The declaration of the Speaker was received with a storm
of approval from both sides of the House, and the bewildered and cowed Home-rulers, in their surprise, and in the absence of Mr. Parnell, voted on the question. They immediately, however, rallied, and Mr. Justin M`Carthy endeavoured to question the authority of the Chair. The Speaker, however, declined to hear him, and the House roared, the majority ehout- ing "Chair ?" and the Leaguers screaming " Privilege, privilege !" The Speaker remained firm and cool, whereupon the Leaguers, headed by Mr. M'Carthy, marched out in single file, and bow- ing solemnly to the House, retired from the sitting. It was at first believed that they intended secession ; and this probably was their idea, but it was abandoned, at the advice of Mr. Parnell, and at twelve o'clock they were all back in the House, and Mr. Parnell and Mr. Sullivan attacking the legality of the Speaker's action, The Speaker ruled that the previous sitting could neither be reopened nor discussed ; but on Mr. Gladstone suggesting that Mr, Sullivan was out of order, he de- cided against the Leader of the House, and desultory debate on motions for adjournment continued till the rising of the House, at six o'clock.
