The Lord Chancellor has recast what is called the "
rattening " and " besetting " clause of the " Conspiracy and Protection of Property Bill," so as apparently greatly to improve it. The eighth clause now provides that every person who, with a view to compelling any' other person to do, or to abstain from doing, what he has a legal right to do or not to do, either (1) uses vio- lence to or intimidates such person or his family ; or (2) follows 'him persistently from place to place ; or (3) bides any tools, elothes, or other property of his, or hinders him in the use there- of ; or (4) besets the house, or the approach to it ; or (5) follows him with companions in a disorderly manner through .any street or road,—" shall be liable, on conviction by a Court of summary jurisdiction or an indictment, to a fine not exceeding £20, or to imprisonment with• or without hard labour for a term not exceeding three months." This is a great improvement in form on the clause as it left the Commons, it being made more definite and intelligible. Yet it is applicable to all sorts of in- timidation, whether done by workmen, or by any other class in the community. It is one of the best functions of the House of Lords to supply a good opportunity for recasting stitched and -cobbled Bills.
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