The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-17 00:00:00

r The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the report of last year conveyed full particulars of the
lilliount expended, as also of the sum that would be re-
quired to complete the works. The works at Ilarwich and
Dover were progressing very satisfactorily, and would be of
vast Importance whoa completed.
Mr. PLUMPTItE believed the works were being con-
ducted very scientifically. But, as regarded Dover, he
should say, as one of the harbour commissioners of that
port, that they were put to great expense in building sea
walls, to keep out the sea, in consequence of the erection
of the new pier, which caused inroads to be made in the
beach. He could assure hon. geotlemen that the town was
placed in jeopardy by the withdrawal of that beach.
Mr. COBDEN said when this subject came before the
committee last year he suggested that they should have the
estimate laid before them mu the same form as the navy esti-
mates, namely, the amount already expended set forth in
one column, the sum required in another, and the probable
cost in a third. Now there was no less than 600,0001. re-
geared for the island of Alderney, as a harbour of refuge ;
and, judging from its geographical position, its extent—
three-quarters of a mile by half—with about one thousand
inhabitants, he thought the acres of the island could be
purchased twice over for the amount they were going to
expend in improving it. But it might be said that, in a
commercial point, the island might be worth twice
its value. He bad never heard of an application from
Lloyd's in reference to it. (Hear, hear.) The island lay
on the French coast, and the tide ran in a race of 7or 8
knots per hour in that quarter. Therefore, he doubted
not, if the question were submitted toe. body of shipowners,
they would recommend that not a shilling should be
expended there. If they continued to fortify the heights,
it would certainly be regarded as a work of aggres-
sion by the French, who most certainly would set about
fortifying Cherbourg ; so that a compound loss would be
the consequence. (.• Hear, hear," and a laugh.)
Mr. HUME observed that, in the event of fortifications
being completed, they would require 40,000 men. The
island had no commerce, the navigation being most danger-
ous and difficult. He had visited Alderney and Jersey, and
had not heard a single man say that the island would be
the better for the outlay. Therefore he called for a post-
ponement of the vote, until they should have a report and
full information before them. (Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. Buck, Sir J. Graham, and

Mr. Bright,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER begged to
say it was his intention to comply with the wish of the
hon. member for Montrose, and postpone the vote.
The vote was then postponed.
A sum of 2,763/. was next voted for the establishment
and necessary works at Portpatriek,
that Sir tfrh.e. Ts.ul3mAwitasiNfivootedbservtoinpgre, ivneuretptlhyet4hMarbe.oluVr lgtorilnAgmtos
destruction.
On the vote of 23,2301. to defray the expenses of the
several public buildings in the department of the commis-
sion of public works,
Mr. SPOONER ruse to move that the vote be reduced by
the sum of 1,2301. 10s. being the amount appropriated to
the Royal College of Maynooth,i in Ireland. !'hat amount
might appear trilling, but, nevertheless, he should oppose it
on principle. As a protestant nation they had so right to
grant money for the propagation of establishments hostile
to that reli.don. That hostility had lately exhibited itself
most determinedly, as the Roman catholics had as-
sumed the offensive, and taken up a strung position
against the protestants of this country. (Hear, bear.)
In the year 1815 the house was injured to vote 30,0001. for
the College of Maynooth, and 26,0001. was charged annu-
ally on the consolidated fund for its support. Sir It. Peel,
when he made the proimsition in 181.5, said that he trusted
the house would adopt it in a generous spirit, in the hope
that it would be met in a corresponding spirit, that it would
introduce a better feeling into the institution, and induce it
to adopt a more liberal system. Had they been met in a
corresponding spirit ? (Hear, hear.) No such thing. On
the contrary, there was an open declaration of hostility on
the part of the Roman eatholies, and it was only a few days
since that a letter appeared in the papers from an hon. mem-
ber of that house, in which he said, toleration we will not
receive ; we have a right to be established as the church of
Ireland." I•he hon. gentleman actually repudiated Micro-I
tion, and demanded supremacy; but he hoped the
house, by its vote on the present occasion, would
put a little pause upon that. He had no hesita-
tion in saying that if the Maynooth grant were to
come before them now as an annual grant, it would
not be passed by the House of Commons. (hear, hear.)
The amendment having been put,
Mr. HUME said ho was sorry to have heard the speech
of the hon. gentleman; for, whatever his opinions were
with regard to the Maynooth grant, he (Mr. Hume) did
not think that was the time for discussing it. He entirely
concurred in the sentiment that the Roman catholics should
not be satisfied with toleration. They ought to have
equality, and that on the Christian principle of doing to
others as you would wish to be done by. (Hear, hear.)
The hon. gentleman was going against his own principles
when ho opposed the right of religious equality. The May-
nooth grant had been amply discussed in 1845, and he
was so perfectly satisfied with the decision of parliament on
that occasion that he should be very sorry to do away with
what was an honour to the parliament and an advantage
to the community. (Hear, hear.)
Sir It. INGLIS said he would not be diverted from the
real question before the house by the speech of the lion.
member for Montrose. That question was the grant-
ing a sum of money l'or the college of May-
nooth. Now, the principal argument brought for-
ward in 1815 for transferring the annual vote for
Maynooth to the consolidated fund was that it would
render unnecessary the introduction of a sub-
ject which had been an element of discord iu the house. Ile
(Sir It. Inglis) did not approve of that course, but the
house and parliament having sanctioned it, he for one never
contemplated having the opportunityof reviving the discus-
sion, except it might be in the shape of a bill. But her
Majesty's government had gratuitously, and at a time the
least propitious for discussion, introduced the subject, and
for a sum of 1,2301. lle thought it was a false expediency
to show any more indulgence, or rather to give more en-
couragement to the Itoman catholic church, and he should
for one resist it. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FORBES said he thought sonic explanation was glue
from the noble lord at the head of the government, who
spoke of certain mummeries and superstitions, as to the
reasons which induced him to sanction a vote which would
go to strengthen the college of Maynooth. (Hear.)
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the question now before
the house related to a sum of money fur repairing the old
college of Maynooth, and it came before them every year
since 1845.

Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said that it appeared to him
from the language of the 10th clause of the act relating to I
the Maynooth grant, that the expense for repairs wan to be
defrayed out of the 30,0001.
Mr. TRELAWNY said that hon. gentlemen- opposite '
seemed to him to discuss the question in a small and narrow
spirit. It seemed to him that the establishment and sup-
port of the college of Maynooth was defended and justified I
on the ground that the education which would be imparted
there would be less dangerous and more in accordance with
the prevailing sentiments of the people of this country if '
the college was maintained by a grant of money, than if I
they obtained their education in foreign couutries. (Hear.)
Nothing would be more likely to offend the Roman catho- I
lies, or to excite their sensitiveness, than the refusal of this !
grant.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND had always voted in favour of the
grant to Maynooth; but he must confess that at this time '
ho could not pursue that course, for he had not, as
appeared to have been the case with the honourable
gentleman who had just sat down, been taking a con-
venient nap during the last twelvemonth. (Hear, hear.)
lie could not shut his eyes to the open declaration of war
which had been made ; he could not forget that the church
of Rome had distinctly declared that they were all pagans
—(hear, hear)—and that she would bring them back from
the slavery of protestantisin into the glorious liberty of the
children of Rome. (Laughter.) He did not like saying I
much on the question ; but he must say that the awkward-
ness of the proposal consisted in the fact that they were
asked to pay a body of priests to preach against colleges
which they (the House of Commons) had set up in another
part of the country. (Hear, hear.) How they could pos-
sibly support both the Queen's Colleges and the College of
Mavnooth, he certainly did not understand.
Mr. ANSTEY said he thought the time was come when
all sectarian and exceptional votes of public money should '
cease ; but, as he intended to vote hereafter against the
Regium Dunum, against the grant to French refugee
clergy, and against all other votes of a [similar character,
be should begin, he thought, most fitly by clearing his con-
science in the matter, and voting against the proposed
mat, for which he could see no solid ground, in favour of
his own church. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
Mr. W. WILLIAMS said he should oppose the vote, not
on the religious ground, but on the ground that when Sir
Robert Peel, in 1845, obtained a vote of 30,00 W., for the
endowment and repair of Maynooth College, and an in
crease of the annual vote from 9,000/. to 26,0001. a-year, he
distinctly stated that no further grant would ever be re-
quired. He could not help remarking that a new term was
now introduced; the college was now called, "The Royal
College of St. Patrick, Maynooth." (Hear, hear.)
Mr. NEWDEGATE could find no cause for the
vote in the character of the education given ; on the con-
trary, he found that it was education in ultramontane, ar-
bitrary, and intolerant doctrines.
Mr. Alderman KERSHAW intended to oppose this vote,
not on account of what was termed papal aggression, but
because he considered that parliament ought not to contri-
bute to the support of religion by grants of public money.
The prote.taut dissenters of Lancashire had for years sup-
ported a college of their own at an expense of three or four
thousand powids per annum.
Mr. MOWATI could well understand an hon. gen-
tleman opposing this vote on the ground stated by the hon.
gentleman who had just sat down; but hou. members op-
posite had evidently no common ground of opposition.
When the hon. gentleman opposite (Mr. Spooner) was re-
citing the sums of money which the college had cost this
country, he forgot to state the set-off ou the other aide.
The established church of this country first of all took from
the Roman catholic. of Ireland, for the support of
their church, the sum of half • million annually.
That made the case, in his eyes, exceptional, and
but for that he should vote against the grant.
Colonel SIIITHORP would vote for the amendment of
the hon. member for North Warwickshire for the sake of
consistency, having on all occasions voted against the grants
for the maintenance of Roman catholic colleges. He
I warned the Roman catholic members that the present vote
was a new piece of clap trap on the part of the government,
brought forward to conciliate that party by whose aid the
noble lord hoped to retain office a little longer.
Mr. W. J. FOX meant to oppose the vote, but neither
I on the theological ground nor the pecuniary ground. Not
on theological grounds, for, whatever might be his opinion
of Boma catholic doctrinci—whatever he might think of