Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-23
FebguaryI. 1865.
To n. B. NJ. Consul


To q. B, NJ Consul, - Virginia;
SIR Under the impression that, as consul
of the British government you have authority
to taks cognissnes and make reports Of any i'll
treatment of British females, | presume to in-
tTude my grievances on your notice, not only
in Justice to myself, but 70 others who have bsen
similarly insultsd WAile / was staying in
Maryland, tbs following advertisement was
issued from the United States government
for the benefit of ladies who were anxious to
come South. / Immediately fastened to avail
myself of the opportunity 10 return to my friends
IN Virginia, from whom had been for some time
separated made, on OATH the statemeR Bre-
guired and having no relatives in the srmy on
either side, and never troabinE myself with the
politics of the country, I anticipated no diff
Guilty, and therefore embarked at Washington
for Vireinis on the 7th Of January 1863, IN the
steamer New York, with some FIVE OF six hun
sTed females, not one of whom had ever seen
before. Imagine my astonishment Whsn, as
soon IS the boat hsd leA Washington, found
we he'd TO go through = personal examination
a condition for which We we're not prepared, as
by reference to the advertisement you viii ind
il is not SO nominated in the bond. Had been
aware of it, nothing would have induced me to
or ter that vessel and endure such indienities.
Imagine to yourself the most ser1tinizing,
personal inspection, conducted, it is true, by
womeA, but in the presence Of g man, who
watched the ladies suspieiously as they were
diTested of each article Of dress by British
feelings burned with indignation, and my
cheeks with bushes at the degradation; but
was powerless, far from home and had to
submit.
This was not sll You viii percsivs, from tho
advertisement, thst each lady was allowed q
package or trunk containing female wearing
apparel, weighing 100 pounds, and, theugh I
had strictly adhered to this injunction, they
opened my trunk, aud robbed me of half the
clothing in il; the whole contents being scaFce-
ly a sufficient supply for any LADY moving in
respectable society.
Nov, l would ask yoR, sir IS there no redress
for this The government which thus robs in
nocent foreigners Of their property, and insults
their feelings with impunity, may also dispose
of their lives whenever it can invent q pTstext.
/ see no bounds 70 its poTer.
They impose upon US oaths, whose value they
themselves regard not; they subject as TO de-
grading treatment without ths least notice and
while pFstsnding to grant US fres travel, psy
themselves twice ever By their robberiss, which
they dignity by she name of cODhscatj0ns They
Ere the doings Of the powers that be In Wash
ton, and simply ask, have they the right to
confscate the personal property of an un0ffsnd
ing foreigner Must every British subjset leave
the country Or is there no voice 70 reach
across the Atlantic and plead for us7 Surely AL
nations have not lost their cbivslry aud men-
hood, but there aust yet be soma power that
will stand by unprotected females, and preserve
them from insult and robbery
You viii pardon me if 1 write warmly IS
feel deeply and pray favor me with an early re-
ply, for it is not my intention to let such pro
cssdines pass unnoicsd, other English ladies'
having suffered in the same manner.
am, sir, your obedient servant,