§ MR. BUCHANANasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is a 682 fact that he has forbidden the erection of platforms in the Queen's Park, Edinburgh, for the open air meeting on next Saturday; and, whether platforms have been erected in the park on the occasion of military reviews; and, if so, whether he will not give similar facilities for the holding of popular meeting there?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE, in reply, said, he need hardly say that the meeting which it was proposed to hold in Edinburgh on Saturday next had his hearty sympathy, and he should be glad to give any facilities in his power; but he had not felt justified in giving facilities which had always been refused in the past. He found that, on many previous occasions, applications had been made to his Predecessors for permission to erect platforms in the Edinburgh and London Parks, and on every occasion these applications had been refused. He did not think that in the interests of the public generally these applications should be granted. The only exception that had been made was when the Queen in person held a review of her troops. In such cases Her Majesty had given commands for the erection of a platform. He had received a deputation yesterday from the Corporation of Edinburgh on the subject, and he believed he had satisfied them that the demonstration might take place without the erection of tents or platforms.