On Monday, in the House of Commons, Mr. Wedgwood made
a statement about the letter written to Mr. Ginnell in which he had charged the Speaker with partiality in choosing speakers in the debates. It will be remembered that this accusation—the grossest that could possibly be brought against a Speaker—was made known to the House on Friday week, the letter having been printed in an Irish newspaper to which it had been handed by Mr. Ginnell. On Friday week Hr. Wedgwood merely explained that his letter to Mr. Ginnell was private, and that he ,was amazed to learn that it bad been printed. Mr. Ginnell was not in the House. On Monday both Mr. Wedgwood and Mr. Ginnell made statements. Hr. Wedgwood said that on Friday week he had been taken by surprise and did not appreciate the bearing labour which has been thrown on the United States Senate of the affair on the position and honour of the Speaker and will delay the consideration of the Reciprocity Agreement on the honour of the House. He might shelter himself behind the sanctity of private correspondence, but he preferred not to do so. He had written the letter on the spur of the moment, and he now offered a full and unreserved apology to the Speaker and to the House, and withdrew any expressions which were wrong or objectionable. This straightforward apology was at once accepted by the Speaker.
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