New-York tribune., 1875-03-06
BRITISH TOPICS.
NOTES FROM LONDON.


KINGSLEY.
trRon THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNB'l
LONDON, Feb. 2O.-Dr. Kenealy's umbrella is
destined to be historical. baggy g1ngham um-
brella. He took il with him when no presented
himself to the Speaker in the House of Commons on
Thursday afternoon at quarter past four to be sworn
1t is usual for a new member to be introduced oy
two old members, precisely as wild elephant IN
Ceylon is introduced by two tanned elephants 10 MS
new home under the protecting influences OF civni
cation. But when the Speaker invited members
wishing 20 take the oath TO appear, Dr. henea" "p
peared unattended. He advanced up the HOUSE,
his hat in one hand and gingham umpreha 'n 'no
other as If in doubt whether he mght no' na'o
immediate need of them. so inhospitapie was ."o
air of the Commons. Eye-witnesses ainiin 'n"'
when he reached the table he hung MS uinoreia oh
the mace. an act which sent cold shudder through
,ha uorso and led affrighted strangers to believe
that the daring intruder would be hurried of to In
slant execution on Tower Hill. But he was not he
vas simply snubbed by Mr. Speaker for coming
alone-perhaps q more awful fate. L suppose the
Speaker was doing his technical duty, but the eiect
of il has certainly been to create an impression
among Dr. Kenealy's friends that some excuse was
sought for refusing to admit him The Speaker sald
there was rule of tie House, dating from 16SS that
new members must have two sponsors. And II ap-
pears, oddly enough, that it had been anticipated
DR.. Kenealy would come without them, for the
Speaker declared that he had had the journals OF
the House diligently searched. and could not hhu
that any departure from the practice had been sane
toned He refused to hear DR.. Kenealy argue his
own case. and ordered him to withdraw. Ihereupon
Mr. Disraeli interposed. He had the good sense to
see how impolitc it was to make a fuss over the
matter, and moved that the rule be dispensed with
Mr. Bright intimated that the real difficulty was
that no two members could be found who would
come in with Dr. Keneay If that be So he said,
though he had not made the acquaintance OF the
honorable gentleman, yet out of Difference to the
will Of large constituency, he would, II Dr.
Kenealy were willing to accept his companonshlp
10 the table, introduce him. He presumed Mr..
Whalley would have no objection to being the second
Now the House. it is said, was in mischlevous
mood and disposed to mortify Dr. Kenealy and him
der bis admission if possible Mr.. Bentinck, Tory
country member, moved to adjourn the debate
Just the most foolish thing that could have been
done-but again Mr.. Disraeli got up. threw Ben
timex over, and succeeded in inducing the House 10
vote his motion dispensing with the rule There
were some cries of no. but it was agreed to, so Dr.
KeDealy was again called in, sworn, introduced by
the Clerk to the Speaker who shook hands with
bim-the invariable fOrmality-and then the cham
pion of Arthur Orton disappeared. He yesterday
gave notice that on the 10th of March he would call
the attention of the House to the case of the Queen
agt Castro and would move a resolution, % we
have three weeks breathing time before the Itch
borne case is once more let loose the world. Dr.
Kenealy has taken his seat on the second bench be-
hind the Leader of the Opposition.
What the lawyers call most important constitu-
tiona question has grown out of the return oil Mr.
John Mitchell for Tipperary. Probably most people
I. -. Ill - hnffa
certainly the figure tie lawyers cut is not calcu-
lated to inspire the lay mind with unbouudcd con-
fidence in the perfection of human reason" as the
law of England has been called The Government
with unusual precipitation gave notice, as soon as
they heard of MitchePs election, of resolution
declaring him incapable of sitting in the House of
Commons, he having been convicted of treason
felony and not having received a pardon under the
Great Seal nor endured his sentence" This
done on the strength of belief that Mitcheps case
was covered by the O'Donovan Rosa precedent,
who had been declared incapable by resolution in
similar way. But when the law Officers-or one of
them-came to look into the matter mot till after
the Government had committed itself two things
were discovered. First that the ODon-
oyau Rosa precedent was probably bad
law. and, secondly that whether bad or
good, it did not cover Mitchels case. The grounds
of this opinion are purely technical and will not
state them. 1t is only the practical consequences
that can have much interest for may say,
however that the opinion is held strongly by sOme
If not all the best lawyers in the House. the Attor
ney-General perhaps excepted The Solicitation
era being bound TO stand by his chiefs, did So but
there is reason to believe he really dissented
from the proposition they maintained. Sir William
Harcourt. whose authority is great, was clearly
against it, and in favor of committee to look into
the matter So was Sir Henry James, ana thus we
have both the law officers of the late Government
at issue with those of the present. But Mr.. Dsrael
had gone too far to retract. The whip was put on
and his resolution carried motion for adjournment
being defeated by $50 to 102. Lord Harrington took
what advantage he could OF the situation by
moving for a Select Committee to consider the re-
turn for TpperarY to search for precedents and to
report thereon. But this was negatved without
division and the new writ ordered to be made out
MItchelSleclares he will stand again. and keep
standing till the House is forced to admit him.
Trore is great enthusiasm for him. but 1T is doubt
full how long the county will care to go on voting
for man who can't take his seat. take 1t for
granted the House will not now rescind its resolu-
ton, unless court of competent authority can be
got TO affirm MitchePs legal capacity to be men,
Der. The papers have been printing the documents
connected with his escape-dccuments which seem
TO show that Mitchell evaded his parole by trick
more dIshOnorable to him than openly breaking it
would have been.
Two Memorials to Mr. Kingsley are proposed: one
connecting itself more particularly with his work
as a clergyman the other doing honor to his fame
in literature and to his personal character. The
ecclesiastical memorial has two objects: first. the
enlargement and improvement of Eversley Church.
Of which Mr.. Kingsley was rector this in accord