§ MR. SEXTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, With regard to a serious disturbance recently at the Victoria Park Tabernacle, Hackney, on the occasion of "a lecture on the fallacies of the Church of Rome" by a person describing himself as "the ex-Monk Widdows," whether the police have inquired into the antecedents of this person; whether he formerly lectured against Protestantism in Canada, 1449 was the cause of a riot in Toronto, and underwent an imprisonment of eight months in the gaol of that city for a felonious offence; and, whether any steps will be taken to prevent him from continuing to obtain money by false pretences, and to cause breaches of the public peace?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI am informed that there was a disturbance at a lecture given by a person who seems to bear this name; but I have no power to prevent persons in this country from lecturing either for or against Protestantism; and if people attack them it can hardly be said that the lecturers cause the disturbance of the peace. I cannot see how I can interfere in this matter; but I have given instructions to the police to prevent a breach of the peace in future, should there be a likelihood of disturbance occurring.
§ MR. SEXTONIf this impostor attempts again to lecture, and if there is a reasonable probability of his attempting to do so leading to a breach of the peace, has the right hon. Gentleman no power of interfering?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTWhat the hon. Gentleman asks me to do is rather beyond my power, and certainly a very difficult task—namely, to prevent any impostor from lecturing.