 |
 |
Dear list, Has anyone of you come across the following 1770 - marriage law: All women of whatever age, rank, profession, or degree, whether virgin maid, or widow, that shall from now and after such Act impose upon, seduce, and betray into matrimony any of his Majesty's subjects by means of scent, paints, cosmetics [... etc.] shall incur the penalty of the law now in force and that the marriage upon conviction shall stand null and void ? I've found it quoted by Ralph M. Wardle in his 'Mary Wollstonecraft: A Critical Biography', p. 136. Mary Poovey quotes it in her 'The Proper Lady and the Woman Writer'. I've searched most of the legal sources of the eighteenth century but the above mentioned law wasn't cited or even referred to in any. Does any of you know where to find it? Many Thanks, Jumana Al-Dahhak (PhD student) School of English - University of Leeds %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%