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    free gift conferred upon Maynooth , which Parliament was at liberty to revoke when it pleased . Mr . Spooner concluded by expressing a hope , that leave would be given him to bring in abill to carry out the views he had expressed . —The motion was seconded by Mt . Dunlop , who desired that eqaal justice should be done to the Boman Catholics and Protestants of Ireland , and who thought that the teaching at Maynooth is at variance with the independent spirit of liberty . — Mr . Hobsfaix , Mr . Abel Smith , and Mr . Nafier , supported the motion , upon the ground that the teaching at Maynooth is of a corrupting character ,

    and that the Boman canon law , in which , under the act of 1845 , the priests are educated , is at variance with the constitution of this country . The motion did not propose to touch the act of 1795 , under which the colleges originated , or to disturb anything done before the act of Union : it related simply to endowments paid out of the Consolidated Fund . The statistics of crime in Papal and Protestant countries , said Mr . Horsfall , show the superiority of Protestant over Boman Catholic education ; and he thought , therefore , that Parliament was not justified in voting money for Maynooth .

    Mr . Pouuahd Ubquhabt , who had given notice of an amendment to the motion , " that the Bouse resolve itself into a Committee to consider the existing state of ecclesiastical endowments in Ireland , " declined to press this amendment . He contended that the Established Church of that country , where fivesixths of the people are Roman Catholics , is a greater anomaly than the college of Maynooth ; and he defended the action of the Boman Catholic clergy , who are not , he remarked , the only class who interfere in politics . Clerical interference is not unknown in Protestant England . —Mr . Schox . sfiez . i > moved an amendment to the motion , to the effect that all grants or endowments for ecclesiastical purposes should be

    withdrawn . He observed that Mr . Spooner had made bis extracts from parts of the evidence appended to the report of the commissioners , not from the report itself , which was founded upon the whole evidence . The commissioners bore testimony to the loyalty of the students and to their morality , stating that their general' conduct is considered to be irreproachable . He denied that the civil rights of Englishmen are jeopardised by Boman Catholicism . Mr . Spooner , however , was not contending for civil rights , —he was an advocate of religious truth ; but by what authority was he appointed to decide this question for other men ? If the Maynooth endowment was to be removed ( and it was an anomaly , but only * a part of a most anomalous system ) , there was

    but one fair and honourable mode—that of sweeping away every endowment . —Mr . Bland accused Mr . Spooner of not having dealt fairly with the report , which , he said , is highly creditable to the professors at Maynooth , and to the mode of education there . — Mr . Hobsmax said the question was not one of religion—it was a political question . The Commission had been appointed at the desire of Mr . Spooner ; yet that gentleman now repudiated the report , and aimed at subverting a policy which for the last sixty years had conferred benefit on Ireland and honour on England . The question , he said , affects the civil and political rights of the people of Ireland . —Mr . Muabouoh also opposed the original motion ; and the debate was ultimately adjourned .

    THE EXPEK 8 E 8 AT VIENNA . A motion by Colonel Sibthokp , for returns of the expenses of Lord John Rdsseli / s mission to Vienna , was resisted by I * ord Palmerston as unprecedented , and wearing the appearance of a vote of censure . — The Colonel then said that the Government were afraid to lay the expenses of the mission before the House , and that it was a low , underhanded piece of business , at which there was much laughter . —The motion was withdrawn .

    EDUCATION ( NO . 2 ) BILL . Sir John Pakinoton , in moving the second reading of this bill , said , in answer to certain misapprehensions which he believed to exist with respect to it , that it rested upon three general principles—viz ., that it i » a duty to provide additional education for the people ; that that education should be religious ; and that it should at the same time be conjoined with perfect toleration . The machinery of the bill included two principles—the first , that its object should be mainly effected by means' of a public fund , raised by local contributions , with the aid of grants from Parliament ; the second , that these grants should

    be administered by local boards popularly elected , acting upon the principle of self-government , but superintended by a central department , represented in and responsible to that House , analogous to the great measure for the relief of the poor . In reply to anticipated objections , Sir John said that , although bis bill was founded upon a large toleration , he intended that all the schools founded under it ( mould be in connexion with some recognised religious denomination ; so that it could not fairly bo said that the measure endangered the teaching of the Scriptures . He had been asked what would prevent these school * becoming Mormonite . To that he answered , that hb did not contemplate any other denominations

    of dissenters than those which are recognised by the Committee of Council . Mr . Henlky moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months . He observed that it gave him great pain thus to oppose a dear and valued friend , but he was persuaded that the bill would not extend education at all , and most certainly not religious education . The question really w . as , whether Parliament should extend and foster a voluntary and self-supporting system of education , or run the enormous risk of suspending and arresting the progress which that system was now making , and which had done a vast amount of good within the last few years .

