HC Deb 19 July 1883 vol 281 cc1915-9

MR. SPEAKER acquainted the House that the Serjeant-at-Arms attending the House had a Communication to make to the House:—

Whereupon the SERJEANT-AT-ARMS came to the Bar, and informed the House that he had received a Copy of a Writ of Summons in an Action brought against him by Mr. Bradlaugh, Member for Northampton, and then he delivered in the Copy of the Writ and other Documents relating thereto, which were read at the Table as follows:—

20, Circus Road, St. John's Wood, London, N. W.

10 July, 1883.

R. A. Gosset, Esq.,

Serjeant-at-Arms,

House of Commons.

Sir,

Referring to the order served yesterday at my lodgings, that you should exclude me from the Souse until I should engage not further to disturb the proceedings of the House, I beg to state that I have not, on any occasion since my election on the 2nd March 1882, in anyway, or at any time, disturbed, or attempted to disturb, the proceedings of the Souse; nor have I any intention of disturbing its proceedings. I have claimed, and do claim, to take my seat according to law, and am, and always have been, ready to do all things the law requires, to enable me to take my seat pursuant to my return, as one of the Members to serve in the present Parliament, for the Borough of Northampton. If you interpret the order to mean that you would use actual force to prevent me from entering the Mouse, for the purpose of taking my seat, I will at once take proceedings to endeavor to obtain an injunction, from the Sigh Court of Justice, to restrain you from committiag such a breach of the peace.

I write this because I desire to avoid the disgrace-fid scandal of another personal struggle, and because the ambiguous wording of the order you have served upon me leaves room for misapprehension, and I beg, therefore, distinctly to inform you that I engage not to disturb the proceedings of the Souse, but propose to present myself, pursuant to statute, and in exact accordance with the standing orders under that statute, for the purpose of taking my seat at the time and in manner therein prescribed.

Yours mo. obedy.

C. BRADLAUGH.

To Charles Bradlaugh, M.P., Esq.

July 11, 1883.

Sir,

In reply to your letter of the 10th inst., I beg to inform you that it will be my duty, in obedience to the Order of the Souse, to exclude you from the Souse, until otherwise instructed by the Souse, or the Speaker.

Yr. obedt. Servt.,

R. A. GOSSET,

Serjt.-at-Arms.

Messrs. Lewis and Lewis,

10 & 11 Ely Place, Holborn, London, E.C.

17th July, 1883.

Captain R. A. Gosset,

Serjeant-at-Arms,

House of Commons.

Dear Sir,

You are probably aware that we have been acting as Solicitors for Mr. Bradlaugh, M.P. throughout the various proceedings in which he has been both Plaintiff and Defendant, in connection with his Election as Member for Northampton, and we are now instructed by Mr. Bradlaugh to commence an Action against you, with a view of applying to the High Court of Justice for an Injunction to restrain you from using force to prevent Mr. Bradlaugh entering the House of Commons, for the purpose of taking his Seat, in accordance with the Law.

We are aware of the Order of the House, under which we assume yon claim to act, and we may therefore be permitted to explain that the object of the Action is to test the legality, in the High Court of Justice, of that Order.

We also wish to say that, in taking these proceedings, toe desire to observe the utmost respect to the House, and to yourself, and that we shall be happy, in any way, to consult your convenience.

Our object in addressing you is to ask you to refer us to the Solicitor who will accept service of the proceedings issued by the Court, so as to avoid any unpleasantness to yourself personally, and we shall therefore be glad to know whether we shall forward the proceedings to the Solicitor to the Treasury, who appeared and defended, on behalf of the Deputy Serjeant at Arms, the proceedings which were instituted against him last year, or hand the same personally to you.

We shall be pleased to receive your answer by 2 o'clock to-morrow.

We have the honor to be, Dear Sir,

Yours obediently and faithfully,

LEWIS AND LEWIS.

17th July, 1883.

Gentlemen,

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of to-day's date.

Your obedient Servant,

(Signed) R. A. GOSSET,

Serjeant-at-Arms.

Messrs. Lewis and Lewis.

10 & 11, Ely Place, Holborn, London, E.C,

18th July, 1883.

Captn. R. A. Gosset,

Serjeant-at-Arms,

House of Commons.

Dear Sir,

We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 17th inst. acknowledging the receipt of our letter of the same date.

We wish, however, to point out that you have not replied to our request, to refer us to your Solicitor, who will accept service of process on your behalf. Our object in asking this question was, that the utmost respect might be paid to you, and that we should not be forced to serve process personally upon you, which we should be compelled most reluctantly to do, in pursuance of our duty.

May we ask you kindly to furnish us with the name of your Solicitor, as requested in our former letter.

We are, Dear Sir,

Yours obediently and faithfully,

LEWIS AND LEWIS.

1883.—B.—No. 3931.

In the High Court of Justice.

Queen's Bench Division.

Between Charles Bradlaugh, Plaintiff, Writ of Summons. and

Captain R. A. Gosset, Defendant.

Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Captain R. A. Gosset, of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex. We command you, That within Eight Days after the Service of this Writ on you, inclusive of the day of such Service, you cause an Appearance to he entered for you in an Action at the Suit of Charles Bradlaugh. And take notice that in default of your so doing the Plaintiff may proceed therein, and Judgment may he given in your absence.

Witness, Roundell, Earl of Selborne, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, the 19th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.

N.B.—This Writ is to he served within Twelve Calendar Months from the date thereof, or, if renewed, within Six Calendar Months from the date of the last renewal, including the day of such date, and not afterwards.

Appearance is to he entered at the Central Office, Royal Courts of Justice, London.

The Plaintiff claims an Injunction.

This Writ was issued by Messrs. Lewis and Lewis, of Nos. 10 and 11, Ely Place, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Solicitors for the said Plaintiff, who resides at 20, Circus Road, Saint John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex.

The address for Service is Nos. 10 and 11, Ely Place, Holborn, London, aforesaid.

This Writ was served by me at on the Defendant on the day of 188 Indorsed the day of 188

[Indorse.]

1883.—B.—No.

In the High Court of Justice.

Queen's Bench Division.