The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-21 00:00:00

TJEIE SUN, LOND

appointment which they themselves would have
sanctioned as being either " unfortunate " or
" disreputable," and some curiosity was exhi-
bited as to the answer to the assertion. Lord
DARBY declared that he had heard "it put about
that a certain offer had been made, and he had
lost no time in authorising every person who
might hear that, to state on the authority of the
Noble Earl that he did not know, nor had he
ever authorised, nor did he then believe that any
such offer, proposition, suggestion, or hint, was
ever made to Mr. KEOGH."

This startling discrepancy between the state-
ments—this express and unqualified contradiction

—left no alternative to Mr. KEOGH. His cha-
racter as a gentleman depended on the vin-
dication of his veracity—on rebutting the
charge of mendacity that had been more
than hinted against him, on showing that
he had reasonable grounds for the assertions made
on his authority. The Hon. and Learned Gen-
tleman exhibited the utmost promptitude in
bringing the dispute to a speedy and satisfactory
issue. Temperately, but firmly, he wrote to Lord
NAAS, recalling every circumstance to his recol-
lection, putting forward distinctly that the Noble
Lord had stated that, " he had been directed to
ask whether Mr. KEOGH would accept office under
Lord DERBY," and that on being pressed to state
on whose authority he put the question, adding
that "it was at Major BERESFORD'S desire, and

that he was in communication with Lord DERBY."
As further evidence of the accuracy of his recol-
lection, Mr. KEOGII alluded to the circumstance
of his having been remonstrated with by the
Gallant Major, for the opposition he had offered
to Lord DERBY'S Government, inasmuch as he
(Mr. KEOGH) had been asked to take office by
Lord NAAS, and that he (Major BERESFORD) felt
the hostility the more, as he was the person
who had spoken to Lord DERBY in re-
ference to his name. This letter, so im-
peratively demanding a speedy answer, was
forwarded to the Carlton Club on Friday evening;
but Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were suffered
to elapse without any notice being taken of the
communication. On Monday another letter was
written, entreating a speedy reply ; but it was
not until midday on Tuesday that a very brief
and curt reply was forwarded, in which the Noble
ex-Secretary made the following unequivocal
statement—" I distinctly deny, that, either di-
rectly or indirectly, I made an offer of office to
yourself or to any of your friends, or that I had,
or that I assumed I had, authority from any one
so to do."

This certainly, when coupled with the statement
to which it purported to be an answer, could only
be considered as an express denial—not as a
paltry evasion of the real question—as a direct
" traverse," not as a " confession and avoidance.
Mr. KEOGH said—" You asked me, would I take
office." I inquired on whose authority you put
the question. You answered, "By Major BERES-
FORD'S desire, and that he was in communication
with Lord DERBY." The answer we have given
above, and surely no person of ordinary intelli-
gence would receive it as other than a direct ne-
gative, or suppose that it was meant to shift the
ground to a denial that the asking, " would Mr.
KEOGH accept office at the desire of Major BERES-
FORD," was tantamount to an offer of office on
the authority of the Right Hon. Gentleman. This
impression was strengthened and confirmed by
the unseemly haste with which a public denial
was given in the House of Lords to the assertion
of Mr. KEOGH, CM the authority of Lord NAAs,
and that without the explanation that would show
that there were grounds for misapprehension
—that it was not altogether a gratuitous false-
hood, without the slightest foundation in fact ;
nay, more, so determined wore they in having
the authorised contradiction put forward without
a moment's delay, that contrary to that spirit of
fair play which is so dear to every British
heart, and of which we should have supposed
that the Noble Earl would have been the
most unflinching advocate, there was a
positive refusal to postpone that authorised
denial, for a single day, until Mr. KEOGH could
have had the opportunity of giving his explana-
tion in the other branch of the Legislature simul-
taneously, and the bane and antidote could be
administered together.
What, then, turned out to be the case after
all ? Why, a virtual admission of the accuracy
of Mr. KEOGH'S statement. We need not the
corroborating evidence as to the eager seeking
after the Hon. and Learned Gentleman at the

Reform Club and elsewhere, nor the conversation
in the train with Mr. O'FLAHERTY. We may
accept Lord NAAeS own version, and in it we
find ample justification for every assertion put
forward by, or on behalf of, the Irish Solicitor-
General or his friends. The Noble Lord says—

" I asked the Hon. and Learned Gentleman—
never thinking that the question would become
an engine of aggression to damage my character(!)
—(why surely it was the character of Mr. KEOGH
that was attempted—most fruitlessly and un-
availing attempted to be damaged)—l asked him
this simple question—" If office had been offered to
you under the new Government, would you
or your friends have accepted it ?" The Hon.
Gentleman, in answer, said—" I think, after
all that had occurred after the part I and
my friends have taken in the overthrow of the
late Government some such offer might have
been made." Surely this might have shown any
person of ordinary intelligence and ordinary com-
prehension, and Lord NAAS is by no means defi-
cient in either the one or the other, the sense in
which Mr. KEOGH understood, and naturally un-

derstood the interrogatory ; and even if any
doubt could be entertained on the subject, it
would be removed by the subsequent question,
" whether any person in authority knew of or
had authorised him to ask the question put to
him," and the answer, " As you ask me the ques-
tion, I will tell you that Major BERESFORD knew
of my asking the question." And yet with these
facts fresh on his memory, with the knowledge
that Major BERESFORD had, according to the
statement of that Right Hon. and Gallant Gen-
tleman, remonstrated with Mr. KEOGH in the
lobby of the House of Commons, and inquired
" whether he had not received through Lord
NAA S a kindly and friendly communication
from, himself." Why, what paltry quibbling,
unworthy an Old Bailey practitioner. What special
pleading is this, that is deliberately put forward
on the part of a Noble Lord and a Right Honour-
able Gentleman. What was the plain and obvious
meaning of their words ? What rational doubt
could be entertained as to the interpretation of
the proposition without an insult to these gentle-
men. Few persons can hesitate in the opinion
that there was either a distinct and positive offer
of office, or a highly discreditable attempt to
obtain support under false pretences. We
leave the parties to take their choice as to
which horn of the dilemma they prefer. Suffice
it to say, that the shafts have recoiled, and
with terrific force on the assailants, and that Mr.
KEOGH may well rejoice at the high and honour-
able tribute paid to his character and conduct by
Mr. DISRAELI, whose speech on the occasion is
deserving of the highest praise, and affords a
marked contrast to that of some of his late col-
leagues, by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the Earl of
ABERDEEN, the Duke of NEWCASTLE, and others.
He has passed through the ordeal unscathed—
his character stands higher than ever in the esti-
mation of the country. The Premier may indeed
feel that if his was the most disreputable ap-
pointment made, he would have every reason to be
satisfied with the composition of his Government

AMSTERDAM AND ROTTERDAM PRODUCE MARKETS.—
The weekly reviews from the Amsterdam and Rotter-
dam produce markets describe little activity in buSiness.
Coffee was maintained with firmness at previous quota-
tions. In raw sugar very few transactions had taken
place, but contracts for refined had in some cases been
accepted at lower rates. Rice and indigo remained
steady ; tallow was on the average well supported. The
accounts from Antwerp and Hamburg represent a
similar position of trade.
ROUEN.—The letters from Rouen mention that the
market for manufactures was heavy, the absence of pur-
chasers having caused an unfavourable reaction in
prices.
THE SOAP DUTlES.—Yesterday the bill to repeal the
soap duties was printed. They are to be repealed from
the sth July next.