§ SIR J. Y. BULLER asked whether the Home Secretary had received information that a procession of 150,000 persons was to come down to him at the Home Office on Easter Monday with a petition to be laid before Majesty on the subject of the Poor Laws, and that circulars had been sent to the inmates of the union workhouses throughout the country calling upon them to do all in their power to swell the procession?
§ SIR G. GREY had received an intimation from Mr. Charles Cochrane, about three weeks ago, that such a petition was to be presented, and that it was the wish of the parties to proceed to the Home Office on Easter Monday to place it in his hands. He (Sir G. Grey) informed Mr. Cochrane, in reply, that any address properly worded, placed in his hands either by the usual mode of transmission, or by a small deputation, should be laid before Her Majesty, but that if brought by a large number of people, it could not be received. But he added, that it would not be convenient to him to receive a deputation in the Easter week. Within the last few days, however, he had received from boards of guardians in several parts of the country letters stating that printed circulars, signed by Mr. Charles Cochrane, had been forwarded to the workhouses addressed to "Mr. Smith," or, in some cases, "Mr. Jones" taking for granted that there might be some person of that name in a workhouse, informing them of the intended 417 procession, stating that he hoped 150,000 persons would attend, and endeavouring to induce them to persuade their friends to come up to London for the purpose. He (Sir G. Grey) had received no information which led him to suppose that the canvass had been very successful, and he believed that Mr. Cochrane and his intended deputation might very safely be left in the hands of the police.