HC Deb 18 June 1856 vol 142 cc1665-7

On the Motion that the House do now adjourn,

MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE

said, he was very anxious before the House adjourned, to put a question to the noble Lord at the head of the Government relative to the Vote to which the House came on the previous night. That Vote was, in his opinion, one of the most unfortunate decisions at which the House had ever arrived, and a day ought not to be suffered to elapse without some notice being taken of it. Its importance could not possibly be exaggerated; for they might depend upon it—in spite of all that had been said last night—that the Address to the Crown which had been adopted, not, he believed, by the deliberate judgment of the House, but, by an accidental majority, so far from involving, as had been represented, only a slight modification in the system of national education established in Ireland, amounted to the direct subversion and reversal of that system. Believing that the House of Commons did not mean to sanction so great a change, he thought it very desirable that they should have another opportunity of considering the question.

SIR WILLIAM JOLLIFFE

said, he rose to order. The hon. Gentleman had risen ostensibly to ask a question, but had put none. He had merely animadverted on a former debate, without keeping either to the question before the House or to the inquiry which he perhaps wished to make.

MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE

said, he only desired to say that it was his intention to submit a Resolution to the House, pledging them to support the national system of education in Ireland as it at present stood; and, being convinced that such a Motion ought, if made at all, to be made on an early day, he felt, as a private Member of that House, that any attempt on his part to obtain a speedy discussion would be futile, unless he had the assistance of the Government. He had, therefore, to ask, whether the noble Lord would give him an early day for the purpose he had indicated?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, I quite concur with my hon. Friend as to the importance of the subject to which our decision of last night related, and also as to the evil effects flowing from that decision. I likewise agree with him, that great advantage might result from the reconsideration of the subject, accompanied by a further expression of the opinion of the House upon it. I believe the decision of last night does not by any means represent the real sentiments of the House of Commons, and that therefore, in a matter of such vital concernment to the people at large, no unnecessary delay should be allowed to take place in enabling this assembly to express its true convictions regarding it. Under these circumstances, I shall be ready to give my hon. Friend, Monday next for the introduction of his Motion.

The House adjourned at ten minutes before Six o'clock.