The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-10 00:00:00

THE IRISH ACADEMIES'. BILL.

YKOSI TILE 7.1011N1N0 PAPERS OF Tills DAY.
TIMES.—The new academical institutions aunounced for Ire-
land are too thoroughly in accordance with the precedents of the
last few years to excite any surprise, or, we should think, to meet
with any effectual opposition. It appears to be a settled point,
which the Whigs have fought for, and the Conservatives have
yielded, that whatever the State does for the education of the laity,
shad be without respect of religious differences. Session after
session, and almost week atter week, seems to remove further trona
our eyes that once common spectacle of a British statesman willing
at all events to contend for this point. Existing institutions may
run out their time, be it for years or centuries. But the rulers
and legislators of the British e►r.pire no longer avow themselves
competent to found new colleges and schools of general learning
on the :exclusive principles of Wykeharn and Waynfieete, of
Wolacy, of Usher, or of Laud. The pledge which last year re-
joiced the heart of Mr. Wyse could not be redeemed with any plan
that preferred religious unity to literary and scientific improvement.
HER A LD.—Sir James Graham last night explained at length the
proposed plan of academical education for Ireland. The plan is, almost
to the letter, that which we have more than once arost earnestly
recommended. We can, therefore, give it our unqualified appro.
bation, without incurring the suspicion of merely flattering a
Ministerial proposition.
ADVERTISER.—Sir James Graham last night brought for'
ward the Government plan for academical education in Ireland. The
plan is simple, and has the great recommendation of being free from
sectarianism. It appeared to give the greatest satisfaction to the
House, as it will, we doubt not, to the country. Ignorance is one
of the greatest of Ireland's evils, and the education of her people
will go farther to ameliorate their condition than any course of
political legislation which could have been devised.
CHRONlCLE.—Notwithstanding the general approbation with
which the statement of Sir James Graham was received ly the
House of Commons last night, we cannot anticipate any very brit-
liant success for his scheme, either as a measure of conciliation or a
measure of educational improvement. He refuses positively to
open to Roman Catholics the higher advantages of that University
which must always take rank in Ireland above every ether, and
which will continue, let Parliament do as it may, to form the
minds and opinions of the bulk of the educated class, Ile refuses,
therefore, to adopt the only means of placing Roman Catholics and
Protestants really upon a par in the matter of education. lie
may do sonic positive good by the establishment of provincial
colleges, if the hostility of the Roman Catholic clergy does not
prevent their establishment; but the good, at the utmost, will
bear no sort of proportion to the evil inflicted upon society in Ire.
land by the continuance of the exclusive system of Trinity College.
We are ready to give the Government credit for good intentions in
the matter, although not for the statesmanlike boldness which the
case required, and we would not give a particle of encouragement
to the clerical opposition with which they are likely to be met
but if the resolution to resist alteration in Trinity College be per.
slated in, we really think it will become a question whether the Bill
proposed will, upon the whole, attain any of the great objects of an
academical reform.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
FRIDAY, MAY 9.

The following Bills were presented and read a first time :
Great Western Railway (Ireland) (Dublin to Blullingar
and Athlone).
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (Worcester Deviation).
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (Wolverhampton Line).
Whitehaven and Furness Junction -Railway.
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (Gloucester Exten-
sions, Stoke Branch and 31idland Railways Junction).

The following Bills were reported, and the report referred
to the Select Committeo on Standing Orders:—
North Wales Railway.
Eastern Counties Railway (Cambridge and Bury St. Ed-
mund's Extension)•

The following Bills were read a second time, and committed
and referred to the Committee of Selection ;
Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway.
London and Brighton Railway (nor6llarn Branch),
Guildford Junction Railway.