Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/47

 were any Part of their Conderation, it is to be uppoed, that they would be as tender of their own Souls; and to deter an Huband from Unfaithfulnes to his Wife, and all others from joining in his Sin againt her, would empower her to expoe him, by ueing the Woman, and recovering Damages of her, for invading her Right, in the ame Manner as the Law empowers the Huband to recover Damages for the like Offence. For the Trangreion againt God, is as great in the Huband, as in the Wife, and equally damnable in both: Tho' there is one Circumtance, which renders it a greater Injury to the Man in his civil Capacity.

Obj. VII. Whether the Exemption of Wives from a Jail in Civil Caues, was originally deigned as a Favour to them, is not the Quetion; if that Exemption is a Recompence for diveting them of all Property, the Law is jutified, whatever Motive it proceeded upon in decreeing uch Exemption.

I reply then, full to the Quetion, That it is not a Recompence.

To divet a Man of all Property, and then exempt him from a Jail in Conequence of his Debts, is jut uch a Privilege in his Civil