Showing 4 results

1 Sunnyside, Wimbledon. - Mr J. M. Ludlow, a friend of her mother [Elizabeth Gaskell]'s, seeks Friendly Societies Registrarship as Tidd Pratt has died; would Houghton approach Mr Lowe.

1 Sunnyside, Wimbledon. - Thanks Houghton for letter; has heard nothing more [of Ludlow's Registrarship]. Sends a photograph of her mother [Elizabeth Gaskell; no longer present]; 'It was the only one ever taken of her and does not the least do her justice'; she only consented to be photographed after much persuasion and 'always objected to its being given away as she said "people will think me such a cross hateful person"'.

Wishes Wilson's note [95/15?] were more encouraging, but believes that 'if there be a niche which wants filling', he may help them. Explains that Wilson and his wife are both in poor health, 'but are not really ill', and that he is capable of plenty of intellectual exertion. Reports that he has been at many Temperance Meetings in the recent past, one at a foundry near Poole. Declares himself to be impressed 'at the latent power of these men', and observes that at present there is no leader of the real working men. Mentions the 'blessings' which come from the temperance movement, i.e., that everyone is regarded as equal, no matter what their social standing is. Refers to when he joined the [Christian?] Socialist movement with Maurice and Ludlow twenty years ago.

Refers to several works, which he believes will be of interest to Sidgwick; Pfeiffer's (1863) Uber Genossenschaftswesen, Bishop Ketteler's (1864) Die Arbeiterfrage und das Christentum, Karl Marx's Misere de la Philosophie, Lassalle's pamphlets, Professor Huber's The English Universities.

Mentions Sidgwick's having intimated his willingness to lay out some money 'for the furtherance of cooperative attempts' in the country, when he visited him last. Gives his opinion of the the benefits to cooperative companies of the investment of 'a couple of thousand pounds...applied here and there in judicious doses'. Advises Sidgwick 'to take shares, and discusses the disadvantages of giving loans. Lists five bodies, which he believes at the present 'to be really deserving of pecuniary support: the Rochdale M[ ] Card Manufacturing Society, the Leicester Cooperative, the Wolverhampton and Brewood Cooperative Plate Locksmiths, the [London] Framemakers and Gilders Association, and the [London] Cabinet Makers Cooperative Society; and gives some details about their recent business. Mentions other deserving societies - the Cooperative Nailmakers of Lye, the P[ ] Boiler-makers, and the North of England Cooperative Printing Society - but does not recommended investment in them. Recommends Sidgwick 'not to spend a farthing upon any of these ventures without first seeing the men, and if possible their place.'