Josephine Butler to her friends [the Miss Priestmans]

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 106 3JBL/27/05
  • Former Reference
      GB 106 4125
  • Dates of Creation
      27 Feb 1888
  • Physical Description
      1 item

Scope and Content

Written from Winchester. Anxious to confer with them as there are so many subjects on her mind: the question of who will go to America for them...she and Stuart and others wish that Mrs Steward may go; then the 'Woman's Suffrage Cause in Parliament...it is rumoured that the Liberals are likely to vote against it because they fear that the women's vote will add greatly to the Tory strength; then the doings of the Federation on the Continent Dyer (a Quaker who had done good work in Brussels investigating the trade in young girls, in 1887 turned his attention to India) she thought was doing good work in India showing up the Government out there but seemed to lack all sense of pity for the victims. She had been urged to republish her little book 'Government by Police' and would like to know if the LNA are in a position to make her a grant of £5. Towards it publication.

Administrative / Biographical History

27 Feb [1888] Date: [no year but can be dated same year as JB's letter to Dr Carter 21 Mar 1888 as both have same reference to republishing her little book 'Government by police' bringing it up to date. 'I have been urged to republish my little Book 'Government by police' bringing it up to date. 'Government by police' Dyer Bros, 1879. A 2nd ed was published later in 1888; 'almost re-written.' 'not an inch of space can I get in the 'Sentinel' to report any Continental news; Mr Maurice Gregory is so full of India. For note on Sentinel see letters of 7 Nov 1886 and 15 Jan 1887. Also referred to 20 Oct 1887. The constant reference to the Sentinel was the result of the closing down of the 'Shield' Jul 1886 after the Repeal of the CD Acts. There was no organ devoted solely to the work of the Federation in England. The gap was filled by JB who in May 1888 started the 'Dawn' 'intended primarily to give sketch of Federation work on Continent.' Biog: Mrs Steward; Mrs Chant; Mrs McLaren; Mr Maurice Gregory; Alfred S Dyer; Mrs Scatcherd.