Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/23

 I put the Cae that the Woman, brought the whole Fortune, becaue many Men make no Scruple to marry a Woman they don't Love, for the Sake of her Money; it may therefore be upoed, that Women of Fortune, are more liable to Injuries of that Kind than any other Part of the Sex.

I hall now proceed to conider the Unreaonablenes of thoe Laws, which divet a Woman of all Property in her Children.

As the Law of God gives the Huband the upream Command in his Family, 'tis jut that he hould have the Dipoal of the Children o long as he is in being. But at his Death that Power eems to devolve upon the Wife. She is then the only natural Governor and Guardian of her Children.

I believe there are no Creatures (except of the human Species) where the Male and Female are necearily concerned in bringing up their joint Offpring; one Parent being ufficient to provide for, and protect them. Nature has not therefore impret the ame Intinct on both Sexes, but left the Offpring to the Care of one of them: And amongt thoe Creatures where neither Parent is neceary, there is no Acknowledgment of the Offpring on either ide.

But in the human Species paternal and maternal Care and Affection are found in Nature