Thereupon Mr. O'Donnell said it was perfectly impossible to accept
the explanation of the Government, and he would put himself in order by concluding with a motion ; and he began a speech in which he accused M. Challemel-Lacour of having ordered the massacre of Colonel Carayon Latour's battalion, though that massacre was never accomplished, through the order falling into the bands of a French officer of high char- acter. The destruction of the telegram was easily ac- counted for in those times of disorder, and Mr. O'Donnell was going on with his story, when the Speaker inter- rupted him, to point out to the House "the very grave abuse" of the privilege enjoyed by every Member of the House, in his bringing charges against a foreign ambassador with- out notice, under cover of a motion for adjournment. The Speaker put it to the House whether this course was a right course. Thereupon Mr. O'Donnell, saying he would "confine himself to the fewest possible words," was continuing his speech, when Mr. Gladstone rose to respond to the Speaker's appeal, and said he felt it his duty to give the House the opportunity of expressing its opinion on the subject of that appeal, by moving that " Mr. O'Donnell be not heard."
