The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-08 00:00:00

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.

Mr. FAGAN, on Tuesday, moved for leave to intro-
duce a bill to make provision for the better govern-
ment of the University of Dublin ; for the establish-
ment of a second college therein, with co• ordinate
authority and equivolent income with Trinity College,
to be called " The Queen's College ;" and for the
extension to students of all religious denominations
of the honours, degrees, emoluments, and offices, in
the said college. Although the system of education
in the Dublin University was of a high character, yet,
he remarked, that institution had sent forth fewer
distinguished men than the Universities of England
or Scotland. This could not be attributed to any
deficiency in the endowments, as the university was
the richest in the world. It possessed 200,000 acres
of land in various parts of Ireland; its revenue was
64,0001. a year, and would hereafter exceed 100,0001.;
the provost received 3,5001. a year, and the seven
senior fellows, on an average, 1,8001. a year. The
evil arose from the narrow sphere within which the
rich endowments of Trinity College were distributed
in favour of the religion of the minority; whereas he
argued from various authorities that, by the charter
of Elizabeth, the college was not intended, at its
foundation, to be an exclusive establishment, to
favour any particular religious creed, still less to
prepare persons for holy orders of the Church of
England. He admitted, however, that Trinity
College was entitled to be kept up as an institution
for the education of clergymen of the Established
Church, and that if it were thrown entirely open to
all religious denominations this object could not be
preserved. He thought, however, that under an act
of Charles 11. the difficulty might be surmounted
without injuring the efficiency of Trinity College,
and that the time harried
v for effecting the
change. He proposed that there should be two
colleges, with separate provosts, under a council of
twenty-four members elected by both colleges, the
second college having its fair share of the large
property now belonging to Trinity College. Mr.
Fagan concluded by giving a general outline of the
constitution of the university, as developed in the
bill he proposed to introduce.
Mr. G. A. HANTLTON announced his decided and
most uncompromising opposition to this bill.
Trinity College was essentially a Protestant institu-
tion, established by a Protestant sovereign for

THE PRESS.

Protestant purposes, and more especially for the
education of the Protestant clergy. Notwithstanding
this the college had been thrown as widely open to
Catholics and Dissenters by the authorities as was
consistent with its Protestant foundation. It was
incorrect to say that Roman Catholics and Dis-
senters were excluded from all its honours and
advantages. Ile showed the relaxations which had
been made of the original restrictions, and the
number of honours and offices in the college open
to Roman Catholics, the aggregate emoluments
amounting to 6,9001. a year. No test whatever was
required on admission, nor on obtaining any degree,
except that of divinity, a reservation which no one
could wish to see abrogated. Nearly all honours
and emoluments were open to all religious sects,
except those which were of a theological character.
Mr. Hamilton then enumerated some of the eminent
persons who had been educated at Trinity College,
and proceeded to argue that the Act of Settlement,
and the act of George 111., upon which Mr. Fagan
relied as affording authority for his scheme, contained
enactments directly repugnant to it.
Mr. HEYWOOD bore testimony to the liberality that
had been shown in modern times towards Roman
Catholics by the authorities of Trinity College in
Dublin, but suggested the advisability of introducing
some further modification in the same direction, and
especially of throwing open the scholarships to all
the students without requiring religious tests.
Sir J. YOUNG deprecated all propositions which
tended to keep alive the flame of religious antagonism.
Among these he classed the present measure, and
entered into many details respecting the university
system in Ireland to show that it was neither neces-
sary nor expedient.
Mr. HUME supported the motion.
Mr. WHITESIDE resisted it, declaring that the bill
contemplated an act of confiscation upon the revenues
legally appertaining to Trinity College.
Mr. FITZGERALD repudiated that charge, and de-
clared that if leave was given to introduce the bill it
would be found to have no confiscatory tendencies.
No greater change was intended in the constitution
of Dublin University by this bill than Lord J. Rus-
sell had indicated with regard to Oxford in the mea-
sure he had placed before the house.
Mr. NAPIER remarked that the revenues derived
from public grants by the Dublin University were
less than the amount of the annual vote for Maynooth
College. Liberality towards nonconformists could
not be carried further than it was already done in
that university without overturning its constitution
and defeating the intentions of the founders. The
system now pursued in Trinity College worked well ;
its revenues were spent to excellent purpose ; the
education it afforded could stand a comparison with
that of any of the English universities, and the
whole organisation was so good as to render change
altogether undesirable.
The motion was also opposed by Mr. BUTT and
Mr. GEORGE.

