The House of Commons behaved very well in the matter
of Captain Verney's expulsion. Mr. W. H. Smith, who was re- elected for the Strand on Tuesday without opposition, found it his first duty to make the motion, which he did in a few regretful but firm words, ending with a request to the House to abstain if possible from discussion. The House, with a true sense of its dignity, complied, and the vote was passed unanimously and in silence. Mr. Frederick Verney, the brother of the accused, in spite of strong remonstrances, has withdrawn his candidature for Norwich, for reasons which in a final letter of refusal he thus defines :—" The anxiety, trouble, and responsibility which have fallen upon me have left me very unfit to face public meetings, and still more so to mix in social gatherings where already my Norwich friends have so often welcomed ,me, The fact is that we must bear one another's burdens, whether we will it or no. The best way is to accept this law and obey it willingly. Please consider this as final." That is admirable from every point of view except one, which is that Parliament loses greatly in losing the counsels of the man who wrote that letter. It is sometimes one's first duty to take things, even shame, fighting.
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