Star.
London, England, 1826-04-15 00:00:00

EDUCATION IN IREL IND.

Mr. J. SMITH presented a Petition from a great number of
the Catholic Population of Ireland, complaining of the state of edu-
cation. The Commissioners of Education recommended that Pro-
testants and Catholics should be educated together. The Catholics,
however, on consulting their Clergy, were not disposed to follow
the recommendation unconditionally. It was prayed by the Peti-
tioners, and he thought the requests an very reasonable ones, that in
every school where the children-of Catholic parents composed the
majority the Master should be a Catholic ; that when they wee!
the minority, there should be a Catholic Usher ; and that no books
should be forced upon them but such as their Clergymen approved.
No man regretted more sincerely than he did the prejudice of the
Catholics upon this subject; but as they had it, be thought it
fair that they should be indulged. What was the conduct
pursued in this respect in other countries? In France. by a
decree of Louis XVIII. it was expressly prohibited in the
public schools to put any book into the hands of a Jewish chid
which bad not received the approbation of the principal Rabbis.
Some of our own Missionary Societies also presented us with an
examplo well worthy of imitation. Their first object, when they
settled amongst any barbarous or uncultivated nation, W. 14 to in-
struct them in the arts of life, and having thus acquired a hold upon
their gratitude, they found_ the task of conversion comaaratively
easy. In like manner he would say, if you want to convert the
Irish, begin by acquiring a claim upon their gratitude. One wit-
ness examined by the Commissioners, to the question. whether pro-
selytism was any part of his object, replied by a &card negative;
but on being further questioned, he said that his object, and Ow
the Society, was to diffuse veritable Christianity. And it was then
quickly discovered that nothing could be more remote front hi• idea
of veritable Christianity than the Catholic faith. From a return of
the children receiving education in all the schools in Ireland. is
appeared that their whole number amounted to 569,000, that uf
these 431,000 were Catholics, and that of this great number of Ca-
tholics, no mere than 31,061 received benefit from public aid, aril
this is the people whose Pastors and Gentry have been described as
averse to education. lie hoped that Ministers who had acquired
so high a character for liberality, and he would ary justly acquired
it, would take this subject into their serious consideration, and afford
to the poor Catholics of Ireland the advantages of education upon
their own terms, and he hoped the Petition he was about to pre-
sent might not be ineffectual.

hlr. BUTTERWORTII objected to any compliance with the
prayer of the Petition, as the same reason for voting a sum of
money for the education of the Roman Catholics would equally
apply iu behalf of the disciples of Tom Paine. lie thought Par-
liament had no authority to grant the public money for the yurpo,e
of promoting education in the Catholic, or ally other religion which
was contrary to that of the State and of the Holy Scriptures. The
Priests had prevented the education of the poor of Ireland, by pre-
venting their attendance at schools where the Bible was read. But
why could not the Catholics of Ireland educate their own poor ?They
certainly could not complain of the want of money, since they had
found the means to contribute Li 000 a week to the Catholic Asso-
ciation. It they could raise such extensive funds for political pur-
poses, he thought it strange that they should come to this country
for means wherewith to perform the common offices of charity. It
no distinction was to be made between Protestant and Catholic in
this respect, the martyrs of the Reformation had suffered In vain.

Mr. W. SMITH considered the Reformation to have been the
sat uggle of truth-against error, and that the former had triumphed
in the triumph of the Protestant cause. But he was of opinion that
the people ought to be lefs to their own religious feelings, and that
the State should only Interfere with their actions. It was actually
necessary that the poor should have some sort of education, and be
wtiold rather they should be educated upon Catholic principles than
I not et all. It was a disgrace to this country generally, that for the
1 six hundred years during which we had held poises.ion of Ireland,
the people had, up to this moment, been left in deplorable ignorabce.
Mr. C. WILSON expressed himself favoureine to education
generally; but any system of education in Ireland, without the in-
troduction of the Holy Scriptures, should have his disapprobation.
Mr. BA NK ES most earnestly desired to see the Scriptures pro-
mulgated throughout Ireland. He wished to see the Bible in the
handsof the Irish peasant, and be denounced that linoleum spirit
by which it was endeavoured to be withheld.
Mr. TRENCH said the great enemies of education in Ireland
were the Priests and the enthusiasts. The Priests, who .kept the
people ingignuranee to preserve their own power, and the, Calms,
who by their unthinking interference, still more effectually accosa-
plished the object of the fowler class.
Jr. M. FITZGERALD (Knight of Kerry) nctributeti all the
rancour an 3 dkicord which exulted throughout inland to the

