To the Right Rev. JRhodes :

> Unfortunately every insulating technique (short of removing the
> interior plaster and lath and installing batt from the inside) has
> some critical, and possibly fatal flaws...trapping moisture (foam),
> settlment (pearlite, vermiculaite, celulose etc), corrosion of the
> electric lines (celulose).

Your 1880 victorian is balloon framed ? Yes?
Do you know how the electrical upgrades have been done?
We have had success before in sealing 'rolled fiberglass bat insulation' in 6 mil
plastic sheeting, removing the baseboard on the second floor and pulling
insulation through wall cavity from second floor baseboard to attic and then
basement to second floor baseboard. Being able to do this is limited to finding
the balloon framing laid out just right and no wild electric wires in the wall
voids. Use a flexible but heavy vinyl slip sheet against the back of the sheathing
to stop the nails from hooking on to the plastic. Slip sheet is removed and reused
after pulling insulation through each wall cavity.   While doing this, install
pull strings in a few of the wall cavities so you can pull new electric wire
through in the future, if needed.