02.04.2013 Views

THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT - The University of Texas at Arlington

THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT - The University of Texas at Arlington

THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT - The University of Texas at Arlington

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

spent nearly four hundred pounds printing anti-slavery liter<strong>at</strong>ure. Nearly all <strong>of</strong> th<strong>at</strong> cost,<br />

they noted, had been covered with proceeds from the sale <strong>of</strong> work-bags. 42 <strong>The</strong> work-bags<br />

were also an effective means <strong>of</strong> dissemin<strong>at</strong>ing inform<strong>at</strong>ion about slavery, countering the<br />

numerous “misrepresent<strong>at</strong>ions” carried in the press. 43 In 1826, the group reported th<strong>at</strong><br />

nearly 2,000 bags had been distributed throughout England, Wales, and Ireland. 44 In<br />

addition to selling work-bags, members <strong>of</strong> the women’s anti-slavery associ<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

presented influential women, and on occasion men, with work-bags. <strong>The</strong> King, Princess<br />

Victoria, Mrs. Thomas Clarkson, Mrs. William Wilberforce, and author Maria Edgeworth<br />

were among the named recipients <strong>of</strong> work-bags from the Birmingham group. 45 <strong>The</strong><br />

women <strong>of</strong> the Calne associ<strong>at</strong>ion reported in 1827 th<strong>at</strong> seven work-bags had been<br />

presented to “ladies <strong>of</strong> influence in the neighbourhood” in the past year. 46<br />

Funds from the sale <strong>of</strong> work-bags were used to provide aid to female slaves in the<br />

West Indies, one <strong>of</strong> the Society’s primary objectives. In 1827, for example, the Society<br />

reported a don<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> thirty-two pounds to the Society for the Relief <strong>of</strong> Distressed and<br />

42 Second Report <strong>of</strong> the Female Society <strong>of</strong> Birmingham, 10.<br />

43 Second Report <strong>of</strong> the Female Society <strong>of</strong> Birmingham, 10. <strong>The</strong> Ladies’ Associ<strong>at</strong>ion for Calne,<br />

Melksham, Devizes, and their Respective Neighborhoods, in Aid <strong>of</strong> the Cause <strong>of</strong> Negro Emancip<strong>at</strong>ion<br />

reprinted this same phrase word-for-word in their report, also published in 1827. See <strong>The</strong> Second Report <strong>of</strong><br />

the Ladies’ Associ<strong>at</strong>ion for Calne, Melksham, Devizes, and their Respective Neighbourhoods, in Aid <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Cause <strong>of</strong> Negro Emancip<strong>at</strong>ion (Calne: W. Baily, 1827), 14.<br />

44 First Report <strong>of</strong> the Female Society <strong>of</strong> Birmingham, 7.<br />

45 Minutes, April 8, 1828, April 12, 1831, Birmingham Ladies’ Society for the Relief <strong>of</strong> Negro<br />

Slaves, Minute Book, Reel 2, BLS; Midgley, Women against Slavery, 57.<br />

46<br />

<strong>The</strong> Second Report <strong>of</strong> the Ladies’ Associ<strong>at</strong>ion for Calne, Melksham, Devizes, and their<br />

Respective Neighbourhoods, 14.<br />

68

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!