Earlier in the evening of the same day, Sir Wilfrid
Lawson who, if he did not retain some vestige of humour, would be almost as great a political nuisance as Mr. Conybeare, wasted a great deal of time in raising an absurd discussion as to a statement that Conservative Peers' carriages had been used in the North Paddington election, contrary to the rule of the House against the interference of Peers in elections. No good evidence was produced that the Peers' carriages had been used, and Mr. Bradlangh, who supported Sir Wilfrid Lawson, asserted that Peers' carriages had been used on both sides alike. As if it mattered a farthing whether it was so or not ! The old rule against the personal interference of Peers in elections is admitted to have absolutely no significance now that the electorates are so large, and as for the interference of Peers' carriages in elections,—as if that were even equivalent to the use of the authority of the Peers themselves,—it is discreditable to the House of Commons to allow its time to be taken up with such trivialities. The motion was negatived by 196 to 167.
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