§ On the Order of the Day for bringing up the Report on this Bill,
§ Mr. Wysemoved—
That it is the opinion of this House, that whereas the Act of Settlement enacts that a College be annexed to the University of Dublin in addition to the College of the Holy Trinity, under the name and title of King's College, and the Act of 1793 provides that all future Colleges that may be annexed to said University, after the passing of that Act, be open to Roman Catholics and Protestant Dissenters equally with Protestants, in all their honours and emoluments, as well as studies; the Colleges proposed to be founded under the present Bill be annexed to the said University under the conditions which the Act of 1793 prescribes.
§ Sir James Grahamresisted the Amendment, as totally unconnected with the main object of the Bill. He could not believe, indeed, that the hon. Gentleman was serious in pressing his Motion; and, therefore, he should not trouble the House at that hour by entering into the subject.
§ Mr. Shawsaid, he would have abstained, and particularly at that late hour, from saying a word upon the subject, but for two incorrect statements, having reference to the University of Dublin, which he desired to correct. The first was, that the original charter, by Queen Elizabeth, did not contemplate any distinctions in the religious creed of the students to be educated at Trinity College; but the reverse was the fact, for not only would such an interpretation be opposed to the whole tenor of the policy of those times, but the 2nd Eliz., chap. 1, expressly enacted that "all and every person or persons which shall be preferred to any degree of learning in any University, shall, before being preferred to such degree, take and receive the Oath of Supremacy." And, in fact, no Roman Catholic was permitted to graduate before 1793. The hon. Gentleman was in error, in averring, that the Act of Settlement had enacted that a College should be annexed to the University of Dublin, in addition to the College of the Holy Trinity; whereas the Act of Settlement only enabled the Crown, if it thought fit, to add another College, and to endow it from the restored lands, but not from the estates of Trinity College. He would object to such a course practically—not only on account of the great difficulties connected with the vested property and rights of Trinity College—but 226 also because, as he had before stated to the House, he considered there was already a more than sufficient supply of what could be strictly called university education in Ireland; and that the new Establishments under that Bill would be very useful in their way, but as affording a different kind of education.
§ Motion negatived.
§ The Report received. Bill read a third time.
§ House adjourned at two o'clock.