undertaken by the Government, or at least have its express sanction.
Nothing of the sort happened in our case. On the contrary, Sir
John Maule allowed our prosecution after Sir William Harcourt had
condemned it. The Public Prosecutor set himself above the Home Secretary.
Unfortunately the general press saw nothing anomalous or dangerous
in such a state of things; for an official like Sir John Maule,
while ready enough to sanction the prosecution of an unpopular journal,
which presumably has few friends, is naturally reluctant, as events
have shown, to allow proceedings against a powerful journal whose
friends may be numerous and influential. Fortunately, however, a
Select Committee of the House of Commons has taken a more sensible
view of the Public Prosecutor and the duties he has so muddled,
and recommended the abolition of his office. Should this step be
taken, his duties will probably be performed by the Solicitor-General,
and the press will be freed from a danger it had not the sense or
the courage to avert. As for Sir John Maule, he will of course
retire with a big pension, and live in fat ease for the rest of
his sluggish life.





CHAPTER III.

MR. BRADLAUGH INCLUDED.


Mr. Maloney obtained his summons against Mr. Bradlaugh, whose name
was included in a new document which was served on all of us. I have