On Friday week, Lord Randolph Churchill called the attention of
the House to a letter by Mr. Conybeare, pub- lished in the Star, reflecting upon the conduct of the Speaker in the course of the previous night's sitting. The letter, which was couched throughout in extremely offensive lan- guage, complained that the Speaker, "who is supposed to exercise his discretion impartially for the protection of the minority," had acted unfairly in allowing the motion for closing the debate on the Bann Drainage Bill to be put to the House. Immediately after the passing of the Closure, Mr. Conybeare had stated that the proceeding was " a public scandal," and this phrase he repeated in his letter, explaining at the same time that his withdrawal of the words in the House was made by him in order to avoid suspension, and not because he did not, on consideration, adhere to them. A with- drawal, the letter went on, does not "imply any alteration of a deliberately expressed opinion." His suspension would only please the Tory Government, and it was therefore that he withdrew the expression when called upon to do so.
