Of the Guardianship of Women among the Romans.
THE Roman laws subjected women to a perpetual guardianship, except they were under cover and subject to the authority of a husband. This guardianship was given to the nearest of the male relations; and, by a vulgar expression, it appears they were very much confined. This was proper for a republic, but not at all necessary in a monarchy.
That the women among the ancient Germans were likewise under a perpetual tutelage, appears from the different codes of the laws of the barbarians. This custom was communicated to the monarchies founded by those people, but was not of a long duration.