Protest from 250 Ladies in 1870 headed by Florence Nightingale and Harriet Martineau. Against C. D. Acts.

"We, the undersigned, enter our solemn protest against these Acts, because, involving as they do, such a momentous change in the legal safeguards nitherto enjoyed by women in common with men, they have been passed, not only without the knowledge of the country, but unknown to Parliament itself; and we hold that neither the representatives of the people nor the Press fulfil the duties which are expected of them when they allow such legislation to take place without the fullest discussion. Because, so far as women are concerned, they remove every guarantee of personal security which the law has established and held sacred, and put their reputation, their freedom, and their persons absolutely in the power of the police."

Other reasons—religious, moral, and social—are given, and then follow the signatures of 250 ladies, whose names are "household words" in connection with all good and noble works.