§ DR. LUSHasked the Secretary of State for War, If his attention has been drawn to the practice of swearing-in recruits at Bow Street during the hours of public business, alluded to in the "Times" of February 5th as follows:—
From the hours of three till five every day the narrow entrance to the building is literally besieged by a set of London roughs, who smoke, swear, and insult or annoy nearly every one who has to push through their ranks to reach the magistrates.… The officers in charge of the court are so utterly powerless to keep order that the attempt to restrain them is rarely made;and, whether he will take steps to arrange for the future swearing-in of recruits in a less annoying manner?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYEvery precaution is taken at Bow Street to prevent inconvenience being caused by the swearing-in of recruits, who latterly have been exceedingly numerous. They are sent down to Bow Street, as the nearest police court to the recruiting depot, under charge of an experienced non-commissioned officer, and when the number is very large half are sent to another police court; they are sent, too, at an hour when the usual business of the court is over. No doubt, inconvenience does occur; but the Assistant Adjutant General for London recruiting states that no complaint of any kind has ever been made to him on this subject, and that he has the authority of one of the magistrates of Bow Street to state 833 that, as far as the conduct of the recruits in court is concerned, there is no complaint made by the magistrates.