ellievous effects of a number of meddling sectarians, who had scat-
tered themselves over the country, and by their impolitic conduct,
created a general feeling of indignation among the population and
Priesthood.
The Petition Wl5 then brought up and read.
On the question that it do lie on the table,
Mr. J. SNJ rni said that all the Petitioners claimed was, the
right of putting into.tbe bands of their children at school such hooks
as they considered most proper for their understanding. This was
but fair, and ought not in reason to be refused them.
Mr. BUTTERWORTH observed, that as long as the great mass
of the people in Ireland were allowed to remain in ignorance, the
Roman Catholics were quiet, for ignorance best suited Noir
put-
poses; but the moment it was attempted to give education, the
Priests rose up to oppose it. They intruded themselves into Bible
%Meetings to which they were not invited. At a public Bible meeting
at Carlow, the Priests attended, supported by an immense mob,
from whose violence some of the friends of the Bible Society were
obliged to fly o ith their lives; some escaped by getting over walls
—(Some et ies of" No, no").
Mr. BUTTER say yes, yes; and I can prove it.
Sir J. NEWPORT said, the circumstances mentioned by the
lion. Member connected with tire meeting at Carlow, were wholly
without foundation,—(Hear, hear) ;—and he was enabled to con-
tradict them on most excellent authority—that of Colonel Roch-
lord, who presided at the Meeting on the occasion, and stated in
his evidence before the Committee on the state of !rebind, that the
accounts given of thy proceedings at that Meeting, and which the
Hon. lilember (Mr. Butterworth) had just repeated. were niisre-
pre•entationa of the reel facts. The Catholics admitted the reading
of the Bible, with the addition of notes and comments ; and in this
they were borne out by the opinions of some of the most eminent
dignitaries of the Established Church, who held that the Bible
ought not to be read unaccompanied with the Catechism.—(Hear.)
The petition was ordered to lie on the table.
NEW soUTii WALES.

NIr.J. SMITH took occasion to put a question to the Honourable
Secretary for the Colonies. He had read in a New South Wales
kaper, entitled The Sidney GniteUe, that the Grand Jury there bad
wilted the prison and found certain warrants signed by a Magistrate
fur the idliction of torture. In one instance an individual was
sentenced to receive 25 lashes a-day, uatil he made a particular dis-
closure. For five mornings successively he underwent the allotted
punishment, and on the sixth day he was taken before the Magis-
trates, but no confession having been elicited, the infliction of the
stripes was repeated on that and on subsequent days. The question,
therefore which the Hon. Gentleman had to propose was, whether
that Magistrate held any, and what situation under Government.
Mr. W I 1310 - HORTON said, the warrant to which the Hon.
MembLr had alluded was merely ant order, that if a prisoner had
been sentenced to receive a certain number of lashes, the Magis-
trates, according to their general practice, might inflict this punish-
ment at different periods and in different proportions. He by no
means intended to justify such a mode of proceeding; but it was
the undoubted practice of the Colony. If the House considered
. . . .

the description of criminals, and the nature of society in that Co-
lony, they would not be very ready to pass any very lung censure
upon an arparent asperity, or upon an objectionable mode of exe-
cuting the laws in certain peculiar cases. He could state, that
every opposition would in future be give, to the practice complained
of. The Magistrate in question was in the Council, and held
office of 8001. per annum. He bad no objection to lay the papers
connected with the subject before the House, and with respect to
the Acts of the Colony, they would be laid before the House, as
soon as received, in conformity to the Act of Parliament.
Mr. SM I TH had been informed that the Council of 'New South
Wales bad even gone so Gras to pass an Act of Indemnity for the
protection of this Magistrate, and of other Magistrates who ball
been guiity of similar malpractices.
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON acknowledged the truth of this
statement, and observed, that the practice being general, if any pro.
ceedings had been instituted against the Magistrate in question, they
must also have been taken against the Magistracy in general.
BANK CHARTER AMENDMENT EMI..

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHRIVER moved the
Order of the Day for going it.to s Committee ou the Bank Charter
Amendment Bill.

