If the House of Commons is wise, it will next
year increase the powers of its Speaker. It is possible the Householders may send up more than one Whalley, and if they do, gentlemen, unless armed with direct authority, will be slow to accept the Speaker's chair. It appears that Mr. Whalley on Thursday asked per- mission to bring Mr. Beaks under the gallery as a person in- terested in the Parks' Bill. The Speaker consented, but rebuked Mr. Whalley for having on a former occasion admitted three persons when he ought to have admitted one. Thereupon, Mr. Whalley, instead of explaining quietly, or apologizing quietly, made a formal attack upon the Speaker, whom he accused of unfairness, and almost of falsehood, apologizing in a satirical way for his own " defect" of memory. The Speaker was dignified and quiet, and Mr. Disraeli administered a well deserved rebuke ; but Mr. Whalley never acknowledged his fault, or apologized for what was a gross assault on the dignity of the House. Perhaps he took the Speaker for a Catholic, to whom any insult seems to be allowable.
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