The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-31 00:00:00

eAreninc

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1845.

The House of Lords met at five o'clock.

The whole of the evening was occupied in the presen
tation of petitions on the subject of the Maynooth Bill.

The Cotton Print Works Bill (after a few observa-
tions in opposition to the principle of the measure from
Lord BROUGHAM) passed through Committee.
On the motion for the second reading of the Post-.
office Regulation Bill,
The Earl of RAnxon expressed his entire concurrence
in the measure.

The House was subsequently addressed by
several Noble Lords, and ultimately the second reading
of the Bill was negatived by a majority of 46.

The House of Commons met at four o'clock.

The debate on the question of privilege, involved in
the case of " Howard v. Gossett " was renewed, and
again adjourned.
The order of the day for the second reading of the
Academical Institutions (Ireland) Bill was then read.

Lord JOHN MANNERS moved that the Bill be read
a second time that day six months.

A long debate ensued upon this proposition, but
ultimately the debate was adjourned till Monday
evening; and the other orders of the day having been
disposed of,
The House adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock.

The course pursued by Mr. O'CONNELL, and we
regret to say also by the Catholic prelates of Ireland,
shows, to use the mildest terms, a great lack of judg-
ment. The propositions of the deputation which waited
On Lord HEYTESBURY appeared to us totally
inadmissible, and were at such ♦ariance with
the essential principles of the Bill, that it
would have been more prudent, more straight-
forward, and more fair for all parties, if the pre-
lates had manfully rejected every clause. To make any
system of education, in these days, exclusive, is an utter
absurdity. The united voice of the country is calling
out for the abolition of tests, for more liberal institu-
tions tha❑ those established in the dark ages of intole-
rance, for an amalgamation, as far as education
is concerned, of the youth of all parties, and for abolish-
ing those sectional religious differences which have
inundated Christendom with blood, and rendered the
followers? of the Great Founder of our faith objects of
hatred and abomination to believers in every other creed.
Yet, in the nineteenth century, it is seriously
proposed to establish colleges, the great object of which
is not to furnish useful instruction, to prepare young
men for making themselves good members of society,
and to wear off the rough and unseemly edges of reli-
gious dogmas, but to maintain the old worn-out, abro-
gated, and wicked.system of the very worst periods of
the Christian church. According to these doctors of
divinity, a Roman Catholic University should be esta-
blished in the south of Ireland, a Presbyterian Univer-
sity in the north ; Trinity College is to remain as it is,
half Protestant and half Catholic; the Universities of Ox-
ford arid Cambridge are to be closed against all but the
true believers in the Thirty-nine Articles and the Atha-
nasian Creed—even the Liberal men of Scotland,
including the most celebrated teachers at the five
universities, are not to have their own way, but
must bar their college-gates against Catholics, Pro-
testant Episcopalians, Wesleyans, Independents, Ana-
baptists, and every other sect or shade of a sect, that
does not give implicit credence to the Confession of
Faith. The Irish Prelates must consider the Members
of the Legislature, nay, the whole population who pay
taxes, stark mad, if they believe for a moment that
such a dangerous scheme would be received on this side
of St. Ge orge's Channel with any other feelings but
those of determined resistance and unqualified reproba-
tion. If Catholic France will not give such a
power to her own Church—if the all but una-
nimous voice of the Legislature, in which the
Court of Lours PHILIPPE fully concurs, will
support to their full extent the privilpgps of tbo ITnircr
say, and resist the grasping, insidious claims of the
Church and the Society of Jesuits—what madness to
suppose that Protestant England will be less
jealous of a Roman Catholic hierarchy and
of meddling priests ! Even in England national
schools cannot be established on such principles,
the small instruction afforded in factories must not be
controlled by Protestant bishops, as the " strong" Go-
vernment found to its cost ; and the Universities of
bigoted Scotland (we use the term supplied by Catho-
lics) are preparing the way for abolishing all religious
tests, and admitting the best teachers without material
restrictions. The clergy of that country had no fear for
the morality or faith of the young men committed to
their charge, and experience has, in the most
triumphant manner, vindicated their generous and liberal
confidence. Such a fact does the highest honour
to the country, and shows that the people have realised
one of the great principles, perhaps the greatest, of the
Reformation, and adopt their faith, not from clergymen
or the dictates of human wisdom, but learn the truth from
that sacred volume which Scotland, by one unanimous
shout, resolved should be opened for the conversion and
edification of all. The Jesuits teach a different dee
trine, but that doctrine now is exploded by every Go-
vernment except the miserable, contemptible, and bigoted
Council of Lucerne, where the Church, as it was in the
dark ages, is still worshipped as the Goddess of Fortune.
" —Sed to
Nos facimus, Fortuna, Deam, eceloque locamus."
The Catholic prelates must, therefore, not be disap-
pointed at the decision delivered by the Government
last evening. The Bill cannot be materially altered,
and if the Ministry pursue this wise course they will
prevail. "Be just, and fear not."

