Of course, the proceedings of Mr. Bradlaugh in the House
of Commons gave rise to very unseemly scenes there. On these occasions the House endeavours with great success to afford as striking a contrast as possible to Mr. Justice Stephen's ideal of a judicial Assembly, interpreting and administering its own law. A most indecent contest with the Speaker took place as to whether be should or• should not direct the officials of the House not to record Mr. Bradlaugh's vote, the Speaker having explicitly declared that it would exceed his powers to give such a direction. The same manoeuvre was tried over again in another form, by an attempt to compel the Speaker to treat Mr. Bradlaugh as a stranger who was to be forced to withdraw before the division, but the speaker held firmly that Mr. Bradlaugh was not a stranger. After indescribable confusion, Sir Stafford Northcote's motion prohibiting Mr. Bradlangh from going through the words of the oath was carried by 280 votes, against 167, Mr. Bradlaugh voting in the minority ; and another resolution excluding Mr. Bradlaugh from the precincts of the House, till he should engage no further to disturb its proceedings, was carried by 228, against 120.
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