The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-14 00:00:00

LIGHT GOLD.

Mr. HUME inquired if it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to appoint a place where the public could exchange
light gold ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that
he was not proi'ared to adopt the suggestion of the Hon.
Aleinber for Montrose.
ACADENIIC AL INSTITUTIONS.—(IRELAND.)
. . •. .

On the question being put for the House going into Com-
mittee upon thegrant for the Academical Institutions (Ireland),
Sir J. GRAHAM was understood to say that on Monday
nest he should take occasion to lay on the table of the House
certain proposition. relative to the mode of effecting and appor-
tioning the funds necessary for the sapport of those colleges.
Sir R. INGLIS, while intending to oppose every proposition
likely to further a measure he regarded with such distrust,
would not object to any arrangement conducive to the con-
vknienee of the House.

Me. W. SMITH O'BRIEN obser red that he did not rise to
offer any opposition to the measure then before the House, but
wished to address a few words on a question regarded with such
interest by the Irish people, for lie believed he was safe in un-
dertaking to represent the feelings and the wishes of the
people of Ireland on that subject. The Irish people consi-
dered the subject of academical education one well worthy the
attention of the Legislature, and they were unanimous in think-
ing that a portion of the Irish revenue—(such was the expres-
sion of the Hon. Member)—should be applied to the endow-
went of those institutions, but a difference of opinion existed
as to whether those institutions should he founded on a system
of milted or of separate education. But at the same time he
was justified in saying, though himself art advocate for mixed
education, that those favourable to separate education
would not be content with the Bill brought forward by the
Government. unless certain modifications were introduced in
ieontaining the recommendations in the memorial of the
Catholic Bishops of Ireland. Upon one point the public opi-
nion of Ireland was unanimous—that some provision for the
religions instrnetion of the students ought to be made in this
Bill. The clergy of all denominations in Ireland were agreed
upon this head.—( Hear. hear.) By the course which the
Right Hon. Gentleman pursued—not letting the public know
what amendments be idtended to introduce—the Irish people
would, in the interim, have no opportunity of expressing their
opinion regarding He would venture to forewarn the
Government, aid teelilLth em that if they did not introduce
amendmenta satisfactory to the Irish clergy, their Bill must
He th
become "
ht a deed letter," and its objects be entirely frustrated.
oug the Government should have consulted the Roman
Catholic clergy, and that, by not doing so, they were guilty of
disrespect towards that yen-rated body. He thought he ex-
pressed the °pinion of thelaityof Ireland when he objected to
the I Otti obtuse of the Bill, which3naeted that those professors
Bilotti(' be appointed by the
heard any one express an opinion faovveernamhleentt; the' eel ahuasde ans not
nwas the intention of
now stood. Many were of opinion thati
make those
the Government, by engrossing the patriot
institutions a job. He need not tell the Right to;
man that the Government. did not
the Irish people, who, after centui les of Governmthe
ent tof
pos;egs
pion. Gentle_
were naturally ,jealous of Government patronage,in" 'land
suspicious of those whom the Government appointed.
He should very seriously object to entrusting these powers to
the Government. And if he were to he asked why he
should object in this way, he would reply by pointing at the
way in which the members of the present Government had
acted towards the Government of the Marquis of Normanby.
The Government had not hesitated to use unscrupulously the
power which they then possoved of thwarting the measures
wh;ch had been proposed by their pre.deee,,sors, and the
powers which they bad used he should elann for himself. This
measure was calculated to bear very largely on the intellect
of the country, and he should therefore be very careful how he
gave his assent to so important a principle. lie had been
&member of the Committee by which the resolutions were