§ * MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I desire, Mr. Speaker, to ask you a question, whether, in the event of a vacancy occurring in the reporters' gallery, there is any order of the House which would prevent the enter- 1147 tainment of an application from a lady for a place there as reporter?
§ * MR. SPEAKERThere is no order of the House against a lady being admitted as a reporter to the reporters' gallery. Within the last two or three days an application has been made to the Serjeant-at-Arms by a lady, stating that she was the representative of a journal which advocated the political and social rights of women. The Serjeant-at-Arms, as T think, very properly replied that he had no authority to depart from the existing practice, nor would it be right for me to intervene in any way, unless I have the the direct and express sanction of the House, in a matter possibly leading to consequences which it would be difficult at this moment for the House to foresee.