§ MR. SEXTONsaid, he wished to know, At what times and under what conditions Members of the House of Commons would he allowed to visit Michael Davitt?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, visits to persons in prisons are made under certain fixed rules, and those rules cannot be safely departed from at the instance of any particular class of persons, whether Members of this House or otherwise. I wish to add, however, that, in consideration of the fact that Davitt was suffering from indisposition at the time of his committal, I have, on the application of a private friend of the prisoner, directed that a special visit from that friend shall be permitted, in order that the friends of Davitt may he satisfied as to the state of his health, and that he is not suffering' any physical hardship in consequents of his detention. This visit will be of a strictly private character, and under conditions which will preclude the possibility of any communication on public or political affairs.