Josephine Butler to 'Kitty' Stanley Butler

MISSING Photocopy letter. [Written from Liverpool.] Says that she has had a bad attack and her chest is still weak, but she is getting better and leaves home Monday week (7 Dec) and she and Papa will be at the great Birmingham meeting on the 8th. Wishes he could get away for it, as Stansfeld will be there and many other important and interesting people. Commiserates with the cold he has suffered at the Schools while sitting for the 'mod' exam [Stanley is at Oxford]. Outlines her plans for the trip abroad: she will go to Paris and suggests that the two brothers travel straight through to the Antibes and join herself and Papa at Nice or Cannes. Says she has found a friend and fellow worker 'in M. Jules Favre, ex minister of France'. Also Lord Derby has given her a letter 'to ensure my safety against the Paris Police and one to Lord Lyons, our ambassador in France. I have been writing to M. Le Cour the head of the police, our enemy, but I did not tell him when I would be in Paris.

Thursday [26 Nov 1874]

'Kitty' i.e. Stanley called alternatively by the family, Cat or Catty.

'Papa and I will be at the Great Birmingham meeting on the 8th'

This was the public meeting held in the evening of the 8 Dec 1874 in the Town Hall. The Mayor (Mr Joseph Chamberlain) presided and among those present on the platform were James Stansfeld MP, Charles H Hopwood OC MP, George Dixon MP, Prof Sheldon Amos, Prof James Stuart, Mrs JE Butler (See a full report in the 'Shield', 1 Jan 1875 pp 7-14)

'mod' exam i.e. Human Moderations. The second public examination in the Honours degree course. Stanley got a 1st class Maths Mods and 1st class Final School

'We are planning a little about going abroad'

At a Conference held by the LNA in York in Jun 1894, Josephine had propounded the idea of making the movement international. The evil they fought she said was worldwide and therefore could only be combated by international effort. After much prayer and many consultations with friends and supporters JB set off for Paris early in Dec 1874. She was joined for some of the time by her son Stanley who then went on to the Antibes where JB later joined him and the rest of the family for a short rest

'Goat'

The pet name in the family for George G Butler

Date given by JB saying 'I leave home on the 7th next Thursday week'. Letter written on 'Thursday' which gives the date 26 Nov

Biog: Stansfeld; M Jules Favre; M Le Cour; Lord Derby (Stanley); Lord Lyons