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THE

LAW REVIEW.

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ART. I. THE LAWS RELATING TO WOMEN.

1. An Exposition of the Laws relating to the Women of England; shewing their Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities in every Position of Life. By J. J. S. WHARTON, M.A., Oxon., of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law. London: Longman & Co. 1853.

2. Prize Essay on the Laws for the Protection of Women. By JAMES EDWARD DAVIS, of the Middle Temple, Barrister-atLaw. London: Longman & Co. 1854.

3. English Laws for Women in the Nineteenth Century. By C. NORTON. London. 1854.

WOMAN was created for a helpmate, not a slave of man. She was formed for domestic labours, not for the oppression of a master. It has ever been her honour to be well pleasing to a husband, and it has been equally his duty to repay the affections of her youth by a careful provision for her age. The laws of nature, recognised by those of all civilized countries, have thrown the robust offices of life into the hands of man; in this sense, he may be said to be invested with power; but notwithstanding the disparity of strength, his wife is his consort, not his dependant. Not a wife according to Milton's' cold and cramped image,

1 It has been noticed that Milton's idea of Eve was associated with her proficiency in cookery and her power to serve up to her lord "dulcet creams." Book v. 1. 347.

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But the social partner contemplated by Shakspeare:
"GOD, the best maker of all marriages,

Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one!
As man and wife, being two, are one in love,
So be there 'twixt your kingdoms such a spousal,
That never may ill office, or fell jealousy,
Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage,
Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms,
To make divorce of their incorporate league."

Mr. Wharton, wearied by the dull verbiage of the Registration Acts, is glad to escape for a moment from their dry monotony, and recreate his reader and himself with just praise of a happy union. "Domestic society," he thus winds up his chapter on the marriage ceremony; "is the seminary of social affections, the cradle of sensibility,, where the first elements are acquired of that tenderness and humanity which cement mankind together; and were they entirely extinguished, the whole fabric of social institutions would be dissolved."

There is, therefore, a moral partnership of virtues in the state of married harmony: if the more powerful sex contribute their manly vigour to the support of the common hearth, they are repaid by a tide of generosity and confidence, which are distinguishing features in the character of Woman. Hence, there is no surprise in finding that in all highly cultivated nations, and sometimes even amongst savage tribes, there is an individuality of interest in the marriage contract which the law of each place is compelled to recognise, because it is the law of nature. This regard for female welfare is expanded in civilized states throughout every relation of life. In infancy the child is not without a guardian and protector of her property; in maidenhood, Mr. Davis, in the essay mentioned at the head of this article, shows the zealous

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