Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/40

 To which I reply, that uppoing he does retain that reverionary Property (which conidering the Authority of the Huband he may not always be able to do) yet Jointures are not ufficient for all Occaions.

Few Wives who have Jointures, have any other Proviion, and all Wives who have no other Proviion, may be liable to the Hardhips which hall exemplify in the following Cae.

A young Lady, well born, with five thouand Pounds to her Portion, married a Gentleman poet of an hundred and eventy Pounds per Annum, which he accepted of, as a jointure for her five thouand Pounds. As the Gentleman was one of the learned Profeions, he had beides his real Etate, ome Places which brought him in a coniderable Revenue: Before this Marriage he was bound for his Father, for a large Sum of Money, and was alo in Debt himelf; both which he concealed from her, neither did he ever know it, till after his Death, which happened five Years after their Marriage. In that Time he had had four Children, and was breeding of the fifth when he died. Her Father-in-law died a Month before her Huband, and in a hort Time after her Huband's Death the old Gentleman's principal Creditor took out Letters of tration