cations were read at this session by women; among
them, Florence Nightingale, Mary Carpenter, Isa Craig, Louisa
Twining, and Mrs. Fison. Four were on Popular Education, two upon
Punishment and Reformation, three on the Public Health in the
Army and elsewhere, one upon Social Economy. Still another proof
of progress may be seen in the examination of Florence
Nightingale by the Sanitary Commission.

[In the establishment of _The Englishwoman's Journal_ with an
honorable corps of writers, in the passage of the new Divorce
Bill, of the Married Woman's Property Bill in Canada, the cause
had gained much; on each of which Mrs. Dall spoke at some length,
especially this Property Bill, which some foolish member had
shorn of its most precious clause--that which secured her
earnings to the working-woman, lest, by tempting her to labor, it
should create a divided interest in the family].

Do you ask me why I have dwelt on this Institution for Social
Science, cataloguing the noble names that do it honor? To
strengthen the timorous hearts at the West End; to suggest to
them that a coronet of God's own giving may possibly rest as
secure as one of gold and jewels in the United Kingdom. I wish to
draw your attention to the social distinction of the men upon
that platform. No real nobleness will be imperiled by impartial
listening to our plea. Would you rest secure in our respect,
first feel secure in your own. If ten Beacon Street ladies would
go to work, and take pay for their labor, it would do more good
than all the speeches that were ever made, all the conventions
that were ever held. I honor women who act. That is the reason
that I greet so gladly girls like Harriet Hosmer, Louisa Lander,
and Margureite Foley. Whatever they do, or do not do, for Art,
they do a great deal for the cause of Labor. I do not believe any
one in this room has any idea of the avenues that are open to
women already. Let me read you some of the results of the last
census of the United Kingdom. Talk of women not being able to
work! Women have been doing hard work ever since the world began.
You will see by this that they are doing as much as men now.
[Applause].

In 1841, there were engaged in agriculture, 66,329 women. In
1851, 128,418; nearly double the number. Of these, t