tie which subsisted
between me and my, what is termed, lawful husband.

"To this person, thus encountered, I voluntarily gave myself, never
considering myself as any more bound to transgress the laws of moral
purity, because the will of my husband might be pleaded in my excuse,
than to transgress those laws to which [the policy of artificial society
has] annexed [positive] punishments.----While no command of a husband can
prevent a woman from suffering for certain crimes, she must be allowed to
consult her conscience, and regulate her conduct, in some degree, by her
own sense of right. The respect I owe to myself, demanded my strict
adherence to my determination of never viewing Mr. Venables in the light
of a husband, nor could it forbid me from encouraging another. If I am
unfortunately united to an unprincipled man, am I for ever to be shut out
from fulfilling the duties of a wife and mother?--I wish my country to
approve of my conduct; but, if laws exist, made by the strong to oppress
the weak, I appeal to my own sense of justice, and declare that I will
not live with the individual, who has violated every moral obligation
which binds man to man.

"I protest equally against any charge being brought to criminate the man,
whom I consider as my husband. I was six-and-twenty when I left Mr.
Venables' roof; if ever I am to be supposed to arrive at an age to direct
my own actions, I must by that time have arrived at it.--I acted with
deliberation.--Mr. Darnford found me a forlorn and oppressed woman, and
promised the protection women in the present state of society want.--But
the man who now claims me--was he deprived of my society by this conduct?
The question is an insult to common sense, considering where Mr. Darnford
met me.--Mr. Venables' door was indeed open to me--nay, threats and
intreaties were used to induce me to return; but why? Was affection or
honour the motive?--I cannot, it is true, dive into the recesses of the
human heart--yet I presume to assert, [borne out as I am by a variety of
circumstances,] that he was merely influenced by the most rapacious
avarice.

"I claim then a divorce, and the liberty of enjoying, free from
molestation, the fortune left to me by a relation, who was well aware of
the character of the man with whom I had to contend.--I appeal to the
justice and humanity of the jury--a body of men, whose private judgment
must be allowed to modify laws, that must be unjust, because definite