According to accounts from Lucerne, the Grand Council
of;the canton had ordered Dr. STEIGER to be placed in a
dungeon of the Kissitcharm, 50 feet under ground, from an
apprehension that au attempt would be made to rescue the
unhappy prisoner. If these unfeeling despots were paid by
MErrEa.NICII to render republicanism not only contemptible
but abhorred, they could not serve his purpose better. It is
said that this deep politician denounces their cruel disposi-
tion, and refuses his Baud= to the imprisonment of STEIGER
for life.

The Madrid journals of the 23d are chiefly filled with ac-
counts of the formal proceedings which took place at the pro-
rogation of the Cortes. The QUEEN closed the session in
person, with the following speech:—
" Senators and Deputies,

" All the hopes which I had conceived in seeing you assembled
round my throne at the opening of the present session have been
fully realised. In the space of a few months, thanks to your
praiseworthy perseverance and zeal, you have terminated a great
number of important labours, which in other days would have been
sufficient to have absorbed the whole time of the Cortes. Your
first work has been the reform of the Constitution—a reform
brought about after a wise and deliberate discussion, and which
has been welcomed by the nation with that respect and confidence
which it so well merits. To facilitate its execution, in establishing
the necessary agreement with organic laws, you have authorised
my Government in a competent manner, for recent experience had
shown that it was not easy to do it by a shorter course. lam con.
fident that the laws passed by my Government, in virtue of the
authorisation of the Cortes, will give no reason to repent the con-
fidence reposed in it. I thank you sincerely for the liberality you
have shown in your provision for my royal house, and for all my
august family, which has received so many testimonies of your
fidelity and of your noble loyalty.
" Among the numerous and important laws which have ob.
tained your approbation, either to accomplish solemn treaties, or to
improve different branches of the public service, the law relative
to the provisional dotation of the clergy merits my particular atten-
tion, as well as the important measure of the restitution to the
clergy of the property unsold. In this you have given a further
proof of your spirit of reparation in securing solemnly the inte,
rests and the rights created under the protecting shadow of the
laws, which will never be disturbed at any period, or under any
pretext. To put a glorious termination to your labours, you have
examined with particular care the budget of the State, and fixed
the expenses required for the public service. My Ministers have
devoted themselves with zeal to this arduous duty, deeply con-
vinced that without establishing the order and harmony necessary
between the finances and the different branches of the Govern..
meet, it would be impossible for the tranquillity and welfare of the
country to be based on a solid and staple basis.
My Government greatly appreciates the value of the autho_
risation which you have given it for the regulation of the public
debt. In a matter so delicate, it will have no other guide than
the principles of equity and justice; it will lighten as much as
possible the charges which weigh on the State
in • but it will, at the
y
same time, abstain from taking any steps which may wound the
theintereslithseorftythteonlaotyieaint. Uniting in your discussions
hthoenomur eostr
extended
dste,rteudtioanssiagtntallesesravmicee ttoiratehethcoautnytroy:,have
and honour, you have ren-
dered
strength to its in-
shteo od
great t
onvekc eso.f
city of supporting the Government, by joiningeunderstood
ind ert
the re-establishment of order and the salutary influence of th
and in avoiding dangerous reactions. e aw,
" Thanks to your conduct, not less skilful than prudent,
Government has been happily able to continue the workC my
cons_
menced, and the progress which is manifested in the nation is
presage of that happy futurity of which it is so deserving.
" If, with the help of Divine Providence, this happy prognostic,
which is so agreeable to my heart Is accomplished, this success will
be in
,a great measure due to you, gentlemen, who at the eons.