Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-21
william Goodwin.

ware, dertl0ruSnlre- Two years resi-
dence here was followed by a connection
with Dissenting Society in Stowmarket
The perusal of the writings of Dr. Priestly,
and conversations with an astute Free.
Thinker with whom he was thrown into
companionship, unsettled his faith in Chris
tianity, and in 1888 he abandoned the min
istry and resorted to London to pursue the
profession of an author. He became regu-
lar contributor to various periodicals, trans
lated French MSS. composed pamphlets,
and hasty, short-lived novels and perform
ed any other literary work that promised
pecuniary return, or gave an outlet for his
revolutionary opinions. From the first he
entered upon life of systematic and un-
| tagging industry, which was continued
without remission throughout his extraor-
dinary career. His habits were simple /; his
conduct was blameless and his principles.
though startling in the conclusions to which
they led. were sincerely held and skillully
advocated. As illustrated in his own ex-
ample, his peculiar social ideas, save in a
single notable instance, never exposed him
to reproach for an infraction of the laws
sanctioned by right and by custom.
In 1893 he published his first prominent
work, an " Inquiry Concerning Political
Justice, and its Influence on General Virtue
and Happiness" The work was hie hly
successful, passing through several editions.
| and gained Its author an equal measure of
/ celebrity and obloquy. The fame aecruing
| from it was grateful to Goodwin, and to the
oontumely he was Indifferent, for no jealous
/ refOrmer was better fitted to endure serene
| ly the odium which society casts upon those
| who would su0yert Its tIme-hOnored insti
tutiOns. The treatise on Political Justice
was followed, in the succeeding year by the
! issue of - Caleb Williams, "a powerful
romance, which has done more than any
other of his writings to preserve the memo
~ of Goodwin to later generations.
In the spring of 1896 Goodwin made the
acquaintance of Mary WollstOnecrait. lie
had. previous to this time, been very averse
to marriage, and had fearlessly denounced
the system to his friends and in his pub
lished writings. He had no tendency to
libertinsm that induced him to assume this
singular position. and his behavior towards
women was invariably marked by chival-
rous respect for their purity and reputa-
tion. But he reyolted against what be con-
ceiyed to be the injustice of tie that is
held to be binding to the end OF life, des-
pite of every change Of circumstance and of
feeling His opinions in this respect ar
rayed against him the prejudices of the
world but his stainless integrity of char
acter retained for him the faithful friend
ship Of many estimsble and eminent men
and women. The attraction of kindred
minds, which drew Goodwin and Mary W OIL
stonecrait towards each other. soon merged
into love, and an intimacy was established
between the two, which, early in l791, was
cemented ty marriage. The life of Mrs.
Goodwin was prolonged but few months
after this union she dying in September
Of the same year, leaving an infant daugh-
ter, afterwards the second wife of Shelley.
Mary Wollstonecraft was the eldest
daughter Of a large family OF children, who
were miserably neglected by disslpated
and spendthritt father. fortune had been
inherited from the grandfather, but this
had early been slusndered, and, when Mary
grew 10 wOmanhoOd, she not only under
took the support OF herself, but Of two Of
her sisters. The struggle to sustain this
burden was very severe, yet Mary endured
it with resolute and uncomplainlng fJrti-
tude She seemed not TO think of herself,
but cheerfdlly sacrificed the hopes that ac-
company youth, and talent, and beauty, in
order TO provide a subsistence for those who
were dependent upon her. She tOiled IN
Temittingly, as schOOlmistress. as gOyerneSs,
and with her pen, to ensure her high pur-
poses Under the hard circumstances in
which she was placed, and considering the
severe disabilities that oppr essed and hamp-
cred women in her day, 1t Is not strange
that Mary Wollstonecraft espoused princl-
piles of social and political liberty which
now would occasion no especial comment,
but were then regarded with extreme op-
prohum. In 1872 she published - Vim
dcation of the Right Of Woman, which,
by its advanced opinions, gave great shock
IL -.
anth0r dad NOT attack the institution OF
marriage. she did not sssail orthodox re
ligion she did not directly claim much
which. at the present day, Is claimed for
women by those whose arguments obtain
respectful hearing. The book was really a
plea for equality of education q protest
against being deemed only the plaything of
man; an assertion that the intellectual
rather than the sexual intercourse was that
which should chiefly be desired IN marriage,
and which made Its lasting happiness.
These causes were argued in plain, unre-
served language; and the censure which
they brought upon the character of Mary
Wolstonecralt has never been revoked.
In 1893 Mary visited Paris in order to
perfect her knowledge of the French Ian
guage. a. part of her literary work con-
sisted in making tranSlations tor the Eng
lish press. She here met Capt. Gilbert Im-
lay, an American who had obtained his
title in the War of Revolution. He was
dashing aud attractive men. and not with
Out genuine pretenslOns 10 ability. An at
tachment sprung up between the couple;
but. according to Mr.. Paul. there were seri-
Gus obstacles TO their marriage. resulting
from the fact that Mary was British sub
ject. sojourning in state agitated by u
political revolution. and violently inimical
to her own country. Mary placed herself
under the protection of Capt. Inlay, and
was openly acknowledged a. his wife. "She
believed tnat his love, which was to her
sacred, would endure. No one can read
her letters without seeing that she was a
pure. high-minded, and refined woman ;
and that she considered herself, in the eyes
OF God and man, his wife. Religious as
she wa, and with strong moral sense, she |
yet made the grand mistake of suppOsing 1t
possible for one woman to undo the conse
Grated custom of ages, to set herself IN op-
position to the course Of society, and not be
crushed by it. And she made the no less
fatal mistake OF judging Inlay by her own
standard, and thinking that he was as true,
as impsssioned. as self denying, as her
self.
The event fell out as might be anticipa-
Capt Inlay deserted the woman who had |
loved and believed in him. He offered to
settle an annuity upon her and the child ;
but, for herself, Mary rejected the proffer
with scorn. From you" she wrote, -
will not receive any more am not yet
sufficiently humbled to depend on your
benefcenee. | have never wanted |
but your heart; that gone. you have moth
ing more to give. You must do |
as you please with regard to the child"
Inlay settleda sum on the child, the inter-
est to be devoted to her maintenance; but
neither principal nor interest was ever paid
Driven to despair, Mary attempted suicide
by leaping from Putney Bridge. She was
rescued, though in halt-drowned condi-
ton; and afterwards slowly recovered her
equanimity. and resumed her pen as the
means OF gaining livelihood.
After his marriage Goodwin continued to
maintain his bachelor apartments. which
were situated twelve doors from the home
over which his wife presided. As s)on as
he rose in the morning. before breakfassing
even, he repaired to his own rooms. and
there he often slept. Both he and Mary
were diligently engaged in literary occu-
pations, and generally did not meet until
dinner-time each day. On the death of his
wife. Goodwin gave up his separate estab-
lishment, and, taking Mary's old room for
his study, tried, as best man may, TO sup
py her loss to the household and to the two
children she had left The daughter Mary
had borne Capt Inlay. Goodwin had adopt
ed, giving the child his name: and the ten
der affection he gave both the motherless
girls never showed in outward manifesto
tions preference for one over the other.
lie endured the afliction of his wife 5 death
with apparent serenity but the void in
his heart which the event created was never
afterwards filled. The one passion of God.
wins life was his love for Mary.
Within the year after her death, Goodwin
published his wife's Memoirs" which
was soon followed by" st. Leon" novel
that enjoyed a considerable reputation. 1t