The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-22 00:00:00

AIIf. CANNING'S VISIT TO IRELAND.

Drattx, SUNDAY.
Although Mr. Canning has declined the invitation to a
public dinner, yet his frequent and attentive inspection of
the public institutions of the city strongly induces one to
' believe that his visit has not been merely on private busi-
ness. Yesterday he sent a polite cotninunication to the
Lott' Mayor, intimating his desire to see the Custom-house,
the Post-office, and the Kildare-street Institution. The
Lord Mayor, with very praiseworthy itromptitnde, ex-
pressed his readiness to attend the Right Honotrable
Gentleman to whatever part of the city he might desire
to visit ; and what renders this conduct on the part of the
Len' Mayor highly honourable to him is, that by it he risks
for Spivasar. of the Corporation of this city, who have ma-
nifested in their public capacity as a bcdy, as well as indivi-
dually, a disposition to treat Mr. Canning with indifference
and disregard. An effort was made by the liberal portion of
the Corporation (which is by far the minority of it) to
pies: lit him with the freedom of the city, but the indig.
nant spirit of exelasire loyalty that animates Sir Bradley
King and his followers revolted at the idea of enrolling in
the list of their freemen an advocate for the freedom of
their Catholic fellow-countrymen. The effort has there-
fore failed. It is an effort, however, which if successful,
would have clone honour to those who made it, and which
though unsuccessful, cannot disgrace them. Under such
circumstances the polite attentions of the Chief Magistrate
of the city is doubly valuable, and it is hut justice to him
to add, that his conduct in this instance is but of a piece
with the Mel, ormlence and integrity which bare marked
his career in office. Accompanied by his Lordship and by
Messrs. North and Didierty, Mr. Canning visited first the
Post-office. The external appearance of the building
pleased him, tut its internal arrangements did not attract
his particular attieition. From thence he went to the
Custom House. As soon as he entered the long-
room of that spacious building, the signal of his ar-
rival was communicated to the several offices, and the
clerks poured fourth and surrounded him, from whose
tumultuous pressure he was obliged to escape by a
grecipitate retreat. Indeed nothing can exceed the anxiety
that prevails to see him, or the general respect with which
he is everywhere received. The most important visit of
yesterday which he paid was that to the Kildare-street In-
stitution, which has for the last eight or ten years obtained
a grant of eleven thousand pounds from Parliamynt, from
the misapprepriation of which money, in great measure,
has sprung the recent Commission which has been issued
for inquiring into the state of education in Ireland. Seve-
ral charges of proselytism had been made and proved by
the Catholics against this Association, although it set out
on the declaratory principle of not interfering with the
religious opinions of the children whom it instructed. It
has been consequently regarded with suspicion and distrust
by the Catholic portion of the community, and abuses
which it sanctioned have been a frequent towed' complaint
during the last and preceding Srssion of Parliament. It
holds an annual meeting, at which an annual defence
of its principles and practice is made by Messrs. North
and Jackson, the Secretaries. It would seem a little
ominous against Mr. Canning's being made fairly ac-
quainted welt the state of Ireland, that these Gentlemen
were the very persons who yesterday were selected to spew
him the Institution, and explain to him the mode of edu-
cation adopted in its schools. Mr. Canning expressed him-
self extremely pleased with the system, or rather with what
those Gentlemen described the system to be. Several of
the pupils were examined before the Right lion. Secre-
tary. lie was particularly taken with a boy of about
eleven or twelve years of agee, who solved several questions
in arithmetic, and other scholastic exercises, with remark-
able rapidity and accuracy. He asked the ages of the chil-
dren who were examined, and appeared altogether to take
great interest in this Institution, and to express himself in
terms of more unqualified commendation respecting it than
any other public Institution which he has visited. But this
is only looking at " the sunny side of the picture." There
are talcs told of this society waich would place it in a far
less favourable point of view before him than that in
which it appt area yesterday.
Mr. Canning dines to-day with the Lord Li utenant,
where a select party, amongst whom are the Attorney-Ges
meal and Mr. Spring Rice, have been invited to meet him.
On Monday lie dines with the Attorney-General, and in-
tends to devote the afternoon of that day to the inspection
of the public buildings he has not yet visited. Unless the
Kin" of France's death, or some political event, obliges
his departure, it is c spected he will prolong his sojourn
for a week or ten days.
Mr. Canning has not been in Dublin till now since lie was
IS yeais of age; amid the improvements and alterations
which have been made in the city during that interval,
have excited his surprise and admiration. Several eccle-
siastical dignitaries, and other persons of distinction have
been at the Viceregal Lodge, to pay their respects to the
Right Eon. S. cretary.