    setting up , instead , a system supported by a local taxation of 2 , 000 , 000 / 1 , to be assisted by a State contribution of another 2 , 000 , 000 / ., with a machinery which , without attaining the end expected , would stamp upon the education of the country the brand of pauperism . Education ( observed Mr . Henley ) is not merely school instruction , but should include a training of the mind and heart , and teach men to know their duty to God and to each other . He then proceeded to show that most important advances towards this result have been made by the voluntary system ; that Sir John Pakington had overstated the want of education among our populace ; and that crime is

    less , and morality and education greater , in England than in other countries—the example of America being exceptional . He then drew a contrast between the conduct of the people of this country and the nations of the continent in seasons of suffering and popular excitement ; and , passing to the details of the bill , said that , although professing to be permissive , it levied a tax in one sense compulsory . Assuming that a national school system is necessary , he objected to putting a charge on that account upon real property alone . But he objected to a rate of this kind altogether , since it would bring into operation , with aggravation , an evil which Parliament was trying to remedy , namely , the heartburnings attending a church-rate . He believed , moreover , that rate-supported schools , and schools sustained by voluntary

    contributions , could not co-exist ; so that the first effect of this bill would be to knock down all existing schools . The bill was not framed to secure religious teaching ; it wholly ignored the existence of a clergy ; it did not follow the parochial divisions ; and it made no provision for evening schools . —The amendment was seconded by Mr . B . Philximore ; and the bill was supported by Mr . Miles Cwho held that the voluntary principle has failed ) and by Mr . Bvno . Mr . Dilwvn opposed the bill ; and Mr . Adderley moved the adjournment of the debate . To this , Sir Joun Pakikgton assented , observing that he had nothing to complain of in the manner in which Mr . Henley had opposed his measure , and adding that he felt sure he should be able to make a satisfactory answer to the objections which had been advanced .

    M 1 LITART MATTERS . Lord Panmube , on Thursday , made some statements , in answer to the Earl of Eli-enboroigh , the Marquis of Salisbury , and the Earl of Hardwicke , relative to certain alterations in the Indian army , by which the officers are now entitled by right to assume the same position as corresponding officers in the royal army ; relative , also , to the bounty given to recruits , and to the manner in which the Guards on boar . d the Alma had been sent to sea . With respect to the last question , Lord Pan mure laid the blame of the overcrowding on the district authorities at Liverpool and Portsmouth .

    LOAN BILL . This bill was read a second time on the motion of Lord Stanley . —Lord Ravenswobth expressed his opinion that , had there been a proper blockude , so as to cripple the commerce of Russia , there would have been no need of a loan ; but lie offered no opposition to the reading of the bill .

    THE NEGOTIATIONS . Lord Clabendon explained the position of affairs with respect to the negotiations at Vienna , from which it appeared that Austria still entertains hopes of peace , tinder present circumstances , his Lordship deprecated a discussion on the matter . —The Earl of Dekbv thought the statement of Lord Clarendon very unsatisfactory . After the forbearance which had been shown towards Austria during the last two yeare , he wished that something more definite as to her intentions could have been communicated . —The Marquis of Lansdowne declared that , during the time these negotiations had been pending , not a moment had been lost in the vigorous prosecution of the

    war . thb ^ wab . . In reply to Mr . CoLLiitn , Sir Charles Wood repeated what he had previously stated , that , as aoon ae the White Sea was free for the . ingreuu and ogress of vessels , it was intended to establish an efficient blockade of the ports of that sea . —In answer to questions put by Mr . Wiiitesioe and Mr . Hokuuck , Sir Charles premising that with reference to communications from the Admirals and Generals in the Black Sea and the Crimea complete discretion mu » t

    be reserved to the Government as to what intel . ligence they would communicate to the public , stated that the substance and purport of every telegraphic despatch which had been received thence ajnee the telegraphic line bad been laid down had been communicated to the public , with the exception of one which merely asked a question concerning the movements of some vessels . Lord Palmehston , in answer to Major Reid , said he was sure the House would excuse him if he declined entering into details concerning the ultimate intentions of Austria with respect to the war . Thia statement was of course accompanied by the usual parliamentary eminent of laughter .

