§ Mr. Wodehousesaid, perhaps the House will allow me to say a few words upon a matter of personal interest to myself. It has been intimated to me that the explanation which I gave the hon. Member for Finsbury on Saturday was not so satisfactory as that hon. Gentleman had a right to demand. I have no hesitation in saying, that I then acted under an erroneous impression with respect to the trial to which I referred. The hon. Member for Fins- 827 bury appears to me, by the explanation which he has since given, to have had a verdict distinctly in his favour, and it also appears that all which followed afterwards was equally in his favour. I therefore feel, that as I may have been the instrument of injury to the hon. Gentleman, it is now my bounden duty to do my best to be the instrument of reparation. It is a duty which I owe, not only to himself in the first instance, but in the next place, to all those who are connected with him by relationship, and lastly, to all who are connected with him by public representation, to make the explanation which I now make; and I hope it will not be permitted to go further, for I tender it as due from one Gentleman to another, and I am obliged to the House for the opportunity it has afforded me of making this further explanation.
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, with regard to what has fallen from the hon. Member for Norfolk with reference to an insinuation which he made against the hon. Member for Finsbury, I feel that the explicit declaration which has now been made must have convinced every one that the hon. Mem-Member for Finsbury is an honourable and an innocent man, and I think that hon. Gentlemen may retire from the House to-night with a full understanding that he has had complete reparation made to his injured feelings, and with as much right to hold himself perfectly erect in public estimation as any hon. Member. I must say, too, that this explanation is in unison with the unanimous feelings of the House.
§ Mr. Wakleythen said, I cannot refrain from expressing my gratitude to the hon. Member for Norfolk for the kind explanation which he has given, and offering my grateful acknowledgments to the House, for the handsome manner in which they have treated me on this painful occasion. At the same time, I beg to say, that I receive the acknowledgment of the hon. Gentleman with that spirit of frankness with which it has been made; and I feel convinced that he cast an imputation on me, which he has not felt himself justified in doing under the circumstances which have since come to his knowledge. In saying this, I am bound to state, that I consider this acknowledgment will be most satisfactory to every member of my family, and I have a particular motive in making that declaration.