Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/33

 Temptation to them, to comply with the Command of an Huband be the Intance ever o inful, and to tand more in awe of a temporary Reentment from him, than of the eternal Reentment of Omnipotence itelf.

This is one of the notable Privileges of an Englih Wife. I hall conider a few more of them, as compared to the Privileges of a Roman Wife, and ee what Figure they make in the Comparion.

By the Civil Law, Wives have a Right to ome Privileges of which the Enlgih Law wholy divets them. As I apprehend, the Civil or old Roman Laws are of no Force, where a Statute, or common Law of England contradicts them.

First then, "The Laws of Rome appointed the Wife to be ole Heir, when "the Huband dyed without Iue".

The mot a Woman can claim by the Laws of England, is one third of her deceaed Huband's Etate.

Again by the Civil Law, "a Woman is not contrained to bring her whole Subtance as a Portion to her Huband, but may retain back Part of her Goods, which