Page:Precedents of Proceedings in the House of Commons (4th ed, 1818, vol I).djvu/299

Rh N° 5. Arrest of Lord Cochrane in the House.

That between the 5th day of March and the 10th day of March last, Lord Cochrane escaped from the Prison above mentioned, and remained at large until the 21st of this Month:

That on the day last mentioned, Lord Cochrane went between the hours of one and three to the Clerk's room in which Members are usually sworn previously to taking the oaths at the Table of the House; and being informed it was necessary he should have the Certificate of his Return with him, sent for the same to the Crown Office, and went into the House, where he sat down on the Privy Councillors Bench on the right hand of the Chair, at which time there was no Member present. Prayers not having been read:

That soon after Lord Cochrane had sat down in the House, the Marshal of the King's Bench entered it with two or three of his Officers, and other Assistants, and carried his Lordship away to the Prison from which he had escaped; notwithstanding a remonstrance from him, that they had no right to lay their hands upon him there:

That by a Return in the Crown Office of the l6th day of July 1814, it appears that Lord Cochrane was returned to serve as a Citizen for the City of Westminster on the l6th day of July 1814.

Having ascertained these Facts, it became the duty of Your Committee to consider whether the Marshal of the King's Bench, in the execution of what he conceived to be his duty, has been guilty of a Breach of the Privilege of this House.

In deliberating on a matter of such high importance, Your Committee have to regret that they could find nothing in the Rh