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The Green Bag.

the respondents invited and obtained the assistance and co-operation of the Physical Force Party in America, including the Clan-na-Gael, and in order to obtain that assistance, abstained from repudiating or condemning the action of that party. There remain three specific charges against Mr. Parnell, namely : — (a) " That at the time of the Kilmainham negotia tions Mr. Parnell knew that Sheridan and Boyton had been organizing outrage, and therefore wished to use them to put down outrage." We find that this charge has not been proved. (6) "That Mr. Parnell was intimate with the leading Invincibles, that he probably learned from them what they were about when he was released on parole in April, 1882, and that he recognized the Phoenix Park murders as their handiwork. "' We find that there is no foundation for this charge. We have already stated that the Invincibles were not a branch of the Land League. (c) " That Mr. Parnell on 23d January, 1883, by an opportune remittance enabled F. Byrne to escape from justice to France." We find that Mr. Parnell did not make any remit tance to enable F. Byrne to escape from justice. The two special charges against Mr. Davitt, viz. : (a) " That he was a member of the Fenian or ganization, and convicted as such, and that he assisted in the formation of the Land League with money which had been contributed for the purpose of outrage and crime "; (6) " That he was in close and intimate association with the party of violence in America, and was mainly instrumental in bringing about the alliance between that party and the Parnelliteand Home Rule party in America"; are based on passages in " The Times" leading articles of the 7th and 14th March, 1887. "The new movement was appropriately started by Fenians out of Fenian funds; its 'father 'is Michael Davitt, a convicted Fenian." "That Mr. Parnell's 'constitutional or ganization ' was planned by Fenian brains, founded on a Fenian loan, and reared by Fenian hands." ye have shown in the course of the report that Mr. Davitt was a member of the Fenian organization, and convicted as such, and that he received money from a fund which had been contributed for the pur pose of outrage and crime — viz., the Skirmishing Fund. It was not, however, for the formation of the Land League itself, but for the promotion of the agitation which led up to it. We have also shown

that Mr. Davitt returned the money out of his ojirn resources. With regard to the further allegation that he was in close and intimate association with the party of violence in America, and mainly instrumental in bringing about the alliance between that party and the Parnellite and Home Rule party in America, we find that he was in such close and intimate associa tion for the purpose of bringing about, and that he was mainly instrumental in bringing about the alli ance referred to.

The sequel is soon told. The report was laid on the table of the House of Commons, and, after a debate of the utmost bitterness, was entered on the journals of Parliament by 321 to 259. After another debate of the same character in the House of Lords, a similar resolution was carried without a division. Mr. Parnell then sued the "Times" for libel, and obtained £1000 damages by consent, and the judge's report took its place among the national Blue Books. It is said that Sir Charles Russell made £1 0,000 out of the commission, and Sir Richard Webster must have made at least double that amount; and the cost of the whole business to the " Times " has been roughly estimated at from £1 50,000 to £250,000. The house of Walter was not, however, broken by its losses, and the Conservative Englishman still has his politi cal opinions served up hot (with the break fast rolls) every morning from the columns of the " Times." It is fair to add that Sir Richard Webster, whose conduct of the "Times " case had been so bitterly attacked both in Parliament and out of it, received a perfect ovation at the annual meeting of the Bar, soon after the debate on the report; and a vote of confidence in his professional honor, moved by Mr. Samuel Pope, Q.C., an ardent Gladstonian and leader of the Parliamentary Bar, was carried with accla mation. Lex.