The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-20 00:00:00

NATIONAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE inquired what were
the intentions of her Majesty's present Ministers with
regard to national education in Ireland. Much
alarm, he observed, had been excited by an intima-
tion dropped in another place by a member of the
Government, that some important changes were in
contemplation on the subject. He deprecated any
interference with a system which had hitherto worked
so well. _ _ _

The Earl of DERBY said that no such intimation
could have been given, since no change was intended
in the system of national education. That system
had now been in operation for a quarter of a century,
and had, even by the confession of its opponents,
produced a great deal of good, both in extending and
improving instruction among the mass cf the Irish
population. It was fully intended to preserve the
principle in its integrity. There were, nevertheless,
same causes which narrowed its range of utility, and
in particular the absence of any provision for giving
separate religious teaching in the schools had kept
aloof a large section of the community who were
actuated by scruples which he felt bound to respect,
though he did not share them. It was therefore
under consideration by the Government whether
grants of money might not expediently be extended
to some of the Church schools in Ireland. This,
however, was a matter for future decision, and he
repeated that, in any event, nothing would be done
which could in the slightest degree imperil the
regular working of the existing system.

EAST INDIA LOAN BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed, after
some prolonged remarks from Lord MONTEAGLE,
and an explanation of the present state of the Indian
revenue from the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH.

Their lordships adjourned at a quarter to seven
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THE DELHI MEDAL.

Replying to Mr. Kinnaird,
General PEEL stated that a medal would be given
for the capture of Delhi.

IN THE ♦RMY.

Mr. BAGWELL reverted to the circumstances to
which he bad previously called attention relating
to the advertisements issued by certain agents offer-
ing to procure commissions in the army on lower
terms than the regulation price, and without the
necessity of a preliminary examination. He described
the proceedings in detail, and contended that the
matter challenged strict inquiry as involving infe-
rentially the character of various functionaries of high
responsibility at the Horse Guards.
Colonel Knox and Sir W. Comm:iron added some
remarks confirming the existence of the abuses com-
plained of by Mr. Bagwell.
General PEEL remarked that some commissions
bad been granted to gentlemen bringing in a certain
number of recruits without their being obliged to
pass any examination. The principle was, he con-
fessed, objectionable, and only to be sanctioned at a
period when soldiers were much required. The
agency system should, however, be immediately
stopped.

Lord BURY and Lord GODERICH having briefly
spoken, the subject dropped.

ESTATES COURT.

In reply to Mr. De Were,
Lord NAAS said that the Government hoped to
introduce a bill during the present session providing
for the permanent regulation of the Encumbered
Estates Court in Ireland.

The Holm SECRETARY afterwards added that the
principle had worked so beneficially in Ireland, that
he should be prepared to support a measure for its
introduction in England also.

BUSINESS.
The orders of the day were then gone through,
and various bills on the paper passed through the
pending stage of progress without any discussion of
importance.

MINISTERS' MONEY IN

Mr. BAXTER moved for leave to bring in a bill to
abolish the ministers' money, or annuity tax, levied
within the city of Edinburgh, parish of Canongate,
and burgh of Montrose, as vacancies occur among
the present ministers, and to make provision for
their successors.

After a few words from the Lonn.Anvocare, 'the
motion was agreed to, and leave given to bring in
the bill.
The house adjourned at half-past six o'clock.