The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-12 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Sept. 11.
The subject of University education, which has
such an important bearing upon the future of this
country, is again brought to the surface by the
publication of an able report of the president of the
Queen's College, Galway. Mr. Berwick is not
content with merely furnishing a series of tabular
statements as to the condition of the College, in
which dry details are given with the precision of a
bookkeeper's account, but he entersinto a discussion
of the great principles involved in the controversy
between the advocates of unsectarian freedom on the
one hand and denominational exclusiveness on the
other. He applies these principles to the facts which
be reports, and deduces from them the inference
that the united system is not only the best in theory,
but is proved by experience to be the most in accord-
ance with the feelings of the people, who have sup-
ported it amid great difficulties. Ile earnestly de-
precates any change of policy, and enforces his ar-
gument by pointing to the temporary check recently
given to the progress of the Colleges, and attribut-
ing the injurious effect to the apprehension enter-
tained that the principle of their constitution was
about to be enfringed by the proposed new charter.
The statistics which he gives are highly interesting.
He states that in the 15 years that elapsed from
the opening of the Colleges to the adoption by the
late Government of the new policy, 3,330 students
entered and attended lectures. Of these 957 were
Episcopalians, 938 Roman Catholics, 1,197 Presby-
terians, 58 Wesleyans, 18 Independents, and 162
of other denominations. It appears from the
calendar of the Qieen's University, which has been

carefully revised, that the total number of students
was even greater, being 3,436, the denominational
proportions being probably the same. If this be
not united education, as he observes, it is difficult
to know what the term means. He mentions a
remarkable process of the harmonious operation
of the system—namely, that " among so many
students of so many religious persuasions
not a single discussion on the score of reli-
gious belief has ever occurred in any one of these
colleges, nor has the fiercest opponent of these insti-
tutions ever hinted a suspicion that the conscientious
opinions of any student have been wounded, far less
his religious opinions tampered with." Since the
intention of sectarianising the Queen's University
was adopted, in the short period of two years a
marked decrease has taken place in the entrances
and the attendance at lectures. These facts he re-
gards as evidence of the manifest wish of the laity
to support institutions free from all sectarian bias,
and of their emphatic disapproval of the new policy.
The mere suspicion that a change was to be intro-
duced has had a prejudicial effect on all the colleges,
but especially that of Galway. Notwithstanding the
peculiarly disadvantageous circumstances in which
it was placed—in a poor province almost destitute of
classical schools, and in a town whose population had
decreased from 23,787 in 1851 to about 15,000—the
Galway institution had been proportionately even
more successful than those of Belfast and Cork. The
number entering and attending lectures had trebled
in previous years, but in the session of 1865-66 the
entrance fell off in one year from 70 to 49, and the
attendance on lectures from 169 to 194. In the three
colleges there has been a marked decline in the same
period. In Belfast the attendance on lectures have
diminished from 405 in session 1864-65 to 38i in
session 1866-67 ; in Cork from 263 to 230 in the
same period, and in Galway from 169 to 135. In
the entrances the decline has been still more preci-
pitate—in Belfast from 135 to 105, in Cork from
90 to 76, and in Galway from 70 to 44. He com-
bats the assertion that the falling off is attributable
to the expected loss of a supposed monopoly. He
scows that the Queen's University possesses no ex-
clusive powers of conferring degrees, and that the
students of any educational establishment could
obtain them from the London University, without
the inconvenience of leaving their own halls to
be examined. Again, the diminution has not
been confined to any particular persuasion, but all
have retired from the colleges when threatened
with sectarian leaven. The decrease in the entrances
in two years has been in the following proportions :
—27 Episcopalians, 19 Roman Catholics, 27 Pres-
byterians, and two of other denominations—in all
75. In attendance on lectures it has been :-26
Episcopalians, 50 Roman Catholics, 18 Presbyte-
rians, 11 of other denominations—in all 105. He
adduces as a still more decisive refutation the state-
ment contained in the letter of the rector of the
Catholic University to Mr. Lowe, that the number
of students in residence during the last session was
152, whereas in his inaugural address in 1864-65
the same authority stated that 210 students had at-
tended lectures during the preceding year. A large
proportion, perhaps two-thirds, of the students
attending lectures in the Catholic Uuiversity, are,
he says, students of the Cecilia-street School of
Medicine, which is recognised by the Queen's
University, on the express ground that it is not
sectarian. He observes—
" Surely if any institution founded on sectarian
principles could obtain support it was that Univer-
sity. Presided over by men whose station, office,
abilities, and virtues must command respect, adorned
with a staff of professors who would do honour to
any University, possessing ample facilities for
obtaining University degrees, placed in the heart of
the metropolis, with the countless advasta.ges which
such a system implies—that metropolis containing
a population of which 200,000 are Roman Catholics
—have the numbers resorting to its teaching de-
monstrated on the part of the Catholic laity an
attachment or an aversion to denominational
education ?"

The annual shows of the agricultural societies o:

North Wexford, Tipperary, and Carlow were held
' yesterday. The first-named which was held in
Gorey, did not present as much evidence of progress
as might have been expected from the care bestowed
upon it by the local gentry. There was no increase
in the number of entries, compared with last year,
and no appreciable improvement in the quality
of the stock, which, however, is generally good in
this district. The farmers for whose benefit this
society has been established do not co-operate with
it as heartily as they ought. Another circumstance
which had a depressing effect upon the show was the
absence of the chief proprietor of the town. The

other societies were more successful in their shows.
In Tipperary the quality of the stock exhibited was
better than last year, especially in the farmers'
classes. There was an excellent display of sheep and
calves, affording proof that the farmers are availing
themselves of the inducements offered by the society
for improving the breeds of stock. In Carlow the
entries were not so numerous as in former years,
owing to the backward state of the harvest, which is
now engrossing attention, but the quality and con-
dition of the animals exhibited, especially by the
small farmers, were highly satisfactory. This society
has some points of special merit. It offers encou-
ragement for tillage as well as stock farming, and
endeavours to promote habits of neatness, which are
much required, by offering premiums for the best-
kept farms and cottages. The members dined toge-
ther last evening in the Club-house, Carlow—Mr.
Bruen, M.P., presiding.
_ _

A deputation from the harbour commissioners of
Belfast waited upon the Lord Lieutenant yesterday
for the purpose of inviting his Excellency to be pre-
sent at the opening of the new floating and graving
docks, which had been recently added to the sub-
stantial proofs of progressive prosperity of which
that enterprising town is justly proud. Mr. Lanyon
M.P., introduced the deputation, who were graci-
ously received by his Excellency, and October 21
was appointed for the ceremony. his Excellency
will meet with a reception worthy of the spirited
people of Belfast, who are anxious to testify that
they share the feelings of respect with which he is
regarded throughout the country. He will be enter-
tained by the commissioners at a grand banquet on
the evening of the ceremony, and on the following
evening will be the guest of the citizens.
Lord and Lady Russell and Lord William and
Lady Agatha Russell arrived in this city on Monday
evening, and proceeded yesterday morning to Kil-
larney.

Some waifs of renianism still attract momentary
attention. A *report was tvlezraphed from Derry