1 870-1875.] THE "CD. ACTS." 311 



proceedings, and expressing the hope that it would not be 

 necessary to renew the agitation. Fortunately, they decided 

 that the proposed sale would be illegal. Philip also wrote to 

 the Chairman of the Finance Committee, suggesting that, in the 

 next City Act of Parliament, the Council should be empowered 

 to assess the whole city for this object. 



Before we turn to pleasanter themes, it may be desirable to 

 state the part which Philip took in relation to the Contagious 

 Diseases Acts, which were passed to diminish, if possible, the 

 physical penalties of profligacy in the army and navy. The 

 last of these Acts was passed in 1869, without the knowledge 

 of the public, and its provisions awakened very earnest remon- 

 strance. Mrs. Harriet Martineau wrote the " Letters of an 

 Englishwoman" to "The Daily News;" and she and Mrs. Butler 

 and Miss Nightingale and other ladies put forth a Memorial, 

 protesting against this legislation. # This led me to investigate 

 the subject, reading both sides : and the editor of " The In- 

 quirer" allowed me to send three articles on the subject to his 

 paper, which were reprinted as a pamphlet. I sent it to Philip, 

 who promised to be on the watch, if any attempt was made to 

 extend the measure to Montreal. After a time this was the 

 case, and he was instrumental in stopping it. In November, 

 1875, however, the Secretary of the Fabrique made a communi- 

 cation to the Committee of Health appointed by the Legis- 

 lative Assembly, which was reported in the papers, in which he 

 " feared that strong resistance would be offered by some of the 

 . citizens of Montreal to any scheme for licensing prostitution ; 

 but he believed that the Cure of Notre Dame had been in com- 

 munication with the Mayor," etc. Philip wrote at once to the 

 Cure ; " ... I fully hoped that this controversy would not have 

 been forced upon us. It has produced untold bitter feeling 

 in England. It has divided families even more than religious 

 opinions. But if the doctors force it upon us here, I have the 

 documents carefully set forth by the English Anti-CD. A. 



* Mary Carpenter was then in India. She regarded the Acts as ' ' a 

 gigantic insult to the female sex," and subsequently became a Vice- 

 President of the Society for their repeal. 



