e House. He refused to
comply, and was committed to the charge of the Sergeant at Arms. The
Speaker then turned to Lord Althorp, who promised in Parliamentary
language not to send a challenge. Upon this, as is graphically enough
described in the conventional terms of Hansard, "Mr O'Connell made some
observation to the honourable Member sitting next him which was not
heard in the body of the House. Lord Althorp immediately rose, and amid
loud cheers, and with considerable warmth, demanded to know what the
honourable and learned gentleman meant by his gesticulation;" and then,
after an explanation from O'Connell, his Lordship went on to use phrases
which very clearly signified that, though he had no cause for sending a
challenge, he had just as little intention of declining one; upon which
he likewise was made over to the Sergeant. Before, however, honourable
Members went to their dinners, they had the relief of learning that
their refractory colleagues had submitted to the Speaker's authority,
and had been discharged from custody.

There was only one way out of the difficulty. On the 10th of February
a Committee of Investigation was appointed, composed of Members who
enjoyed a special reputation for discretion. Mr. Hill called his
witnesses. The first had nothing relevant to tell. Macaulay was the
second; and he forthwith cut the matter short by declaring that,
on principle, he refused to disclose what had passed in private
conversation; a sentiment which was actually cheered by the Committee.
One sentence of common sense brought the absurd embroilment to a
rational conclusion. Mr. Hill saw his mistake; begged that no further
evidence might be taken; and, at the next sitting of the House, withdrew
his charge in unqualified terms of self-abasement and remorse. Lord
Althorp readily admitted that he had acted "imprudently as a man, and
still more imprudently as a Minister," and stated that he considered
himself bound to accept Sheil's denial; but he could not manage so to
frame his remarks as to convey to his hearers the idea that his opinion
of that honourable gentleman had been raised by the transaction. Sheil
acknowledged the two apologies with effusion proportioned to their
respective value; and so ended an affair which, at the worst, had evoked
a fresh proof of that ingrained sincerity of character for the sake
of which his party would have followed Lord Althorp to the death. [In
Macaulay's journal for June 4, 1851, we