rose high in 1891 and 1892, and this may account for the increased
number of divorces in 1896 and the following years. But it may
certainly be said with confidence that as compared with the growth of
population the number of divorces in England has shown no alarming
increase.

The total number of petitions in matrimonial causes presented by
husbands exceed those presented by wives, but in no marked degree.
This excess would seem to be due to the fact that the larger number of
petitions for dissolution presented by husbands, owing no doubt to the
difference in the law affecting the two sexes, is not entirely
counterbalanced by the much larger number of petitions for judicial
separation presented by wives. The following figures for various years
may be taken as typical:--

+------------------------------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 | 1905 |
+------------------------------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| Petitions for Dissolution-- | | | | | | |
| Presented by husbands | 353 | 393 | 414 | 401 | 383 | 429 |
| Presented by wives | 220 | 280 | 269 | 243 | 262 | 323 |
| Petitions for Judicial Separation--| | | | | | |
| Presented by husbands | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Presented by wives | 106 | 96 | 96 | 102 | 78 | 87 |
| Totals-- | | | | | | |
| Presented by husbands | 357 | 396 | 416 | 405 | 387 | 434 |
| Presented by wives | 326 | 376 | 365 | 345 | 340 | 410 |
+------------------------------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

Speaking generally, it may be said that about 70% of the petitions
presented are successful and result in decrees. This percentage has a
tendency, however, to rise.

Attempts have been made to ascertain the classes which supply the
petitioners for divorce, but this cannot be done with such certainty
as to warrant any but the most general conclusions. It may, however,
safely be said that while all classes, professions and occupations are
represented, it is certainly not those highest in the scale that are
the largest contri