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MR. WARTON, who had given Notice of a Question which stood on the Paper in the following terms:—
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the police are still unacquainted with the intention that Mr. Brad-laugh has circulated printed notices convening a mass meeting in Trafalgar Square, to he holden at eight o'clock p.m. on Tuesday next, for the purpose of protesting against his exclusion from this House?
said, he wished to call attention to the fact that the Question had been altered by the officials of the House in such a way as to make it absolute nonsense. The Question was made to read whether the police were "still unacquainted with the intention that Mr. Bradlaugh had circulated in printed notices." He did not ask about that "intention." What he asked was whether the police were still ignorant of the fact that notices had been circulated?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, I attribute the alteration of the Question to a misprint. I have seen the handbill referred to, and it does not appear to me to propose the holding of a meeting which is prohibited by the words of the statute. The words of the statute are directed to Petitions to the House of Commons, and they would also extend to any tumultuous assemblages with the object of interfering with the action of or intimidating the House of Commons. This meeting and these handbills profess no intention of petitioning or remonstrating with the House of Commons, or proceeding to the House of Commons. We have been furnished by the police with certain instructions which have professedly been given on this matter by the conveners of the meeting in relation to the conduct of the meeting. They express a desire that perfect order may be maintained, and distinctly state that no attempt is to be made to go from Trafalgar Square to the House of Commons. That being so, there is no ground on which I can have legal authority to interfere with the meeting. If I am asked whether Trafalgar Square is an appropriate or a favourable place for a public meeting, I may say, very positively, I do not. [Mr. E. N. FOWLER: Hear, hear!] The worthy Alderman opposite and the hon. and learned Member for Bridport (Mr. Warton) know that within the last few years frequent meetings have been held in Trafalgar Square—whether they attended them or not I cannot say. I have witnessed some of them, although they were not for objects with which I spe- 121 cially sympathized. Unfortunately, there has grown up a habit of holding meetings there which I wish was terminated. I need hardly say that every precaution will be taken to prevent interruption to the traffic, and, above all, to restrain any disturbance or any interference with the access to the House of Commons.