The Committee proposed by the Government for receiv- ing the
evidence of the Iris t National Board of Education as to their dealing with the O'Keeffe ease consisted of Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Gathorne Hardy, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Bourke, and the O'Conor Don. To this number Mr. Vernon Harcourt proposed on Thursday to add Dr. Lyon Playfair and Mr. Cross, with the view, first, of adding a purely unoffi- cial element, next, of so far adding to the number as to diminish the relative importance of the casting vote of the Chairman, and lastly, let us suggest, of adding to the relative importance of Mr. Vernon Harcourt and diminishing that of the remainder of the House. The Marquis of Hartington mildly resisted the motion, but Dr. Playfair was carried by a majority of 18 (200 votes against 182), and Mr. Cross by a majority of 40 (205 votes against 165), after the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer had left the House, which they did amidst the cheers and laughter of the Opposition. Finally, Mr. Downing gave notice that he would (last night) propose to add Mr. Newde- gate's and Mr. Whalley's names to the Committee,—a very fair comment on the temper of the House to which Mr. Vernon Harcourt had made appeal.
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