Mr. MacCoan brought a question of Privilege before the House
of Commons on Thursday, in the shape of a challenge from Mr. O'Kelly, which had arisen out of a reference made by himself in an Irish speech to Mr. O'Kelly's suspension in February last for giving the lie to Mr. Forster. Mr. O'Brien was referred to by Mr. O'Kelly as his second, and Mr. MacCoan was asked to name a second to act for him. This be refused to do, and as no with- drawal of the challenge had been received, he thought it his -duty to bring the matter before the House. The Piime Minister approved his action, and moved that Mr. O'Kelly be ordered to attend in his place on the following day (yesterday), to give a pledge that he would not go on with the quarrel. Mr. O'Brien -would not answer for Mr. O'Kelly that he would admit the in- tervention of "the English Parliament " in his private quarrels; and Mr. Sheil, referring ironically to Mr. MacCoan's earnest -desire to keep the peace, suggested that an application to a magistrate would have been more to the purpose ; a suggestion -supported by Mr. Parnell, who maintained that as this challenge had arisen out of a speech not made in the House of Commons, -the challenge was not properly a question of Privilege. Mr. -Gladstones motion was, however, carried, by 250 votes against 19.
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