§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONrose to a Question of Privilege. Since the Speaker gave his ruling in the evening with reference to a letter he had received from Mr. Bradlaugh, he (Sir Wilfrid Lawson) had been informed by the Serjeant-at-Arms himself that he (the Serjeant-at-Arms) had received a letter from Mr. Bradlaugh as well as the Speaker. In his letter to the Serjeant-at-Arms, Mr. Bradlaugh stated that he proposed to present himself, in pursuance of the Statute, and in accordance with the Standing Orders, for the purpose of taking his seat in the manner therein described. It appeared to him (Sir Wilfrid Lawson) that that letter differed from the one which the Speaker had received; and he wished to know whether, in respect of that letter, he would not be permitted to make a Motion?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe letter to the Serjeant-at-Arms is not at all before the House; the House has no knowledge of the letter to the Serjeant-at-Arms.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONsaid, he would bring it before the House. The Serjeant-at-Arms had stated to him that he had received it.
§ MR. SPEAKERIt appears to be a private communication between the Serjeant-at-Arms and the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Bradlaugh). The letter is not formally before the House.