§ The Speakerhad to acquaint the House that the Sergeant-at-Arms had a communication to make with regard to certain summonses or writs which had been served upon some of the officers of that House.
The Sergeant was then called to the bar, and stated that notices of action had 1155 been served by Thomas Burton Howard upon the following officers of the House:—Charles Stein, William Bellamy, John Lead, John Mitchell, and the assistant-secretary, Captain Gossett. The notices were delivered in, and the Sergeant was proceeding to read a memorandum which he made at the time, when
§ The Attorney-Generalsaid, he very much doubted the expediency and propriety of the Sergeant-at-Arms making any statements concerning this matter at the bar.
The Sergeant delivered in a copy of the notice, which was read by the clerk.
§ Sir E. Sugdenwas understood to inquire why that notice had not been brought forward before?
§ Lord J. Russellsaid, he really did not know until the previous day that such a paper was in existence. He was told by the Sergeant-at-Arms that he had received some notice, but he never had any positive information that he could act upon. He was informed by the Speaker—yesterday, he thought—that this notice had been received. He moved that the whole subject be taken into consideration to-morrow.
§ Ordered.