BLACKWELL FAMILY 
ELIZABETH BLACKWELL

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
From Barton, M.T. Doveleys
Ashbourne
Denlishire
Dear Dr. Blackwell
I am afraid you will think
I am very ungrateful for your
kindness in; so long leaving hr letter unanswered.
I have been travelling
about & seeing the 
work that many ladies
are doing independently

we can, that I may mention your
name as my
introduction
& save you the
trouble of writing
a letter
I remain
Yr friend
M.T. Bartonsbut the only combinations
I find are those of 
Sisterhood. in the Extreme
High Church . party - or 
those of Deaconesses
under Mrs. Pennefether.
Mild Neng Park
who represent the 
extreme low Church 
party. The Broad 
Church- represented


by Canon Kingsly - have
not as yet been able to
form any combination of
ladies. - And yet 
it is to Combinations that
we must look.  I 
have been staying a little
in Manchester, & Bristol
& per what I see & hear
the misery of the poor
in these large towns isvery great.  They cannot
obtain--pure water to drink
or any fresh air.  Both
are more & more poisoned
& the rivers, are only
the cause of bad air--
 poison--being--full of
the vast Mass of Drainage.
I am told that Dr. Evans
has advised the Authorities
at Birking House, to

try his plan of burning
in furnaces the refuse of
the towns. -- I cannot
see what the poor, in
towns are to do--unless
the system of draining
all the refuse into the
rivers is abandoned.
& yet Mr. Moule's
Earth System--seems
as if it could hardlybe successfully applied
to towns. Any vast
change of the kind
must be slow--there
are so many vested
interests to conquer,
but this question, is
at the root of Sanitary
improvement in towns

for otherwise the mass
of the poor cannot
have pure air--or
pure water: & you cannot
wonder that they drink
adulterated beer;  When
it is the only recreation
they possess.--I am
not able yet to settlemy plans- but if you
would have the kindness
to give me the address 
of Miss Freland
unless I may assume
Office of Man. Examiner Times
Manchester
w. be sufficient; I shd
be very grateful--If I
do not hear fr. you, I will
conclude that this is