Mr. Conybeare, who published a letter reflecting severely on the
Speaker for refusing to accept the motion made by him on Thursday, June 29th, for closuring the discussion on Mr. Gladstone's gagging resolution, though in 1887 Mr. Peel had accepted the closuring of the discussion on the Irish Crimes Bill, asked leave yesterday week to make a personal explana- tion of his conduct, since he had not been in the House when the letter was brought before the House. His "explanation," however, only amounted to this, that he could not subscribe to the censures passed by the Speaker and by Mr. Gladstone on that letter, which appeared to him to be penetrated by "antiquated doctrine." The Speaker was "a public authority, a public institution, a public servant of the people," and it was out of date to place such an authority, even were it the Sovereign herself, above public criticism. This, of course, only made matters worse, and the Speaker pointed out, with a great deal of warmth, that Mr. Conybeare could only pro- perly take the line he was now pressing on the House by pro- posing a censure upon him for the acceptance of the House, and he said that if such a resolution were carried, he would not consent to occupy the Chair for twenty-four hours.
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