The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS. April 20.
THE MAYNOOTH GRANT.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE rose to put a
question to the Noble Earl at the head of her Majesty's
Government as to his intention relative to any future
grant to Maynooth. After ring, into the history of
the original endowment, the Noble :Marquis said that
the answer given by the Noble Earl opposite to the
question put by a Noble Lord not now present (Albe-
marle), had been materially disturbed by the speech of
the Solicitor-General (Sir F. Icily), delivered only a
few days ago, in which that Learned Gentleman stated
that he was ready to concur with the Government,
of which he was a Member, in any step to put an end to
the College of Maynootb, if such a step should
be found necessary upon inquiry, and if the existing
contract and engagements could be got rid of with
honour. With regard to any inquiry', no notice of any
intention of moving for a Committee on the subject had
le:en given by the Government in either House. There
certainly was a notice of motion for a Committee on the
subject standing on the order-book of the limo
of Commons, in the name of Mr. Spooner, but
the proposed object of that Committee was
not to inquire into the existing contracts and engage-
ments with the College of Maynooth, but to inquire into
the nature of the education given at that college. That
was a motion which when made by a Noble Earl
(Riden) not now present. in 1845, the Noble Earl,
uow at the head of her Majesty's Government, had op-
posed. This was a subject of such great importance
that the Government ought not to leave this country and
Ireland in the dark as to their real intentions ; and if
they had any intention of making an alteration in the
present settlement of the question, it was not on the
hustings but before Parliament that they ought to
deliver them.
'fhe Earl of DERBY said that he thought that the
difficulties of tnaintaluing the endowment to May nooth
to which he had alluded on a previous occasion, would be
greatly increased by the apeech of the Noble
Merquis. The Noble Marquis had more
leisure than he had to rea t newspaper re
ports, but he must protest against her Majesty
Government being made responsible for any newspaper
reports of any speech whatever upon the hustings; and'
sell more for the accuracy of any comments which the
Noble Marquis might make upon that report.
From what he c Aid learn from the Noble Mar-
quis of the speech in question, the Solicitor-
General appeared to be of opinion that the set-
tlement of the Maynooth question in 1845 had not pro-
duced all the good effects which had been anti-
cipated from it. In that particular point he
could only say that the Solicitor-General shared
the feeling of a large number of people
He quite agreed with the Noble Marquis that any in-
tention of any alteration ought to be proclaimed before
Parliament, and not on the hustiogs, and he could only
repeat his former statement that her Majesty's Govern-
ment had no present intention of making any
alteration in the present grant to Maynooth;
but should circumstances arise to make any such alter-
ation necessary, ample notice would be given in both
Houses, and the Noble Marquis would have fall oppor-
tunity of taking any steps which he might think neces-
sary for the purpose of opposing it.
Earl GREY thought that his Noble Friend 'was en-
titled to a distinct answer to the question which he had
put relative to a most important matter. The Noble
Earl opposite was a Member of the Government which
had brought forward the Bill of 1845, and in that House
had appealed to their Lordships, as statesmen and as
Christians, not to reject that Bill. If there was a respon-
sibility in rejecting the measure when introduced, surely
the responsibility was greater of rej.,cting it of er it had
been the law of the land for seven years. The Noble
Earl had stated that the Government had no present
intention of proposing an alteration, and had laid great
titres.; ou the word "present." Now he did not ask
the Noble Earl to pledge himself never to repeal the
Act of 1845; but he thought he had a right to ask
the Noble Earl whether the views which he expressed
on the question in 1845 were now altered. Upon tha
point their Lordships were entitled ti an explicit de-
claration. Reference had been made to a speech of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of the prin-
ciple which ought to guide Parliamentary government.
Without saying that the Right Hon. Gentleman was
right is the application which he had made of those
principles, he must say that the Right Hon. Gentleman
had stated them with singular ability,-and, abstractedly
considered, with singular correctness. Their Lordships
were all aware of the efforts now making to excite the
feelings of the electors on the Maynooth question. Go-
vernment were not juitified in adding to and stimulating
the agitation going
on among the different religious
bbdies by refusing to express their views on the question
which was exciting them. The Noble Esti was mis-
taken in supposing that his Noble Friend who had asked
the question had gone the length of giving up altogether
the ground of good faith and adherence to a contract,
expressed or implied, as a reason for continuing the
grant. There was certainly an implied promise that
the college would not be allowed to be put down.
He hoped the 'Government were not going to adopt
the same course on this subject as they had on the
question of a duty on foreign corn. He hoped they were
not going to avoid the responsibility of expressing a de-
cided opinion on the subject, and that they were not
going to allow officials connected with the Government
to go fishing for a few anti-Catholic votes, while they
themselves avoided committing themselves on the ques-
tion. Such a position would be a most unworthy one
for the Government to stand in, and before the conversa-
tion ended, he hoped the Noble Earl would give them
some clear explanation on the subject.
The Mar I
qu's of CLANRICARDE wished to know
whether there was to be an inquiry on the subject?
The Earl of DERBY—AII I said was, that the con-
struction ti be put on the speech of the Solicitor Gene-
ral was, that an inquirybe moved for, not by
Government, but by a private Member.
Earl GREY—Dues the Noble Earl adhere to the
epinions he expressed in 1845?
The Earl of DERBY—I do not think the question is
one which the Noble Earl has a right to ask or any
other person.—(Cbeers ) I can only say that I have
been greatly d' • isaepotnted with the results of the mea-
sure of 1845—(Renewed cheers.)
The Earl of MINTO—The Noble Earl has said that
)to
had no intention, as at present advised, to alter the
arrangement with respect to Maynooth. Supposing that
the Noble Earl spoke for himself, I should like to know
whether, in the event of such a proposal coming from
quarter, some other
the Noble Earl will be prepared on
the part of the Government to resist it? ives no tic
The Earl of
DERBY—If the Noble Earl g 415 e
il
of an intention to move for the repeal of the Act of 18 ,
I will be
prepared to state the course which Government
would pursue.—(Cheers and laughter.)
The Earl of HARROWBY said he might ask the
Noble Earl (Earl of Minty) if he entertained the
amt,_ opinion,, now which ho did itt 1145 Peet
(10000 Its 11'4E 41910 C If figr