Josephine Butler to Mr Johnson

Written from Buckingham Palace Hotel. No date but references to 'Geneva affairs' of 'last Mar' suggesting 1897.

'They discussed further, at Committee, the subject of an Organ of our Society and Mr Stuart ... believed you would be willing to be the Editor'

Many lessons to be learned from the Continent but she finds it difficult to get items of news from the Continent printed in English papers (the Geneva affair was an example).

'The Geneva affair and its lessons' refers to the devastating defeat of the Abolitionists by 8,000 votes and a mere 4,000 in favour, followed by a night of rioting in the streets of Geneva.

The Grand Council of Geneva was triumphant.

This took place on 22 Mar 1896.

'I send you my last little Swiss report which I promised you a copy of the Petition'

This was the Lausanne Petition. See letter dated 23 Feb 1897 in which Josephine Butler gave a full account of the 'presentation of our Lausanne Petition from women to the Grand Conseil of the Canton de Vaud'; the courteous reception of the women who presented it and the final word from the President of the Grand Conseil that 'it was proposed to appoint a Commission that very day to consider it and report to the Executive'

'The Shield' began publication in Mar 1870 discontinued after the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts in 1886. With demands for the return of the Contagious Diseases Acts, especially for India, the central committee decided to start publication again and Mr GW Johnson's name was put forward as Editor. He accepted it provisionally and the first issue of the new series was published May 1897.

Biog: Mr Johnson, M Bridel