Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/16

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have leave to viſit her, when he pleaſed; and the Wages which ſhe ſhould earn, being his not hers, unleſs it was paid to him, he might have ſued the Perſon, who ſhould entertain her. This effectually barred the Doors againſt her as a Servant. If by the Kindneſs of Friends ſhe ſhould be enabled to take an Houſe, and ſet up in any Way of Buſineſs to maintain herſelf and helpleſs Infants, it would be only giving him an Opportunity to Plunder her at Diſcretion.

The laſt Reſource in ſuch a Caſe is, to tranſact her Buſineſs in another's Name. But it is very difficult to find a Friend generous enough to involve himſelf in the intricate Affairs of an helpleſs undone Woman, who may be commanded from the Place and Employment, at the Pleaſure of her Lord and Maſter, against whoſe Injunctions ſhe can make no Appeal. The moſt that her Friends can do, is to afford her a ſmall Pittance by Stealth in the Nature of an Alms, by which ſhe may be ſometimes relieved, but never provided for, unleſs they were in Condition to ſettle an Eſtate in Truſtees Hands for her Uſe, which (conſidering the Power the Huſband has over her Perſon) he may ſoon convert to his own.

Obser-