divided state of opinion
in the House made itself manifest throughout the evening. Mr.
Newdegate made a speech which turned almost wholly upon the
respective merits of theism and atheism. Mr. Gladstone thought it
his duty to advise the House to beware of entangling itself in
difficulties possibly of a serious character, by assuming a
jurisdiction in cases of this class.

At one o'clock in the morning, the first great division was taken,
and the House resolved by 275 votes against 230 that Mr. Bradlaugh
should neither affirm nor swear. The excitement at this result was
tremendous. Some minutes elapsed before the Speaker could declare
the numbers. "Indeed," wrote Mr. Gladstone to the Queen, "it was
an ecstatic transport, and exceeded anything which Mr. Gladstone
remembers to have witnessed. He read in it only a witness to the
dangers of the course on which the House has entered, and to its
unfitness for the office which it has rashly chosen to assume." He
might also have read in it, if he had liked, the exquisite delight
of the first stroke of revenge for Midlothian.

The next day (June 23) the matter entered on a more violent phase.

_To the Queen._

This day, when the Speaker took the chair at a quarter past
twelve, Mr. Bradlaugh came to the table and claimed to take the
oath. The Speaker read to him the resolution of the House which
forbids it. Mr. Bradlaugh asked to be heard, and no objection was
taken. He then addressed the House from the bar. His address was
that of a consummate speaker. But it was an address which could
not have any effect unless the House had undergone a complete
revolution of mind. He challenged the legality of the act of the
House, expressing hereby an opinion in which Mr. Gladstone
himself, going beyond some other members of the minority, has the
misfortune to lean towards agreeing with him.... The Speaker now
again announced to Mr. Bradlaugh the resolution of the House. Only
a small minority voted against enforcing it. Mr. Bradlaugh
declining to withdraw, was removed by the serjeant-at-arms. Having
suffered this removal, he again came beyond the bar, and entered
into what was almost a corporal struggle with the serjeant.
Hereupon Sir S. Northcote moved that Mr. Bradlaugh be committed
for his offence. Mr. Gladstone said that while he thought it