    SERGEANT BBODIE . In reply to an inquiry by Mr . Stanley , Mr . Frederick . Peel said it was not the case that Sergeant Brodie , of the Enniskillens , had been placed under arrest for preventing a duel , but for behaving disrespectfully to one of the officers of the regiment . Considering his conduct in the transaction , however , he had been released without any reprimand from the Hone Guards .

    POOR LAW ( SCOTLAND ) BILL . Mr . E . Ellice , jun ., moved the second reading of this bill . He said it did not in any way interfere with the operation of the existing law , nor did it profess to confer any new rights , or take away any at present existing : its sole object was to enforce the better carrying out of the present law , and secure to the poor of Scotland the benefits which the present law professed to give , but which it failed to produce . Up to about the year 18-10 , the poor of Scotland had no real power of claiming relief ; but at that period it was discovered that the law did in fact give the poor a right of appealing in forma pauperis ; and the

    courts of law accordingly intimated to the parishes that if they did not properly support the poor , they would be compelled to do so . In 1845 , an act was passed , appointing a central Board of Supervision , and providing that no appeal should be taken unless this Board certified that a good cause existed . The Board has authority to appoint delegates to inquire into and enforce the proper carrying out of the act in the various localities ; but those delegates are scarcely ever sent forth , and consequently the poor in districts far from Edinburgh have in fact no power of appeal at all , and are at the mercy of the local authorities .

    It would be found that in the Highlands there is literally no system of inspection . A return presented to the House showed the number of inquiries made in the three counties of Arjryle , Inverness , and Koss , since the passing of the act in 1845 . From that return it appeared that from 1847 to 1851 there was no local inquiry whatever into the working of the act made in any parish of these three counties . That was not his net , nor that of the board . Reports of distress in the Highlands reached the Secretary of State ; he communicated with the . Board , and after a long correspondence issued a positive order for an inquiry . That was merely a general inquiry ; and the only other before or since was one held in 1 S "> 3 ,

    for a single day , by Mr . McKcnzie , the Sheriff of Ross . The only appeal which the pauper can make against refusal of relief by the local board is to the nearest sheriff , who , in many case . * , cannot be reached under a journey of two hundred miles . In the case of inadequate relief , the only appeal is to the Board of Supervision ; but the appeal has to go through the hands of the local inspector , who accompanies it with any qualifying statements lie pleases , and finally the form is sent back to the parochial board , who decide upon the case . Mr . Kllico then referred to the shocking misery attendant upon evictions , and mentioned more particularly one in the parish of Gknelg , which resulted in the death oi one

    or two persons from exposure . " For a month or more after meeting with the particulars , he wan in correspondence with the Hoard of Supervision for the purpose of obtaining an inquiry ; but the board refused to institute one . The police went to the sheriff , ami represented to him that the c-iso was booming alarming , and that his interference was absolutely necessary . The sheriff at once sent to the Lord Advorate , and upon making inquiries that learned lord thought the matter ought to be looked into , and he directed that tlio sheriff should proceed to the district , and inquire into the matter . The sheriff accordingly proceeded to tlifl place , taking ' with him the . procurator fiscal and a medical gentleman well quuliuVd to givu an opinion < M" > » such a subject . The sheriff made his report , ami lr . < m

    this document it appeared that out of thirty-eig ht , p . mpern , two of whom were receiving Is . Oil . P « r woeK , t «« were receiving Is . lid . per week , and the n > iiui n . j l « were receiving less than U . Again . it appeared tm the medical oftlcw of the district had only vim « three paupers three times , and twelve others «>» a during the whole time in which ho hud held Iw .-ii sum . tion . He would here , observe , in passing , that Hal thia medical omeer's salary was paid by money voted j that House . The report of the sheriff then went (*» give an account of the habitations and clothing ol im . poor people—and a most misorublo account > t wu » .

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    412 THE I 4 E ADEB . [ Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 5, 1855, page 412, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2089/page/4/