The Shadow of Great Britain

345: Chapter 212 Regulations Don’t Allow You to Speak (5K8) 345: Chapter 212 Regulations Don’t Allow You to Speak (5K8) London, Westminster, 4 Whitehall.

Inside the Director’s office, Rowan leaned back in his chair, flipping through the pages of the arrest warrant he held.

After finishing the document, he leaned forward, resting his hands on the table and looking at Arthur, “That Louis Bonaparte, have you verified his identity?

Is he the real deal?”

Arthur replied with a smile, “I can’t say he’s 100% genuine, but at least for now, I can’t detect any sign of fraudulence in him.

I had people check out his background at the West Indies docks, and he indeed snuck into Britain on a merchant ship from Rome.

Combined with the recent news of the Carbonari uprising there, plus his fluent French, and after the examination by Mr.

Alexander Dumas, a former captain in the French Artillery, regarding his role in the French Artillery command structure, at the very least from the perspective of consistency in his statement, I don’t believe he lied about his experiences.”

Upon hearing this, Director Rowan pondered for a moment, “If he is genuine, perhaps we can make some connection with Bernie Harrison’s case…”

Arthur smiled and said, “Sir, it seems we are of the same mind.

Just arresting Bernie Harrison might lead the MPs to accuse us of ignoring the law and not taking article twenty-nine of the ‘Great Charter’ into account.

But if we also capture a member of the Bonaparte family, it will prove that we are dutiful, impartial, and that before the law, everyone is equal.”

Rowan smiled slightly at this and nodded in satisfaction, “Come on, Arthur, young man, what is your opinion?”

Arthur then opened another document he was holding, “Recently, I’ve been examining the regulations related to parliamentary immunity in detail.

The earliest explicit regulations concerning a Member’s immunity came from a 1314 edict issued by Edward II, which prohibited the courts from arresting MPs, thereby ensuring they could attend Parliamentary sessions.”

“In 1626 and 1675, the House of Lords and the House of Commons passed resolutions respectively, which stipulated that during the Parliamentary sessions and for 40 days before and after, except in cases of treason, felony, and breaches of the peace, MPs could not be arrested without a decision by both Houses, or a command issued by them.”

“After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the ‘Bill of Human Rights’ further strengthened the rights of MPs in this regard, declaring their freedom to make speeches, debate, and carry out Parliamentary proceedings, and granting them the right not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place outside of Parliament.”

“According to Home Office and Scotland Yard records, the last instance of an MP being arrested was the 1763 case of John Wilkes.

At the time, MP John Wilkes was arrested in the Tower of London under a general warrant issued by the late King George III for attacking the King’s and Cabinet’s policies in the 45th edition of ‘The North Briton.’ However, a week later, the High Chancellor ruled in the Court of the King’s Bench that the arrest was unconstitutional due to infringement of parliamentary privileges, and Wilkes was released in court.”

“A few months later, the Earl of Sandwich, the Naval Minister, read out Wilkes’ essay ‘Essay on Woman’ in the House of Lords, alleging he was of bad character, slandered the monarch, and blasphemed God.

Because the essay contained extensive personal attacks and obscene descriptions, including associations with the famous courtesan Fanny Murray, it ultimately led the House of Lords to rule the discourse of Mr.

Wilkes in the 45th edition of ‘The North Briton’ as infringing upon parliamentary privilege, and formally initiated an inquiry and legal action against Mr.

Wilkes on grounds of seditious libel.”

Wilkes fled to Paris, later lost his parliamentary seat due to prolonged absence from the sessions, and was tried in absentia by the court, which found the charge of seditious libel to be valid.

However, years later during the general elections, John Wilkes returned to Britain and, leveraging the substantial public reputation amassed during the investigation of his previous case, achieved an unprecedented victory in the Middlesex constituency.”

His Majesty the King ordered a new election to be held, and the Cabinet stirred public opinion against Wilkes in the media, highlighting his long-term separation from his wife and his maintenance of several mistresses.

Despite this, it could not prevent Wilkes from winning again in Middlesex.

Subsequently, the King simply overrode Parliament and ordered the Court of King’s Bench to declare Wilkes ineligible as a candidate, a move that sparked strong backlash from Parliament and the citizens of Britain.”

Sir Pitt, the Prime Minister, who traditionally supported the King, publicly denounced the action as an ax to the root of the tree of liberty, while Mr.

Burke, the literary figure of the Whig Party, called it outrageous, claiming it shook the foundations of Britain.

Meanwhile, the streets of London saw tens of thousands of protesting citizens who stormed the prison van and freed Wilkes.

However, after being rescued, Mr.

Wilkes escaped his saviors, disguised himself, and voluntarily presented himself to jail, declaring his action was in the spirit of ‘Parliament may disregard the rules, but I must set an example.’

Director, perhaps the younger generation may not remember much of Wilkes, but as you are quite a bit older than I am, perhaps you have heard your elders mention the name John Wilkes.

From the files I have, the Wilkes affair even came close to shaking the power of King George III, and coupled with the American War of Independence, the movement’s momentum was unprecedentedly massive.