Source 5: Pamphlet, Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage, 1876
Description
The National Society for Women's Suffrage began as a partnership of local suffrage societies established in Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Dublin. The Edinburgh Society was founded in November 1867.
'The Eighth Annual Meeting of the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage' was held in the Hall of the Literary Institute, South Clerk Street, 15th February 1876.
[NLS Shelfmark: Acc. 4546/5]
Source: The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide, 1866-1928, by Elizabeth Crawford
Transcript
The work of petitioning has, of course, occupied much of our attention, and we have found the holding of drawing-room meetings, and other small meetings, very efficacious in influencing public opinion in fresh circles. We have held many such meetings in the past year, and have circulated much information throughout the country by various channels.
SInce we first met in November 1867 to form an Edinburgh Society for the Promotion of Women's Suffrage, and to unite with others in petitioning Parliament, about two millions of signatures have been appended to petitions in favour of the measure introduced successively into the House of Commons by Mr John Stuart Mill, by Mr Jacob Bright, and last year by Mr Forsyth, Q.C.; and in this large number Scotland has been represented in her full proportion. The last year we sent to Parliament in support of Mr Forsyth's bill 260 petitions, signed by 49,400 names. 200 of these petitions were general ones, from various places, 16 were from Town Councils, 12 from Good Templar lodges, and 32 from householders. The general signatures from Edinburgh alone amounted to 16,678. All these names and efforts, uniting with those from England, had doubtless their influence on the House of Commons; by they did not quite carry out their object, for while 170 members voted for us in the division of 7th April 1875, 205 voted against us; but though still in the minority, the number of our supporters is increasing, and we confidently hope that before long the minority will become a majority.
