Right of defendant in action for libel to plead absence of malice, etc., and apology

In an action for libel contained in any public newspaper or other periodical publication, it shall be competent for the defendant to plead that the libel was inserted in the newspaper or other periodical publication without actual malice, and without gross negligence, and that before the commencement of the action, or at the earliest opportunity afterwards, he inserted in the newspaper or other periodical publication a full apology for the libel, or, if the newspaper or periodical publication in which the libel appeared is ordinarily published at intervals exceeding one week, had offered to publish the said apology in any newspaper or periodical publication to be selected by the plaintiff in the action; and to such defence to the action it shall be competent to the plaintiff to reply generally, denying the whole of such defence.