,——whetherthearmsofScotlandareproperlyquarteredwiththearmsofEngland,——whetherRomanCatholicgentlemenshallsendtheirchildrentoRomanCatholicschools,——butnotwiththelawsofprotectionfortheirownwives,sisters,anddaughters!IappealfromthesesectsandsectionstothewiderEngland:tothemercantileclasses,——theworkinglawyers,——thetradespeople(whoarecheatedbytheselaws),——andtothecommonsenseofthegeneralParliamentofGreatBritain。Itisnotfitthereshouldbeonelawforthepoorandanotherfortherich,——onelawfortheweak,andPage129