§ MR. WARTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether,—Considering that by the 23rd section of the 19th chapter of the 57th of George 3 it is unlawful for any person to convene or call together, or to give any notice for convening or calling 1898 together, any number of persons exceeding 50 to meet within the distance of one mile from the gate of Westminster Hall, save and except such parts of the parish of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, as are within the said distance, for the purpose or on pretext of considering or preparing any petition, complaint, or remonstrance to either House of Parliament, and that such meeting, if holden, is an unlawful assembly; considering that Mr. Charles Bradlaugh has given notice for convening and calling together, on Tuesday the 2nd day of August next, a meeting of persons exceeding 50 to meet in Trafalgar Square for the purpose or on the pretext of considering or preparing a petition, complaint, or remonstrance to this House of Parliament; and considering that Trafalgar Square is wholly within the distance of one mile from the gate of Westminster Hall, and is not, nor is any part thereof, in the parish of St. Paul's, Covent Garden; it is his intention to take any steps to prevent such unlawful assembly?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, I have caused inquiries to be made into this matter, and I am informed by the police that there is no announcement of the proposed meeting at Trafalgar Square on Tuesday next, or of the special objects of the conveners. In answer to the hon. Member's Question, therefore, all I have to say is that in the case of any such meeting being held proper measures will be taken to secure the observance of order and of the law.