Arthur Arnold, Jacob Bright, M.P., Mrs. Jacob Bright, Horace Davey, Q.C., M.P., G. W. Hastings, M.P., J. T. Hibbert, M.P., Sir Arthur Hobhouse, Q.C., K.C.S.I., The Right Hon. G. J. Shaw-Lefevre, M.P., The Right Hon. Lord McLaren, the Right Hon. G. Osborne Morgan, Q.C., M.P., J. Hinde Palmer, Q.C., M.P. Mrs. Shearer, Miss Lucy Wilson, Mrs. Ventuori and others, are expected to attend and take part in the proceedings.

THE MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY ACT, 1882. Leaflet reprinted from the "Schoolmaster," 16th September, 1822.

The Common Law designation of a married woman is "feme covert"-a woman completely hidden and extinguished, and merged in the personality of the man she has married. It is a significant fact that this term is not once used in the new Act, although the antithetical "feme sole," or single woman, is spoken of. The purport of the Act is, indeed, that a married woman is not in future to be a "feme covert," so far as property is concerned. The first clause of the Act contains the gist of the whole. It declares that "A married woman shall be capable of acquiring, holding, and disposing by will or otherwise, of any real and personal property as her separate property, in the same manner as if she were a feme sole, without the intervention of any trustee." In other words, a married woman is legally able to hold and use any sort of property which she may become possessed of in any manner, with no more reference to her husband than to her brother or any other person. It is her property, not the husband's, and his authority in her disposal of it is simply that which she may choose to allow him as her nearest friend and her co-partner in the affairs of existence. This is a revolution in the arrangements of domestic life, so far as that life is controlled by law, of the utmost import; and it is best to place the fact in plain language, so that it may be fully understood by all whom it may concern. The remaining twenty-six clauses of the Act in no way modify or diminish the power of the clause above cited. Some of the further provisions, indeed, remove other obstacles in way of the independence of women during marriage.

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The second clause provides that a wife shall have a right to bring an action of any sort in her own name, and may have an action brought against her, without her husband becoming in any way concerned in the matter; if she wins, the money is hers-if she loses, he is not responsible for her costs or damages. A married woman thus becomes capable of making a contract. If her employers break faith with her, she can recover damages, and, conversely, they can obtain damages from her if she break faith with them. A married woman, as a necessary consequence, may be made a bankrupt independently of her husband, if she carries on a separate business. She also becomes capable, under another section, of acting as an executrix, or as a trustee, either alone or jointly with other persons, without the co-operation or permission of her husband being required; and he, on the other hand, is freed from all responsibility for her doings in such capacities, unless he have "intermeddled" in her actions in the affair. The complete legal independence of married women is thus secured. Other sections provide for various possibilities. Neither husband nor wife can criminally prosecute the other for theft while they live together; but either can bring a civil action for the recovery of property applied without permission to the uses of the one it did not belong to, and when they are living separately criminal action can be taken by either against the other for the removal of any property. So, too, if a husband about to desert his wife, or vice versa, take away any of the separate property, that act can be prosecuted as theft. On the other hand, a wife may not put her husband's moneythe housekeeping money, for instance-away in the savings bank; the husband is entitled to reclaim his own. Any dispute between husband and wife as to the ownership of property is to be decided in the County Court, or, if the applicant prefers, in the High Court of Justice. A wife becomes equally liable with her husband for the support of their children; and the wife is liable for the maintenance of her husband, so far as is requisite to keep him off the parish rates, which is also the extent of the liability that the husband is

under for the wife's support. A wife will be able to bank her money and to transfer her stocks without her husband's consent. The Act comes into operation on the 1st of January, 1883. It applies to women married before its passing, but only as regards property which they may acquire after the date just given.

THE MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY ACT.-Mr. Thomas Barrett-Lennard, of the Middle Temple, has prepared a concise treatise upon the recent Married Women's Property Act, the plan of which is both novel and convenient. The author follows each clause of the Act with a commentary, chiefly designed to show its effect upon the law as it existed at the time of the passing of the measure. The little book, which is published by Messrs. Waterlow and Sons, is, of course, intended for the use of professional readers, but its expositions of the law present no difficulties which are likely to trouble the lay mind. It is a good feature of the treatise that, where a case is referred to in more than one report, references are given to each report in which it will be found.

WORK OF WOMEN POOR LAW GUARDIANS.

