Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/43

 I acknowledge they are Tricks and Cheats, and no Part of the Law itelf; yet they are practicable in Conequence of the Law, which gives the ole Property of the Wife's Fortune to the Huband, by which he is enabled to pay the Debts contracted to purchae her, our of her own Etate. 'Tis true, a Woman may impoe upon a Man, by telling him he has a Fortune when he has none, and (if the Man is weak enough) by Artifice engage him to marry her upon that Suppoition. But he can't borrow a Sum of Money, and at her Marriage put her Huband in Poeion of it as her Fortune, and afterwards ecretly repay it, out of his Subtance without his Knowledge: And if the Huband hould be called upon to repay the Money, he would require to know the Conideration upon which it was lent, by which Means it might appear that the Creditor had combined with his Wife to impoe upon him, and cheat him; and in that Cae the Law would relieve him.

I hall produce an Intance of Fraud, by Way of Illutration.

A Farmer's Son courted a young Woman with whom he was extreamly in Love; but