EATING THE LEEK.

Evening Star, Issue 3698, 29 December 1874, Page 3

EATING THE LEEK.

To the Editor. Sir, —Will you kindly permit me, one of your oldest correspondents, to occupy a small space in your columns with a reply to an extract in your paper a few weeks ago from the speech of >' i ir J. D. Astley, M.P., the orator of tbo Lincolnshire Earn .' how, who rivalled Pistol himself in the delicate process of eating tbe leek. That speech contained statements of a most scurrilous nature in regard to a large majority of the Irish members of the House of Commons, As soon as it appeared in the papers, one of the most distinguished members of the Irish party demanded an apology for the unjustifiable attack made upon them. It will fee remembered that he applied the word “rascals,” to the Home Rule members ol Parliament -one of the “rascals,” it appears, has made him ignominiously swallow his words. The Chevalier Keyes O’Cleary, M P. for Wexford County, sent him a friend in the person of Captam Lynch “to demand explanations.” The result was the publication of a letter in which the offensive expressions are unequivocally withdrawn. Bo far well, but the “ Irish rascals ” are not yet done with Sir J. Astley. Having published portions of the speech, I think, sir, you in common fairness should publish the Apology. It is as follows : Slsham Hall, Lincolnshire, September 14,1874. Sib, —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th inst., and to state that I did make use of the expressions to which you refer, and at the request of your kind friend, the hon. and gallant member for Wexford, I hereby withdraw them, > and express gr at sorrow and regret at making use of such offensive expressions, which were delivered in an after-dinner speech,—l remain, &c., J. D. Astley. Apologising for the length of this letter, I fem, &c t , James Sanderson. Stnart street, Dunedin, December 28.