ME. CURTIS'S SPEECH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 40, 18 February 1867, Page 2

ME. CURTIS'S SPEECH.

To the Editor of the ' Evening Mail.' Sir — Having had the opportunity of listening to Mr. Curtis's address on Thursday evening last, I read with considerable interest your able report of it ; the more so, as I felt convinced at the time reference was made to the subject of a patent slip, that a wrong impression of the whole affair was being conveyed by the remarks of Mr. Curtis. , Carried away by the favourable opportunity to make (what he doubtless thought | : would be) a telling hit against the late !/' Superintendent, and thus secure for him- , self the applause of his friends, Mr. Curtis so far committed himself to an "inadvertence," that he certainly did "convey

an impression to the mind of" more than "a single individual present" that Dr. Irvine bad lent himself to an " underhand proceeding." • - It now appears, however, that Mr, Curtis, finding that "he had got into a considerable mess" by this "inadvertence," the next morning dashes off an apology to Dr. Irvine, knowing full well that a very different version of the whole affair might in strict truth be given, and in that apology satisfactorily delivers himself of the "highest respect for Dr. Irvine," and fully exonerates the supposed delinquent present at the expense of the accused delinquent absent. Now, notwithstanding the expressed gratification of the Examiner with regard to the triumphant display of Mr. Curtis in his speech, I am led to ask, why was not this jubilant affair enacted in the presence of Mr. Saunders on the occasion of his farewell address, Dr. Irvine being in the chair ? It appears to me that that would have been a more </! frank and straightforward manner," and certainly would have displayed more manly conduct than that he adopted. Why leave so grave an accusation "to apply exclusively to the late Superintendent" until there was no chance for Mr. Saunders to meet and successfully (as I am quite sure he could have done) refute it ? I am, &c, Another Lover of Truth. Feb. 16, 1867.