After a few words from Mr. P. O'BRIEN, who sup-
ported the bill, and a reply from Mr. FAGAN, who de-
clined to ask for a vote,
. The motion was negatived without a division.
THE STONOR APPOINTMENT.
Mr. MOORE moved, on Thursday, that a select
committee should be appointed to investigate the
circumstances attending the appointment of Mr.
Stonor to a puisne judgeship in the colony of Vic-
toria, "the said Henry Stonor having been reported
by a committee of this house to have been guilty of
bribery at the election for the borough of Sligo in
1853." He disclaimed any personal motive for at-
tacking Mr. Stonor, declaring that it was not the
conduct of that gentleman, but of the Government,
that would be chiefly impeached before the proposed
committee. The hon. member entered into a variety
of particulars for the purpose of proving that the
Ministry had conferred the appointment in question
in return for the corrupt services rendered by Mr.
Stonor in securing the return of a junior Lord of the
Treasury for the borough of Sligo. Imputing to the
Colonial Secretary a guilty knowledge of these facts,
he professed an utter disbelief in the statement put
forth by way of explanation by the Under Secretary
for the Colonies (Mr. F. Peel), whose resignation, or
that of his chief, he thought would be necessary for
the satisfaction of public justice. The transaction
altogether was an outrage upon public decency.
The CHANCELLOR of the F.XCHEerER eagerly chal-
lenged the minutest scrutiny of a select committee
To the allegation that the Colonial Secretary had ap-
pointed Mr. Stonor with any knowledge of the cir-
cumstances stated to have occurred at the Sligo
election, or that the appointment was made in any
way as a recompense for political services, he offered
on behalf of the Duke of Newcastle an unqualified
denial. He trusted that the house would consent to
nominate the committee. It was now incumbent
upon them to have the case searched to the bottom,
and the grounds discovered for the charges that had
been made with so much levity.

317

After a protracted and somewhat angry discussion
the motion for a committee was agreed to ou a divi-
sion by a majority of 115 to 37-78.

SCOTTISH RIGHTS.
The Earl of &MINTON, after presenting a petition
from the National Association for the Vindication of
Scottish Rights, moved that an humble address
should be presented to the Queen, praying her Ma-
jesty to take into consideration the circumstances
set forth in that petition, and especially to consider
the propriety of appointing an additional Secretary of
State for the management of Scotch affairs, and of
increasing the number of representatives allotted to
Scotland.
A prolonged discussion ensued, shared in by the
Earl of Aberdeen, the Duke of Montrose, the Duke
of Argyll, and Lords Campbell and Panmure. Ulti-
mately the Earl of Eglinton withdrew his motion.

BRIBERY.
The committal of the Bribery Bill introduced by
Lord John Russell was moved on Monday evening.
Lord J. RUSSELL, alluding to a measure of almost
similar title brought in by Sir F. Kelly, arranged
that the two measures should be placed in successive
order on the paper. They related, he said, to the
same subject, and ought to he considered together,
so far as the forms of the house allowed.
Mr. V. SMITH interposed with an amendment fbr
the purpose of having both measures referred to a
select committee, in which arrangement he wished to
include also the Controverted Elections Bill
in by Lord J. Russell. The subjects emb
these measures were, he considered, so wide and
complicated that they could not be fairly discussed
in a scattered style. In the select committee the
question could be considered as a whole, anti,
wards be presented to the house in a form
for legislation. The hon. member proceed • .
remark upon some practical difficulties which
required to be carefully and skilfully dealt with,
dwelling particularly upon the perplexing ques
of agency.
The amendment was seconded by Mr. DEEDES.
Lord JOHN RUSSEI.L was disappointed at
course taken by his hon. friend Mr. V. Smith.
reference to a select committee was equiv
to postponing the bill to another session. All o. -
jections to the measure might be taken in the com-
mittee of the house, and he proposed to take Sir
F. Kelly's bill second in order to his own, • .
postpone the controverted clauses in the
until an agreement had been come to as to a d .-
nition of the offences to be legislated against. He
also observed that it would be impossible for him
to attend a select committee, and he urged that there
was no real difficulty in considering the measures he
proposed.
Mr. WirroLe believed that the bill might be ad-
vantageously referred to a select committee, but
would not oppose its progress at present.
Colonel Siernoar looked upon all proposals to put
down bribery as mere pretences, and intended to op-
pose the bills at every stage.
Mr. Phinn, Mr. Butt, Sir H. Willoughby, and
Lord Hotham having spoken in favour of the am •
went, and Mr. Napier, with other members,
it, a division took place. There appeared for •
into committee,l46; for the amendment, 76-71.
The house then resolved itself into committee on
the bill, and much time was spent in discussing
various amendments upon successive clauses of the .
measure. Very little progress was, however, made,
the clauses being chiefly postponed. At the sixth
clause a motion that the chairman should •
progress was agreed, to, and the further pro:
the bill postponed until after the Easter recess.
PROPERTY DISPOSAL BILL.
Under this title a bill has been brought in, de-
signed chiefly to operate in cases of the bequest or
disposal of property by nuns. The measu. e stands
for a second reading on Wednesday. When the me-
lion to that effect was made by Mr. WHITESIDE,
Mr. PRINS opposed the bill, thinking that it
too far, for it threw the onus of proving a n
upon the recipients of the property. He also
proved of the machinery of the bill, which was
fensive to Roman Catholics by its assumption th •
the wills, in certain cases, were fraudulent.
Mr. FAO/N objected to proceeding with the bid
that occasion as a breach of the understanding wh•.
had been come to, that the second reading
not take place until after the report of the corn .
on conventual establishments should be laid upon
the table.
Lord PALMERSTON opposed the second reading of
the bill on two grounds—first, that its further pro-
cedure would be contrary to the understan • which
had been come to; secondly, that the pre
full of assertions which ought not to
should be struck out, while the enacting part
from its nature be altogether inoperative.
Mr. WHITESIDE repudiated the understanding re-
ferred to, and complained of it as a mockery to turn
him over to the report of a committee which might
never sit.