Josephine Butler to Miss Priestman

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 106 3JBL/24/13
  • Former Reference
      GB 106 4038
  • Dates of Creation
      5 Jun 1885
  • Physical Description
      1 item

Scope and Content

Written from London. To say she had been for ten days in London helping 'in a most terrible investigation concerning the crimes (vice is too pale a word) of the aristocracy'. Asks her friends to look out for an account of it in the Pall Mall Gazetter (in which Stead published his famous articles starting 6 Jul 1885 on 'The Maiden Tribute of modern Babylon'). They will want to make all possible use of the wave of indignation, which will be aroused. Says she has been about the streets at all hours 'Oh! What horrors we have seen'.

Administrative / Biographical History

5 Jun [1885] Date: no year but the case associated with the name of Rebecca Jarrett was in 1885. 'It will all be published probably early next week ... in the Pall Mall Gazette.' This was a reference to the notorious articles published by WT Stead under the title of 'The Maiden tribute of Modern Babylon' in the Pall Mall Gazette 6-9 Jul 1885. A Note on this and the results of the scandal. See letter from JB to Mr Naish 26 Jul [1885], which was written in the peaceful surroundings of Switzerland. Rebecca Jarrett together with WT Stead was involved in the 'Eliza Armstrong' case, which ended in a sentence of 3 months imprisonment for Stead and 2 years for Rebecca Jarrett. For an account of WT Stead's campaign and the subsequent trial of Stead and Jarrett, (Sep 1885). See either of the modern Lives of Josephine Butler by Moberly bell or Glen Petrie and 'Rebecca Jarrett' by J Butler 1886. 'Did you see my letter in the 'Christian'? A periodical which wrote in support of most of the views held by JB. The editors were Mr Morgan and Mr Scott. Mr Morgan was an old friend of JB and supported her campaign for Abolition. JB gives an account of his life and views in 2 letters to Miss Forsaith, 3 Jul 1902 and 22 Oct 1902. Biog: Sir William Harcourt; Rebecca Jarrett; S Morley.