There was a great sensation in the House of Commons
on Monday night, when Mr. Sheehy, M.P., raised a question of privilege, on the ground that a member of the Irish Con- stabulary had tried • to arrest 'him within the precincts of the House. What appears to have happened, how- ever, was only that the officer in question sent in his card, and when Mr. Sheehy came out to him, asked Mr. Sheehy whether he would "step aside" or "step outside," —it is disputed which of the two phrases was used,— and accept service of the writ, which Mr. Sheehy very naturally and properly declined to do. But it is pretty clear that no attempt was made to arrest him within the precincts of the House. In fact, the whole sensation was more or less fictitious. The Government were much annoyed at the supposition that they had had anything to do with the Constabulary officer's message to Mr. Sheehy ; and it was as clear as possible that whatever mistake was made, was the mistake of a subordinate, not of the Executive. Yet the House suspended its sitting for an hour or two, and as much fuss was made about the matter as if Mr. Sheehy had been seized and dragged out of the House. The opponents of the Government felt it to be a special opportunity vouchsafed to them for putting a spoke in the wheels of legislation, and they were not disposed to throw the opportunity away.
