§ MR. FIRTH (Dundee)said, that he had risen not with reference to the arrest of Mr. O'Kelly, but with regard to a matter personal to himself. He was reported in some of the papers (not in The Times) as having dissented from the hon. and learned Attorney General's statement last night——
That there was no member of the Profession of five years' standing who would not admit that, if counsel for the defendant was not in a position to apply for a non-suit, he must open his case,and it was also reported that the hon. and learned Gentleman then amended his phrase and said, "no member of the Bar of any position." Since certain papers were commenting on this alleged incident in the debate, one even having gone into poetry on the subject, he wished to disclaim that, and to say that he agreed with the Attorney General's observation as to the practice of counsel, and, therefore, was not likely to contradict it.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)said, he noticed the interruption referred to, and recognized from whom it came, and it certainly was not from the hon. and learned Member. He knew perfectly well that the hon. and learned Gentleman had had considerable experience at the Bar.