The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-25 00:00:00

THE IRISH STATE PRISONERS.

Mr. ANS rEY put a question to the Under Secretary
of State for the Colonies, whether the State prisoner
Mr. MacManus was not discharged from the custody of
Sir William Denison's commancant at Port Arthur by
a solemn order of the Supreme Court of Van DieMen'll
Land declaring such custody to be illegal; whether the
said State prisoner, atter having, in consequence of such
order,with the connivance of Government, quitted Haber-
ton, and returned to his own house at Launceston, has not
been again arrested by Sir William Denison upon the
same charge on which his Excellency had caused hint
to be placed in such custody ; whether it is true that
he was, upon such his second arrest, brought all the way
back from Launceston to Hobarton, a distance of 120
miles, on foot ; and whether ho was not, at the date of
the last advices, suffering from a fever occasioned by
such treatment ?
Mr. HAWES said that it was quite true that Mr.
MacManus having applied to the supreme Court for a
writ of habeas corpus, and the return to that court being
deemed insufficient, he was discharged from custody.
To the rest of the question of the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman he could give no answer, not having yet re-
ceived sufficient information.
The Chief Justices' Salaries Bill was introduced and
read a first time.
UNIVERSITIES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Sir G. CLERK presented a petition from the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland strongly objecting
to the provisions of this Bill.
Mr. E. ELLICE, jun., presented a petition from the
Provost and Corporation of St. Andrews in favour of the
Bill.
Mr. COWAN moved the second reading of the Bill.
The Hon. Gentleman commenced by describing the
difference between the English lied Scotch university
system. The universities in Scotland were far from
assuming the ecclesiastical character which they pos-
sessed in England; they were not so dependent on the
national Church, for all the chairs of professors might
be held by laymen except the chair of divinity. The tests
which had formerly been created bad been for the purpose
of keeping out of the professors' chairs Prelatiets and
Papists, who were hostile to the Hanoverian succession.
lii the present day these tests were but of little use, and
it was well known that several of the professors' chairs
were occupied by Episcopalians, with great credit to
themselves he would allow. The simple object of the
Bill was to throw open these chairs de jure as well as
de facto to all classes of Dissenters. From the best in-
formation he had been able to obtain, no test whatever
had been required for the last twenty years in the Uni-
versity of Scotland, and this ho thought was a Teri
strong argument for the repeal of the tests. He con-
cluded by moving the second reading of the Bill.
Mr. LOCKHART considered that the measure was
calculated to destroy the religious and Protestant cha-
racter of the Scotch Universities. There bad been no
public demonstration in the country to justify the House
in taking so important a step as the abolition of university
tests, which had already worked so well. All the univer-
sities in Scotland bore a high character, and religious
dissension had never entered within their walls. The
Bill was, in fact, in direct opposition to the oath taken
by her Majesty, that she would maintain the established
Church in Scotland with all its rights and privileges for
all time to come. He moved that the Bill be read a
second time this day six months.
Mr. EWART said it was quite competent for the
House to pass a measure to amend or alter the Act of
Union. The Hon. Member had said that the Bill would
violate the principles of Protestantism; be (Mr.
Swart.), however, thought that religious freedom
was the best promoter of the Protestant faith.
The Bill was quite in accordance with the religious feel-
ing of the country, and congenial with the enlightened
views of the people, and he had therefore great pleasure
in supporting the second reading.
Sir GEORGE GREY said the opinions which he
entertained in regard to the principle of the
Bill remained unaltered, and if the Honourable
Member went to a division he should feel
bound to give it his support. His Right Hon. Friend
the Secretary at War hud stated in the House that it
was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill
of the samo kind, but that be did nut think it expedient
to do so this session. He (Sir George Grey) very much
doubted the policy of the Hon. Member pressing the
House to a division on the present occasion.
There was no probability of success, and looking
at the appearance of the House, it did not seem that the
question had excited much interest among the Scotch
Members. He was, however, of opinion that however ne-
cessary these tests might have beeu, the occasion for their
institution had long since passed away, and it was not con-
ducive to the advantage or interest of the universities that
they should be maintained. If enforced, the effect would
be to exclude from the chairs of universities many emi-
nent men. The universities themselves had the good
sense to avoid such a result by practically putting these
tests into abeyance. As there was, however,
pro-
spect of the Bill passing this session, he trusted that the
Lion. Member would withdraw his motion. and Mr..
After a few words from Mr. E. ELLICE, jun.,
A. lIASTIE, little /
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading ..• •• 65
" 66
Against it ... •••
Majority against ... •••
The announcement of the numbers was received with
loud laughter.