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To a kind and sympathizing public I commend her. The deep and cruel anguish she has had to suffer at the hands of those who should have been her protectors, will, I doubt not, endear her to you, and you will extend to her your kindest sympathy and protection.

Trusting through her much suffering the public will become more enlightened, and that our noble and benevolent institutions -- the asylums for the insane -- will never become perverted into institutions of cruelty and oppression, and that Mrs. Packard may be the last subject of such a Conspiracy as is revealed in her books, that will ever transpire in this our State of Illinois, or elsewhere.

Very Respectfully, S. S. JONES."

St. Charles, Ill., Dec. 16, 1864.

Editorial Remarks.

"Assuming, as in view of all the facts it is our duty to do, the correctness of the statements made by Mrs. Packard, two matters of vital importance demand consideration:

1. What have 'the rulers in the church' done about the Persecution? They have not publicly denied the statements; virtually, on the principle that under such extraordinary circumstances silence gives consent, they concede their correctness.

Is the wrong covered up? the guilty party allowed to go unchallenged lest "the cause" suffer by exposure?

If they will explain the matter in a way to exculpate the accused, these columns shall be prompt to do the injured full and impartial justice. We are anxious to know what they have to say in the premises. If Mrs. Packard is insane because she rejects Calvinism, then we are insane, liable to arrest, and to be placed in an insane asylum! We have a personal interest in this matter.

2. Read carefully Judge Boardman's statement as to the bearing of "common law" on Mrs. Pakard's -sic- case. If a bad man, hating his wife and wishing to get rid of her, is base enough to fabricate a charge of insanity, and can find two physicians "in regular standing" foolish or wicked enough to give the legal certificate, the wife is helpless! The "common law" places her wholly at the mercy of her brutal lord. Certainly the statute should interfere.

Humanity, not to say Christianity, demands that special enactments shall make impossible such atrocities as are alleged in the case of Mrs. Packard -- atrocities which, according to Judge. Boardman, can be enacted in the name of "common law."

We trust the case now presented will have at least the effect to incite Legislative bodies to such enactments as will protect women from the possibility of outrages, which, we are led to fear, ecclesiastical bodies had rather cover up, than expose and rebuke to the prejudice of sectarian ends -- the 'sacred cause.'"

As I have said, there was a successful effort made in the Massachusetts' Legislature to change the laws in reference to the mode of commitment into Insane Asylums the winter of 1865 and as Hon. S. E. Sewall was my "friend and fellow laborer," as he styles himself, in that movement, I made application to him the next winter, for such a recommend as I might use to aid me in bringing this subject before the Illinois Legislature that winter, for the purpose of getting a change in their laws also. But finding that the Illinois Legislature did not meet that year, I have had no occasion to use it, as I intended. Having it thus on hand, I will add this to the foregoing.

Hon. S. E. Sewall's Testimonial.

"I have been acquainted with Mrs. E. P. W. Packard for about a year, I believe. She is a person of great religious feeling, high moral principle, and warm philanthropy. She is a logical thinker, a persuasive speaker, and such an agitator, that she sometimes succeeds where a man would fail. I think she will be very useful in the cause to which she has devoted herself, I mean procuring new laws to protect married women.

I give Mrs. Packard these lines of recommendation, because she has asked for them. I do not think them at all necessary, for she can recommend herself, far better than I can.

S. E. SEWALL."

Boston, November 27, 1865.

Said an honorable gentleman, an eminent lawyer, who thought he understood the character of my books:

"Mrs. Packard, I believe your books will yet be read in our Legislative Halls and in Congress, as a specimen of the highest form of law ever sent to our world, and coming millions will read your history, and bless you as one who was afflicted for humanity's sake."

It must be acknowledged that this intelligent gentleman had some solid basis on which he could defend this extravagant opinion, namely: that God does sometimes employ "the weak things of the world to confound the mighty."

CHAPTER XXIII.
Dangerous to be a Married Woman in Illinois!

One day while in the asylum, after seating himself in my room, Dr. McFarland commenced a conversation by asking this question:

"Mrs. Packard, would it not be natural for me, in order to ascertain what had been your conduct before coming here, to inquire, first of husband, then of parents, then of brothers and sisters, and on their testimony form some opinion of your state?"