more susceptible of enjoyments; I warn you I speak by experience; and my learned friend Samo, on this sacred subject, can offer nothing but theory; think, gentlemen, how dearly they must have valued each other, when after a lapse of many years—­after all their little storms of life—­they yet resolve to make their union indissoluble, by adding thereto the celebration of those rites of our church, which has for its maxim ’that those whom God has thus joined together no man shall put asunder.’

“Contrast this with the conduct of the defendant, his own wife an exile from his bed and board, for no cause, except the lordly will of the defendant.  A woman, against whom scandal has not yet dared to whisper; still, (although she has suffered much from the violent conduct of her husband) still, I say, striking for personal attractions and accomplishments; and is avowedly of an unspotted character.  Let the defendant, therefore, but attempt to pry further than he has done into the private habits of my client, as regards his wife, and I shall not hesitate still further to tear down the beautiful appearance of adopted sanctity, simplicity, and innocence of deportment, with which he has hedged himself round.

“My client had been often led to believe that all was not right between his wife and the defendant, even before the time of the criminal conversation now prosecuted for.  I am aware that my learned friend may allege that:—­

    “Trifles light as air,
    Are to the jealous confirmation strong
    As proof of holy writ;

“But, gentlemen, can you for a moment believe that there was no art, no perseverance, no continued attention, no working on the passions before the criminal moment; but that the victim fell at once into the commission of the adulterous intercourse alleged?  Human nature forbids such an idea.  The female mind, always timid, would think of her ties—­her husband—­her children—­her grand-children; and prevent her, before, at least, all her fears.  I challenge the defendant to name, even in one slight instance, any thing in the conduct of my client’s wife, that such a ready compliance could be expected.

“On Thursday night, the 17th of May last, between nine and ten o’clock at night, the defendant sent his lad to call Mrs. Polly Bernard to his house.  You must know, gentlemen, that Mr. Samuel Thorpe then lived (and for aught I know does now) in the same street, and within a short distance of the dwelling of my client, but which was then exclusively occupied by his wife.  The object of thus sending for Mrs. Bernard by the defendant, is alleged, I am informed, for the simple purpose of making his bed.  It is really astonishing that this gentleman could not be content to have his bed made by some of his men servants; that he did not hire a female, considering his ample means.  Now the real object for which Mrs. Bernard was thus called to the house of the defendant became soon