The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-25 00:00:00

entnu

LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1845

Some of the French journals, and especially those in favour
of repeal, seem to regard as an important fact the protest
signed by a number of the Catholic Bishops against the Irish
Colleges Bill. The ground for this protest is alleged to be
the want of any theological, or, as it has been also

called, religious education in these establishments,
and the Prelates consider this defect so important as to ins.,
tify them in rendering every opposition to a measure which

most other people rogard as a great boon to the sister coun-
try. In our opinion, the Bill will, nevertheless, work well;
it observes strict impartiality with respect to diffe-

rent principles of belief. Tad any other scheme been
adopted, had the Government been so mad as to listen to the
denunciations of Mr. O'CONNELL and Sir ROBERT Nous
education could not have been carried on—there must have
been a perpetual war of opinions, expressed in lectures, or,
sermons, or harangues; one class would have been fighting
against another, and, instead of reconciling the discordant
elements of belief, or allowing them to remain
in peace, the respective professors would have had the most
of their time occupied in directing polemical discussion, and
urging one sect against another. It is rare that religious
sects listen to reason, still snore rare that conviction
follows disputation, for we believe there is not
one instance on record; and these colleges, in
place of being the means of smoothing down asperities,
weakening prejudices, and inculcating brotherly affection be-
tween Protestant and Catholic pupils, would have become a
perfect Babel, and the greatest curse that could have been in-
flicted on Ireland. But, even supposing that the protesting
Bishops had another plan in view, that impassable barriers,
were to be established between the two sects, and that no,
communication whatever was to take place between youths,
who in after life would be eligible, with a few exceptions,'
to all offices and appointments in the State, the'
army, and the navy, would the evil be diminished ?
Quite the contrary. There would still be an Irish, and an
English, or Saxon, or Orange party, and additional incite-
ment would be given to the outcry against England, and the
separation of the two countries. We can easily conceive,
therefore, why the Goverment plan is obnoxious
to the repealers. Its object is the amainamation
of all classes of her MAJESTY'S subjects, independent of the
blessings conferred by a liberal system of education. We
regard, therefore, as a happy event the complete neutrality
of the Government on this question, and the satisfaction is
enhanced by the wise and liberal conduct of
the more influential of the Catholic Prelates. Not
fewer 'than nine of that body have declared their com-
plete adherence to the measure, and we have only to mention
their names to show their respectability and learning. They
are Dr. CROLLY, the Primate; Dr. MURRAY, Archbishop
of Dublin, and the following Bishops :—Dr. RYAN,
Dr. MURPHY, Dr. DEMUR, Dr. Bnowis% Dr. KEN-
NEDY, Dr. HEALY, and Dr. M‘Lousautm. These Bishops
are among those most esteemed in Ireland, and we perfectly
agree with the Evening Mail in thinking that " the quality
of names is sometimes as important as their number." Thefol-
lowing remarks in the same journal, however, are of a
more doubtful character :—" On the whole, this pro-
ceeding changes nothing of the position taken up by the
Roman Catholic hierarchy while the measure was yet but in
embryo. It is but a further specimen of the ambidextrous ,
policy perpetually carried on by the Church of Rome
in Ireland, that of making every question connected with
the Papal interests a two-handled one, to be taken up,
on either side, as might best suit the occasion or expe-
diency of the times. Neither does it in the least elucidate
the mystery connected with the expressions assigned to Mr.
WYSE, to the effect that many of those prelates who, in
public, were most clamorous against the Bill, were amongst
the most ardent of those who, in private, urged him to per-
severe in the measure, and secure its completion." One part
of this paragraph contains a most grievous charge, and, if
founded on fact, would be of the first importance, as it
would neutralise all the open efforts of certain Bishops
against the Bill.

We have intelligence from Madrid to the 17th inst. The
city was perfectly tranquil, and the members of the Cabinet
had reconciled all their differences. NABVAEZ was still in-
disposed, though able to attend to business. It was under-
stood that the Chambers would not be convoked before the
end of the year. The Eco del Comercio states that several
arrests had been made lately, and among other persons
DOMINGO BELO, formerly Deputy for Granada, who had been
confined in the barracks at Madrid.

No business was done on the Bourse on the 17th, but
there were sonic private transactions in the Three per Cents.,
at 32% cash. Exhange on London, 373/4.

The Paris Conservative journals boast, and with good
reason, that Conservatism is daily gaining ground in France,
and instance the late elections as a proof. For nearly all the
places left vacant by the late promotions of Deputies to the
Chambers, Ministerial candidates have been returned. The
Opposition appear to be utterly powerless, caused in some
measure, as has been the case in this country, by dividing
their strength, and thereby playing into the hands of the
Government. Generally, however, the number of votes for
the Legitimatist candidate and those of the Left did not to-
gether equal those given to the successful candidate. The
Messager gives the following returns of Members in place of
those raised to the Peerage by the last royal decree :—For
Rochefort, Colonel DUMAS, Conservative, who had 269 votes.
There were two Opposition candidates, M. ROY-BRY, who
had 92 votes, and M. RENOU DR BALLON, who had 93.
For Blois, M. BERGEVIN, Conservative ; he had 537 votes.
The Prince DR CHALAIS, the Legitimatist candidate, had 206,
and M. LEROY, the candidates of the Opposition of the Left,
116. For Coutances, M. QUESNAULT had 263 votes ;M.
LEMENGUONET, Legitimatist,l62 ; M. MOSSELMAN, Opposition
of the Left, 53. For Issoire (Puy de Dome), M.
MouLar, Conservative, without opposition. On this
victory the Journal des Debats of Tuesday makes
the following remarks :—" The result of the elections of the
20th have reached us to-day. The Conservatives have every-
where been returned by large majorities. The boasting of
the Opposition had almost alarmed us. We confess our
weakness ; and still we ought to have had more confidence in
the good sense and patriotism of the electors. Our readers
may recollect that the Liberals and Legitimatists had pro-
mised to unite their suffrages at the second poll; unfortu-
nately, there was no occasion for a second poll, the Conser-
vative candidates having obtained more than the majority
required. At Vendome alone, another ballot will be neces-
sary, but there the Opposition has not the slightest chance of
success, the contest being between three candidates of the
Conservative party. In future our opponents will act wisely
in not awaiting the second ballot to give us the edifying
spectacle of their alliance."
On Sunday the KING, attended by General GOURGAUD, M.
Dusiorr, and M. CHEFFONTAINE, walked in the park at Eu
for about an hour, between twelve and two o'clock, and at
three took a drive to Treport, accompanied by General
GOURGAUD, Colonel DUMAS, the Marquis DR STRADA, and
two orderly officers, returning to the Palace at half-past four.
The Duke and Duchess of NEMOURS left Paris yesterday
for Eu.

The following are the only other extracts of interest in the
papers :

The Clot. du 111144 says, Don Carlos and his consort IaATS at