Josephine Butler to Stanley Butler

Photocopy. Written from Winchester. This describes an all day prayer meeting held in the vicinity of the House on the 5th preceding the public meeting convened by the London Branch of the LNA on the 6th. The next day they had a meeting of the 'political committee' with a discussion about the Parliamentary tactics to be adopted. In the afternoon she went to the House of Commons to meet a deputation of women from the country. Petitions were brought in, and meetings with their MPs arranged for the women. After a tiring but rewarding three hours they had to prepare for the great evening meeting held in Exeter (Great) Hall.

10 Feb [1884] 'Our All Day' prayer on the 5th.' The public meeting convened by the London Branch of the LNA was held on Feb 6 1884 in Exeter (Great) Hall and was preceded by an all day meeting of prayer. (The Shield 16 Feb 1884 p.25). 'The vote of the 20 Apr' [1883] This was when Mr Stansfeld moved in the House of Commons 'that this House disapproves of the compulsory examination of women under the CD Acts' carried by 182 to 110. This in practice meant an end to the CD Acts though they were not finally repealed till 1886. (See RR no 444, 20 Apr 1883) 'Mr Thomas came from Gloucester with one [i.e. a petition] 'Aunt Emmy had collected.' This was Mr FW Thomas Aunt Emmy's 3rd husband. She had left a widow by the death of her 2nd husband, Jasper Bolton, in Oct 1871 and had married again several years later. She had a family of 8 children (3 De Pledge 5 Bolton).

Biog: Mr Fowler MP; Mr Noel MP; Denny (Aunt Emmy); Contie Grey and Adela; Cavendish Bentinck; Mrs Baxter; Benjamin Scott; R Spence Watson; Samuel Smith; 'Aunt Emmy' (Mrs Thomas); Mr Thomas; Jacob Bright; Mr Thomasson; Mr Bolton (Stirling); Sir Frederick Milner, The Lord Advocate; Mr Shield; Herbert Gladstone; William Fowler MP.