remains that Mr. Foote is
suffering a scandalously excessive punishment, and that the Home Office
must now share the general condemnation that has hitherto been confined
to the judge."

On July 11 a mass meeting was held in St. James's Hall to protest
against our continued imprisonment. Despite the summer weather, the
huge building was crammed with people, every inch of standing room being
occupied, and thousands turned away from the doors. Letters of sympathy
were sent by Canon Shuttleworth, Admiral Maxse and Mr. P. A. Taylor M.P.
Among the speakers were the Rev. W. Sharman, the Rev. S. D. Headlam, the
Rev. E. M. Geldart, Mr. C. Bradlaugh M.P., Mrs. Annie Besant, Dr. E. B.
Aveling, Mr. Joseph Symes, Mr. Moncure D. Conway and Mr. H. Burrows.
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and the resolutions were carried with
only two dissentients.

Still Sir William Harcourt made no sign. At last Mr. Peter Taylor, the
honored member for Leicester, publicly interrogated the Home Secretary
in the House of Commons. Mr. Taylor's question was as follows:

"Mr. P. A. TAYLOR asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether he had received memorials from many
thousands of persons, including clergymen of the Church of
England, Nonconformist ministers, and persons of high literary
and scientific position, asking for a mitigation of the sentences
of George William Foote and William James Ramsey, now imprisoned
in Holloway Gaol on a charge of blasphemy; whether they have
already suffered five months' imprisonment, involving until
lately confinement in their respective cells for twenty-three
hours out of every twenty-four, and now involving twenty-two
hours of such solitary confinement out of each 24; and whether
he will advise the remission of the remainder of their sentences."

Thereupon Sir William Harcourt reared his unblushing front and gave this
answer:

"Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT--The question of my hon. friend is founded
upon misconception of the duties and rights of the Secretary of
State in reference to sentences of the law, which I have often
endeavoured to remove, but apparently with entire want of success.
It is perfectly true that I have received many memorials on this
subject, most of them founded on misconception of the law on
which the sentence rested. This is not a matter I can take into
consideration, either upon