er to change her name, and she directs me to add
that it has happened to me, like many other disputants, to be
entrapped in my own toils; in short, that we found that there was
no way so obvious for her to drop the name of Imlay as to assume
the name of Godwin. Mrs. Godwin--who the devil is that?--will be
glad to see you at No. 29 Polygon, Somer's Town, whenever you are
inclined to favor her with a call."

About ten days later he wrote to Mr. Wedgwood, and his letter confirms
Mrs. Shelley's statement. His effort to prove that his conduct was not
inconsistent with his creed shows how keenly he felt the criticisms it
would evoke; and his demand for more money reveals the slender state of
the finances of husband and wife:--

NO. 7 EVESHAM BUILDINGS, SOMER'S TOWN,
April 19, 1797.

You have by this time heard from B. Montague of my marriage. This
was the solution of my late application to you, which I promised
speedily to communicate. Some persons have found an inconsistency
between my practice in this instance and my doctrines. But I cannot
see it. The doctrine of my "Political Justice" is, that an
attachment in some degree permanent between two persons of opposite
sexes is right, but that marriage as practised in European
countries is wrong. I still adhere to that opinion. Nothing but a
regard for the happiness of the individual which I had no right to
injure could have induced me to submit to an institution which I
wish to see abolished, and which I would recommend to my fellow-men
never to practise but with the greatest caution. Having done what I
thought necessary for the peace and respectability of the
individual, I hold myself no otherwise bound than I was before the
ceremony took place.

It is possible, however, that you will not see the subject in the
same light, and I perhaps went too far, when I presumed to suppose
that if you were acquainted with the nature of the case, you would
find it to be such as to make the interference I requested of you
appear reasonable. I trust you will not accuse me of duplicity in
having told you that it was not for myself that I wanted your
assistance. You will perceive that that remark was in reference to
the seeming inconsistency between my habits of economy and
independence, and the application in question.