Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-11-09
L M OF DfYO2CE.

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the laws applicable to divorce. As far as
| the code extends, the author allows that
Tits proviGons are unexcep,ionable; but he
complains that il does not meet very i'm
Ipor,an, cafe which he apprehends will be
of frequent occurrence. 1t goes only to
lay down the regulations to be obiervcd
Din every cafe Of i divorce TO be obtained,
but is altogether iiient as to the condu<, to
be purlued by perlons, who, after having
been once divorced, have itrong with TO
Ne re- united in the matrimonial tie. The
humber Of hubands, in this Gtuation he
Rates to be very comfortable, and he en-
Beavers 10 account for the frequency OF
Divorces from the nnletlled and tumultuary
Rate of the Republic, previous to the eta
bl;hment of the confular government.
However anxiousiuch perfons are to return
10 the fate which particular circumstances
fn1uced them to quit for while, a variety
pf carries operate to prevent them from
Marrying thefe wifhes into effect. The
Formal renewal Of marriage preients 70 ma
BY unplealanr topics OF reflection, that they
$re deferred from renewing that connetti,
On which unpropirlous fortune had dilloIy-
kd.
n Under ,heie circumstances the author
zpropofes that fome regulations fhoud be
Formed on this fubject, and that parties
thus anxious TO return to each others 70.
kicty, ihopld have it in their power TO do
DO without all thole formai,ties impoied
%pon individuals or ginally entering into
matrimonial engagement. This idea he
attempts to defend on the principles both
pf morality and of policy, for by fuch
{neaiure he conceives that individuals
you'd be rehored to virtue, and the flare
you'd experience advantage in the reaor-
htlon of two of its members to that litua.
zion in which they may be more uleful to
zpciety. The idea feems at firR fight piau.
fble, but, more attentively confdered, it
s expoied to many ferrous and weighty
pbjettions--It would open the door to
nuch licentioufnefs, and would tend mate
haliy to diminifh that regard for the i'm.
Portant inttitu1ion OF marriage which is
MENTAL to the exifence Of any we'll requ-
Ated fate. The objections which indi-
Riduals could have to a formal renewal Of
ne marriage, can weigh very little, when
Empared with the evils which would re-
zpls from any other mode OF procedure, and
nothing LET'S than fuch formal renewal
ought TO reeore any Individual to the ref.
peetable footing, which, by his former i'm
prudence or vices, he had forfeited.-Such
formal renewal is the leaf atonement he
ought to make to iociery fer his previous
nhcondutf ard to futfer him to return
Fhea his Inc atoms promy hin, to con.
lection which he probably quilted from,
*aprice, and renews from fimiar motive
Fould degrade and debate the facred inn;
'fntion which he had diaolved without an
adequate caufe.
Il IRE following iniance of diintereRed
Troo'ty, which lately occurred in frall
commune in France defsrves to be record
20 as doing honor to our nation "A ira
Eeiiing merchant offered fome handker.
kniets Tor Tale to poor woman, who was
%tling on the ifone feat in the ftreet, en-
9oyinS the coolrefs of the moining.
Ills offers not being complied with, he
vent off, leaving on the fame feat hand
|ke = whole outfdc was good deal
Z'o'led, and tied together by the t. four cor
ners' Inc hour o. labor approaching the
~oman role, and TO her no flnall iurprifc,
the handkerchief, which fhe fcon
4 uncovered contained fun of money. She
peiitated not moment, but hafened tc
make the mott diligent enquiries after the
|o~ner, but for fome time without fuccef
|At length fhe difcovered the perfon who
mad offered The handkerchief for fale, and
Immediately queftioned him as to his lois
Inc unhappy merchant, whom the lois
|nad aimoft driven to difraction. informed