ABSTRACT
Jane Addison married Edward Addison in 1788, three years after her sister Jessy wed James Campbell. By 1793 Edward and Jessy, his sister-in-law, had taken to travelling together in Scotland; their adultery produced two divorce Bills — Jane's and James's — in 1801. James Campbell's Bill, usual as to form and substance, excited no controversy in the House of Lords, but the Upper House dithered, debated and delayed when Jane's Bill appeared. As a daughter of Sir James Campbell of Inverneild, hereditary usher of the white rod for Scotland and strong supporter of William Pitt's government, Jane Addison had the usual family connections found in a Parliamentary divorce. The English legal tradition of similar treatment for similar people similarly situated meant Jane and James should both obtain their divorces. But Jane was a woman. The double standard confronted!
