The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-03-18 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY.

The Stafford Disfranchisement bill was brought up from the
House of Commons, read a first time, and ordered to be read a
second time.

EDUCATION IN IRELAND.

The Bishop of EXETER presented a petition from the inhabit-
ants of the town of Derby, complaining of the inadequacy of the
system of education in Ireland, and praying their lordships not
to sanction any further grant to Mavnooth, or any similar
establishment. The reverend prelate then proceeded to submit
the motion to the consideration of the house, of which he had
given notice on the subject of education in Ireland. His lord-
ship in the course of a long and very able speech declared that
he had no other feeling than the real good of the mass of the po-
pulation in Ireland so far as their condition could be affected by
the influence of education. The teachers in these schools
were required to be versed in compo/sitien, English history, bi-
ography, political economy, mathematics, and natural and mo-
ral philosophy, including the elements of logic; but it was not
pointed out in any one place in their instructions, or in any one
recommendation, how the children were to acquire the slight-
est rudiments of religion—far less christian knowledge. They,
had it on the highest authority, that men were commanded to
"fear God, and honour the king." . The fear of God must go
first. No man would honour the king who did not fear God.
Twenty-four of the national education schools in Ireland were
under the direction of monasteries and nunneries, and to these
it was proved by figures that more aid was granted by the commis-
sioners of national education than to all the parochial schools..
In some of these schools there were but two or three stray pro-
testant children who attended, who were daily under the unfor-
tunate necessity of witnessing a series of acts of the grossest
idolatry, and mass was regularly and openly said before them.
These schools had been not only thus-diverted from their origi-
nal purpose, but had actually been made the theatre for ad-
ministering to crowded meetings the coarsest and foulest topics
of catholic agitation. In one of them Mr. O'Connell had held
forth in his usual strain. In another instance, the school-house
had been made the scene of a political dinner; while in a third
a deputation had been got up for the, purpose of giving a cordial
reception to the arch-agitator, by the titular archbishop of Tuani,
Dr. M'Uale, where, with loud greetings by the assembly,. he
was received, fresh reeking, from a scene where he had uttered
language which, at another period, he would not say in bettet
times, would hardly have failed to call for some curiosity from
his majesty's ministers. His lordship moved " That a select corn-
initte e be appoint.d.4o inquire-what -prugresa the new system of
education in Ireland has made towards effecting the main purpose
for which it was established—namely, the education of the lower
classes of the community, both protestants and Itonian catholics,
resting on religious instruction ; to inquire whether the funds in-
trusted to the commissioners have been judiciously administered
for the attainment of this object, and whether the experience of the
practical .results of their labours has rendered it safe and advis-
able to adopt the recommendations contained in their second
report for the great extension of the system therein proposed."
A bug discussion ensued, after which the motion was with-
drawn.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--TEMSDAY.
• RAILWAYS.-
On the motion of Mr. PEASE, the North of England Rail-
way bill was read a second time.
Captain PECHELL presented a petition, signed by 537 fisher-
men &c., of Brighton, against Stephenson's line of railway bill.
By the direct line, the petitioners represented that they could
place fish on that table—at least on Mr. Speaker's table, which
was much better, within three hours and a half after being
taken out of the sea. (Cheers and laughter.) He alsl pre-
sented a petition from the Southwark commissioners of paving,
against the Croydon railway bill.
Lord F. I;Gt.nTori moved that the bill for the Cheshire
junction railway bill he referred to the Cheshire list, as well as
to the Lancashire list, to which it was now solely referred. •
A lengthened conversation ensued upon the subject of this
railway, which terminated in the, noble lord's withdrawing his
motion, out of deference to the house, and from a wish not to
occupy their time in private business.

NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

Sir JOHN HOBtiousE brought up the report of the committee
appointed to consider the four plans selected by the commission-
ers on the new houses of parliament, and moved that it be read
at the table.