1 MARCH 1884, Page 3

To our great satisfaction, and not a little to our

surprise, the Debate on the Address was finished yesterday week in time to take the Report and get it agreed to, so that after only four- teen nights' debate,— in very recent years, the same debate, oven including a vote of censure, would not have occupied five nights,—the House of Commons at last got to work. Yesterday week, The O'Donoghue defended himself from the attack made upon him by Mr. Healy, and pointed out how entirely void of foundation Mr. Parnell's assertions as to the suppression of free speech by the Government are. The extreme Irishmen had gone about vilifying the Government just as much as they pleased, and Mr. Parnell's two-hours' speech produced not a shred of evidence of any interference with political meetings, except where there was real reason to apprehend a breach of the peace. Mr. Harrington replied to The O'Donoghne in a very ,personal attack, and the amendment was rejected by 81 against 30,—majority, 51.