It is stated by a Conservative contemporary that, in the
event of Sir Henry Brand's retirement from the Speakership, the Conservatives will bring forward Sir Matthew White .Ridley as a candidate for the post. We do not know that Sir Matthew Ridley has had more special experience in this kind of work than Mr. Peel, though his great abilities have been recognised on both sides of the House, and though, no doubt, he would make an excellent Speaker, if he had been nominated for the Speak-ership by a Conservative Government. If a rival to Mr. Peel is put forward, it will doubtless be in the hope of testing the disposition of the Irish party. Probably Mr. Parnell's hint that he is ready to throw out the Liberals has dropped into eager ears. There would be no discredit in getting Mr. Parnell's suffrage for a Conservative Speaker, and a good vote for a Con- servative Speaker would encourage the party to fresh efforts. If these be the tactics, we are sorry that so good a name as Sir Matthew Ridley's should be mixed up with them.
