Page:English laws for women in the nineteenth century.djvu/181

169 Will none of you aid the cause I advocate, and forget that it was advocated by me? It concerns you all. It is a mistake to think that the Laws depend only on "the Law-lords" for their passing; few among you are lawyers, but all are lawgivers. It is the business of the law-giving majority to pass the laws; of the lawyer-minority, to see that they are fitly framed for passing. I quote words that carry with them more authority than mine,—words of the late Lord Holland,—to shew the freedom with which an English senator may criticise the opinions of those, whose minds, from legal training, are apt to narrow the consideration of such subjects, to a single point of view.

Lord Holland says, then, in a note addressed to me,—dated 10th May, 1839,—and speaking of one of the Law-lords (in reference to a measure already alluded to in these pages):—

"Nothing could be worse in logick and feeling than his speech on the bill of last year. It was, that several legal hardships being of necessity inflicted on women, we should not relieve them from those which were  necessary, although repugnant to the feelings of our nature, and indeed to nature itself.

"Whenever, and whence-ever, Lyndhurst proposes his bill—from woolsack or benches—he will find me on the seat fate may assign me, ready to support it. I honor him for not sacrificing his feelings on this occasion, either to the pedantry of law or the convenience of politicks; and I heartily wish him success in the bill.&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;Yours, "Vassall Holland."

Those are Lord Holland's words; and certainly justice is not a thing to sacrifice, either to " the convenience of politicks or the pedantry of the law." If this pamphlet he an appeal to English justice, it ought not to be disregarded because it is a woman's appeal; or because it is appeal. On justice