WHAT I WRITE, IS WRITTEN IN NO SPIRIT OF REBELLION; IT PUTS FORWARD NO ABSURD CLAIM OF EQUALITY; IT IS SIMPLY AN APPEAL FOR PROTECTION.

“Our mercantile and uncertain speculation of ‘damages’, – the wonderful indecency of our diverce trials, – the incredible fact that the woman accused is allowed no direct defence, and cannot appear by counsel on such occasions, – the loth and reluctant admission of the right of a mother to her inhant children, – are alike odious and incomprehensible.”

Caroline Norton’s triumphs paved the way for more substantial reforms in the late 19th century. But the law remained mostly on the fathers’ side, retaining the principles of inequality between women and men.