Josephine Butler to Miss Mary [Priestman]

Written from 29 Tooting Bec Road, Balham. Gives news of her family including sad news of Eiger's [the St Bernard] death, only eight years old. Had a farewell party for the two American ladies. 'Lord Roberts has had a great fall.. he has apologised publicly to the ladies' [see note] Has had much correspondence about the Hague Conference [end Sep]; scare about cholera outbreak there.

'While George went down north to another funeral that of my eldest brother's wife, Elizabeth Grey' George Annett Grey, of Milfield (1815-1886), JB's eldest brother lost his first wife Elizabeth Boyd in 1856; this second wife Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Henry Morton, died in Aug1893.

'Then on the Sunday ... my dear beloved Eiger died' This was the St Bernard dog left behind by Boss the Swiss innkeeper from Grindelwald when he visited the Butlers at Winchester in 1885. (See letter of 27 Feb 1885 JB to Stanley.)

'We had a farewell party to our American friends and very affecting questions. Lord Roberts has had a great fall, he has apologised publicly to the ladies.'

'4, 7, 8 Aug. Lord Roberts examined before Department Committee as to his contradiction of revelations of Dr Bushnell and Mrs Andrew and his share in the issue of the Infamous Memorandum for which he denied responsibility' (Report Russell's Committee) RR 684A.

11 Aug. Lord Roberts subsequently admitted the statements of Dr Bushnell and Mrs Andrew were correct and tendered his apologies to them (Report Russell's Committee, p.139) RR 685B.

[For explanation of 'Infamous Memorandum' see RR 506, 17 Jun 1886.] See also letter of JB to Miss Priestman, 6 May 1893 and letter of JB to Stanley, 24 Aug 1893.

'I have much correspondence about the Hague' This referred to the Federation Conference at The Hague, 21-4 Sep.

Biog: Mrs Smyttan, Dr Bushnell and Mrs Andrew, Lord Roberts