The Earl of Rodensaid, that when he gave notice of his intention to bring under the consideration of that House the system of National Education now pursued in Ireland, he was anxious that their Lordships should be acquainted with the workings of that system. Therefore, it was that he wished certain documents to be laid upon their Lordships' Table, to which he understood there was no objection on the part of the Government of Ireland; so that when their Lordships came to the debate upon the subject, they might be acquainted with all the facts of the case. He was not going to enter upon the subject at that time. He was afraid that he had too often troubled their Lordships upon it; but he must mention as his excuse, that he viewed it as a question involving a great and important interest; and, therefore, he felt it was due to their Lordships—he felt that it was due to himself, who had loaded their Lordships' Table with petitions on this subject—to bring the question before the House the moment an opportunity for doing so occurred. The noble Earl moved for "various returns relative to the establishment of schools under the new system (Ireland)."
§ The Marquess of Lansdowneobserved, that in consequence of the noble Earl abstaining from making any remarks on the subject, he should not enter into the discussion of it, but he could not avoid saying, that knowing what was ascribed to those who had recommended the present system of Education in Ireland, he was just as desirous as the noble Earl himself, that the whole effects of that measure 731 should be thoroughly investigated. That system had been grossly misrepresented and misunderstood; and he should be fully prepared, at any time, to go into a discussion upon it. If there was any thing to regret in the way in which the noble Earl had now treated the matter, it was that there was such a number of documents moved for as must inevitably occasion some delay in bringing on the question. He hoped, that the noble Earl would take the earliest opportunity of bringing the subject before their Lordships; for he should be glad that the attention of the House and the country should be at once called to the very beneficial effects produced by the present system.
The Earl of Rodenhad hoped that the way in which he had introduced this Motion would have induced the noble Marquess to abstain from expressing any strong opinion in favour of the present system. His own opinion was quite different, but he thought it would be better to wait for a more convenient time, when the papers were on the Table of the House, and it could be seen which opinion was the correct one. But for the great inconvenience of going into the matter now, he could have proved that the measure of National Education in Ireland had not been successful.
§ The Motion was agreed to.