The vacant Spe,akership has been the subject of political gossip
all the week. Mr. Courtney, finding that his election would not be unanimous, has withdrawn his name from amongst the candidates ; and Mr. Campbell-Bannerman, who finds that his colleagues in the Cabinet are eager that he should stay with them,--he is said to be the one Member of the Cabinet with whom all the others are on good terms,—has followed Mr. Courtney's example, though it is understood that he himself would have greatly enjoyed the post of Speaker. There remains, therefore, amongst those who are thought to be eligible, only Sir Matthew White Ridley, but he is a Conservative; and it would be rather hard for a Govern- ment with a majority in the House of Commons to hand over the Speaker's Chair to a Member of the Opposition without even a contest. It is thought probable, therefore, that the name of some private Member of the majority, whose standing is regarded as beyond dispute, will be proposed to the House at the last moment, and the Speaker's Chair so rescued from the hands of the enemy, if so be that it were rescued. Or possibly the admitted claims of Mr. Courtney may be recog- nised at the last moment as certain to add more to the dignity of the Assembly than those of any untried man. It would be creditable to the House if this reversion to the wiser impressions of the more thoughful Members did take place. But it would require some humility to confess and recant its error. And the House of Commons is not as a rule disposed to be humble-minded.
