WAYS AND MEANS— THE MATCH MAKERS PROCESSION. (Hansard, 25 April 1871)

§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE
gave notice that on Thursday next he would ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by whose orders a peaceful procession of persons carrying a Petition to that House against a financial proposal of the Government had been broken up and their banners destroyed or taken from them.

MR. GLADSTONE
Sir, I think it is desirable that an answer should be given at once to a Question of this kind; and as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is not present, which I regret, yet, as he consulted me on the subject, I have no hesitation in answering the hon. Baronet's Question. The House is aware that it is not permitted in this country for bodies of persons petitioning Parliament in large numbers to convey their Petition to the Houses of Parliament. Having been given to understand that a great assemblage was to meet for the purpose of bringing corporeally a Petition to the House, we deemed that this was a resolution rather suddenly adopted and communicated; but, being made known to us yesterday morning, we determined that the best course which could be taken was immediately to send a friendly warning to the people on the spot where they were to gather; because we thought the resolution had been come to in ignorance of the law, and not with any evil intention whatever, or the slightest disposition to do anything discreditable to themselves. Instructions consequently were given to the police to convey that information to the parties. With regard to what followed I have no distinct information. I am not aware that any circumstances at all serious or extraordinary occurred.

§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE
I shall feel obliged to the right hon. Gentleman to state to the House what is the law of public processions. The right hon. Gentleman must be aware that on Sunday 1685 some of the streets of the metropolis were blocked by—["Order, order!"]

MR. GLADSTONE
A question of that kind cannot be asked without notice. I only took the opportunity of answering the Question of the hon. Member for Chelsea immediately, because I was desirous of removing at once any impression that there was any disposition on the part of the people yesterday to break the law.