Meantime, a League for the Defence of Constitutional Rights was formed, and the agitation in the country grew: wherever Mr.Bradlaugh went to speak vast crowds awaited him, and he travelled from one end of the country to the other, the people answering his appeal for justice with no uncertain voice.

On July 2nd, in consequence of Tory obstruction, Mr.Gladstone wrote to Mr.Bradlaugh that the Government were going to drop the Affirmation Bill, and Mr.Bradlaugh thereupon determined to present himself once more in the House, and fixed on August 3rd as the date of such action, so that the Irish Land Bill might get through the House ere any delay in business was caused by him.

The House was then closely guarded with police; the great gates were closed, reserves of police were packed in the law courts, and all through July this state of siege continued.

On August 2nd there was a large meeting in Trafalgar Square, at which delegates were present from all parts of England, and from as far north as Edinburgh, and on Wednesday, August 3rd, Mr.Bradlaugh went down to the House.

His last words to me were: "The people know you better than they know any one, save myself; whatever happens, mind, whatever happens, let them do no violence; I trust to you to keep them quiet." He went to the House entrance with Dr.Aveling, and into the House alone.