The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-09 00:00:00

THE LAW OF DIVORCE.

TO TIM 11DITOR OP TIM LUMP

Bin,—Ths new act relating to the ill-treatment of
females is revealing a state of society which it is de-
sirable to probe a little deeper, and apply a remedy
more efficacious. Would it not be desirable to insti-
tute some inquiries u to the condition of the labour-
ing classes, the number separated from their wives
or abandoned bythem,the number that have deserted
t►eir wives or families, the number so separated
living in concubinage, the number living in open'
concubinage P
This would enable us to appreciate the working of
our marriage law, and the indissolubility of divorce—
whether our ethics are correct. Else all legislative
efforts are merely plucking at the few prominent
results—not eradicating the causes.
Men do not beat their wives for nothing—or for
sport—or for exercise ; the women often invoke the
evil by extravagance, inoompatihility of temper,
drunkenness, neglect, sharpness of tongue, and in-
fidelity.
Held by the unclosing bonds of an indissoluble
union, the woman continues to be ill-treated—the
man to exhibit his brutality on the ignorant and
uneducated.

Where there is higher intellectual culture the
public is startled bT the scandal in a war of words,
or edified by extensive litigation, prurient in details.
The remedy which legislation ought to apply to
this wound of civilisation is an extended facility of
divorce, which should protect the civil rights of all
in an equitable manner, but allow of a total separa
tion and power of remarrying in cases of judicial
condemnation for the natural life, insanity, openly
prov ed, bad and perverse temper, extravagance, in-
ducieg debt or imprisonment of the husband, neglect
of home and duties, drunkenness, robbery, and other
moral delinquencies, infidelity.
The commission upon the law of divorce would
have rendered the public a service had they entered
upon these questions instead of splitting hairs about
marriages with deceased wife's sisters.
Does not society commit an injury in condemning
a man for life to an unworthy partner whose case
after marriage is the " sad reality of the beau ideal
before ?

Are the children edified by the domestie jars of
such homes? Is their interest consulted in condemn-
ing them to witness such scenes as daily fill our
police sheets?
The rich can evade to a great extent such evils,
for they can exchange the wife's frown for the smile
of the concubine, and answer, with the Roman Em-
peror, " Uzorem nomen ease dignitatis non volupta-
tis," but on the middling classes and lower orders it
is a galling chain.
How many of our noblest minds have our mar-
riage laws tormented and unhinged ! It is time to
open our eyes to glaring facts, not to be led by pre-
conceived prejudices ; at all events the sufferers are
entitled to an inquiry. Too long have we been
bound by the rescripts of the Ecclesiastical Courti—
ng infallible as the laws of the Medea and Persians,
and about as bad. For example, as the law now
stands, a man must beat his wife before they give her
the advantage of the plea of cruelty—nothingakess
being cruel.—Your., &e.
Sept. 8.

THE CHOLERA.

It is said that the cholera is snaking great pro-
gress in Russia, espe6ally in the southern provinces,
where large bodies of troops are stationed. The
disease has made its appearance on various points
of the frontier of Eastern (!elic*

At Copenhagen the epidemic has nearly disap-
peered. Yesterday's list was :—Attaeks, ; deaths,
8 ; total from dip beginning, 7,433 sink, of whom
4,029 died.

Tug waAntaa continues most favourable for the
labours of •he harvest, which us now wawa is all
qaarters.—Olsefore Scottish Guardia&