On the question being put," That the Speaker do leave the Chair,'
111 r. H. GURNEY objected to the principle of the Bill. e
instanced the case of a Joint Stock Company, the Solicitors of
which had sent circulars to many persons of distinctiott, requesting
them to become partners in the concern, which wit to have a
Governor and Deputy Governor, and at the same time stating that
it was not necessary for them to take any shares or to sacrifice any
portion of their time or attention. If all communication between
the country banks and London were cut off, it would either render
the measure absolutely null, or it would inundate the country with
the worst species of bank paper.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee.
On the reading of the clause which rendered all the partners of a
Joint Stock Bank equally responsible,
Air. PEARS!: expressed his disapprobation if the measure.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, it was int-

possible that the Bank of England could carry on all the banking
'concerns of the country ; then if other banks must come into opera-
tion, why should the number of partners in them be limited to six,
there was no magic in that particular number? That there were
great defects in the act he was very ready to admit ; and if the
Bank could have been prevailed upon to have given greater facilities,
'or if the term of their privileges had expired, he should never have
thought of bringing forward this Bill in its present shape. He
certainly looked upon it as a very great defect in it, that parties were
'to be restrained drawing upon London below a certain amount •
but still he did not think, that because the measure could not be

rendered u perfect as be could b.&ve wished it, it ought to be
rejected altogether.
Mr. LEYCESTER thought, that the greater the number of

partners in banks the less security there would be for the respecta-
bility of their character, or the solvency of their circumstances. He
thought the present Bill objectionable in every point of view.
Mr. MONCK was of opinion that the Bank Directors, acting
as Trustees for a large body of Proprietors, were iistifiable in
stating their jealousy of this Bill. A country paper currency
payable in London, was extremely useful, and altogether be thought
it better not to legislate at all upon the subject until the expiring of
the Bank Charter.

Mr. S. RICE objected to this Bill, as giving the Bail a more
extended monopoly than they at present enjoyed. He was moat
desirous to see a clause introduced which would make it imperative
on all Joint Stock Banks to give publicity to the amount of their
dssues,as such publicity would form a guarantee against an over lame.
Mr. J. I'. GRANT contended, that there was no danger of any
over issue of country notes, for they must inevitably return upon the
issuers of them, in consequence of its being necessary to find Bank
of England notes to pay them, which must ultimately be converted
into gold. There was a clause in the Bill, providing that country
banks should not issue notes ia London. Was it meant thereby that
they were to have no agents or correspondents in London for the
payment of their bills ? If so, the words of the clause ought to be
rendered so clear that no dispute druid arise about the interpreta-
tion of them. Ile then objected to the clause which prevented
country bankers from issuing any note payable in London under the
value of £5O. In conclusion he expressed an opinion that the abo-
lition of the exclusive privileges of the Bank of England would not
be productive of lass to the Bank, whilst ft would be productive of
great benefit to the country at large.
After a few words from Mr. T. WILSON, the clause was agreed to
When the next clause was read from the Chair,
Mr. HER RIES proposed the introduction of the words "and
other Promissory Notes," which was objected to by Mr. BREM.
On the clause for preventing any number of j!iersons, within sixty-
five miles of London, trausacting the busines of Bankers,
Mr. DENMAN objected to the principle of the Bill, which was
so ahortive and incomplete, that he most sincerely hoped some one
would divide the Committee en it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER considered any
objection to the principle was perfectly irrelevant and a waste of
time in Committee on a Bill. It was clear that the Learned Member
never could have read the correspondence between his Majesty's
Government and the Batik.
In answer to a qpestion from Mr. PASCOE Gement.,
The A TTOR N EY-G EN ERA L explained, that according to
this clause, certainly no persons acting as bankers, in Norwich,
for Instance, could do business as bankers in London, or discount,
which latter, he believed, formed the principal business of bankers.
Mr. GRENFELL said it was impossible then that any Joint
Stock Company could ever be formed on such a principle.
The CH A NCR LLO R of the EXCH EQUER proposed to post-
pone the clausethen the subject of discussion, and proceed' to the
.ether clauses. When they were disposed of, he should have no
objection to report progress.
The staygestlon of thb Right Hon. Gentleman, after a few words
from Mr. V. FIIIGERALD, 1)Ir. Huila, and the Arronser Groaaat,
was adopted—'the clause was postponed.
The other claases of the Mil were then agreed to.
Baocors reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again
this day sennight.
The Offences at Sea BM was read a third tinse and passed.
The Irish Lands and Tenements Bill and the Irish Stamp Duties
_ we're read a third dene'and passed.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
Mown stoJrned $ Oesii'Ourclt.

'A R.

LONDON.
SATURDNY, APRIL is, 1825.

STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

The Consol Market appears to be in a slumber this morning, and
scarcely a bargain is doing. All are waiting the event of the
Funding on Monday—opinions are divided on the subject, but the

thank the Book will be filled in one day.

Consols opened at 791 for the Account, the same price as they
left off yesterday, and at which pike they remain steady. Consols
are now 791 to 1.
In the Foreign Market little or nothing is doing.
Current Prices: Old Spanish 9, Mexican 611 62, Peruvian 23
24, Colombian 431 44, Russian 761 771, Greek 14 15.