The good influence of women as Poor Law Guardians is being felt in every parish in which they have been elected. In Clifton, Miss Winkworth has introduced the much needed reform of having a trained nurse in the infirmary. The Lambeth Guardians have adopted Miss Whitehead's proposal referring to boarding out pauper children. Miss Whitehead in supporting her resolution said:

In no case was it known that children boarded-out re-appeared at the workhouse, a fact that was in strong contrast with the workhouse school system, as they knew the children did come back even after being trained at the Norwood Schools, which, as she said, were far above the average. The advantages of the system were that they provided a home for the children, which was the fitting and natural condition for them, and they started in life without the taint of pauperism, and consequently rose in the social scale; also, their foster parents had for them great affection, which they could not have in large schools. The children gained friends, who gave them good, honest, rough advice, and they saw life in all its conditions. Then, again, the cost was less than at present. At the schools the children cost 9s. 54d., and in the workhouse 4s. 74d., and the children

Review

could be boarded out for 4s. 4d. The system was also a decided check against desertion, because people would leave their children if they could find them at a large establishment, but they would not do so if they were dispersed, and would not be able easily to trace them. That fact had been demonstrated. Two objections were made to the proposal, one of which seemed in the mind of the gentleman who made it to be insurmountable, and that was that they could not find homes at an easy distance. However, she knew of several; one was near enough for the guardians constantly to see how their children would be treated. One was at Langhybury, near Watford, under the supervision of Mr. Lloyd Jones, and another had been mentioned to her by Miss Lord at Croydon. There was no reason, therefore, why the experiment should not be tried.

She was supported by Miss Lord and Miss Eva Müller who brought to the question practical knowledge as well as a woman's intuitive perception of what was needful in the training of children. The ladies had the satisfaction of carrying the resolution, and though the experiment is to begin with only ten children, there is no doubt it will be rapidly extended.

MORAL REFORM UNION.

Mrs. S. Woolcott Browne, Hon. Secretary, will be happy to receive Members and friends of the Moral Reform Union on the following Wednesday evenings: November 22nd; when Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell will repeat her address on "Wrong and Right Methods of dealing with Social Evil." December 13th; when Mrs. Meredith will speak on "The claim of women to share the Government of Institutions for women, as prisons, workhouses, &c." The chair will be taken at 8 p.m. The attendance of gentlemen is earnestly invited.

DUBLIN PRISON-GATE MISSION.

This truly womanly work continues to prosper, but the very prosperity brings increased difficulty. From an early period in the progress of the Mission it was found necessary to extend its sphere of usefulness by establishing a preventive home to prevent the lapse into crime of young girls associated with the criminal class through birth, poverty, or ignorance. Necessarily the original Mission absorbed the greater part of the funds, and in January, 1881, they had only £230 in

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hand towards this object. After the annual meeting, however, friends came forward to help, and now premises have been erected for the Girls' Help, or Training House, nearly all the money having been contributed in Dublin notwithstanding the heavy distress of nearly all classes. "Our new premises," they say, comprise comfortable rooms for our Matron, a fine Dormitory for our our younger girls-Laundry-kitchen, and Offices, a much-needed Office and Committee Room; also a cheerful bed-room for any lady worker who might find it advisable to remain all night at the Mission; and last, but not least, a good stable. We regret to say the extended Laundry accommodation, requiring a further outlay of £189, we cannot as yet feel warranted in undertaking." But meantime there is a decrease in the amount received towards current expenditure. This is not to be wondered at, in the unquiet and anxious condition of the country, but it is none the less regrettable. "Will our English friends," the little leaflet from which we have before quoted, goes on to say, "try to aid us in the furnishing of our new premises at the Prison Mission?"

The Girls' Dormitory will hold from 8 to 10 beds. Our Lady Worker's bed-room will require homely, but comfortable furnishing, also our Ladies' Office or Committee-room. The stove we used for cooking in the shed which formerly served as laundry kitchen, is nearly worn out, and of kitchen furniture worthy of the name we have literally nothing. If friends in different places would undertake to supply different portions of the required furnishing, it would perhaps give them a special interest in our efforts speedily to have our nice house in regular and busy working order; and it would give great assistance to us if we could early know what articles of household furniture we might reckon on receiving. We believe those who for the past five years have watched with interest and prayer the small beginnings and constant steady advance of the PrisonGate Mission, will not now desert us.

Communications may be addressed to

MARY EDMUNDSON (Mrs.), Allermuir, Foxrock, Dublin; FANNY M. SIBTHORP (Mrs.), 29, Upper Leeson Street; ELIZABETH J. EUSTACE (Mrs.), Elmhurst, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Hon. Secretaries; WILLIAM HAYES, 12, Grafton Street; Miss SIBTHORP, 36, Upper Leeson Street; Mrs. ALFRED JONES, 43, St. Stephen's Green; DAVID DRUMMOND, 58, Dawson Street.