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 my own opinion or upon that of 'clergymen of the Church of England, Nonconformist ministers, and persons of high literary and scientific position.' I am bound to assume that until Parliament alters the law that law is right, and that those who administer the law administer it rightly.