Josephine Butler to 'Dear Friend' [Miss Forsaith]

Photocopy of a letter (dictated). Written from [Wooler, Northumberland]

The Commission have accepted her as 'Mrs Butler's representative' and have invited her 'to introduce herself to us by a brief paper or address.' For the subject of this paper she would suggest an incident which has not been included in any book of Reminiscences, namely an 'account of that terrible time in Geneva when we took refuge in the Hugenot's tower, and the Devil raged in Geneva [this was in 1896. See note]...I remember...the banner carried through the city of Geneva by the mad mob, bearing the inscription 'Down with God and de Meuron'.

'That terrible time in Geneva when we took refuge in the Huguenot's tower'

This was the historic home of Madam Guigins at Geneva which had formally been a Huguenot stronghold. The incident referred to was in 1896 when the two opposing 'projets' for and against Abolition in the city of Geneva had to be submitted to a referendum. The result was a defeat for the Abolitionist party followed by a night of rioting

A whole series of letters describing the incident may be read around the date of 22 Mar 1896

Biog: M de Meuron; Mme Pieczynska; Miss Forsaith; Canon George Butler; Mrs Tanner; Evan Roberts