§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, previously to presenting yesterday the Petition from the institution called by the name of the Magee College, he had ascertained the number of students in course of education there; and, if so, whether there is any objection to communicate it to the House?
MR. GLADSTONEI do not see any connection between the number of students in Magee College and the presentation of this Petition. Before I introduced the measure on Irish University Education to the House I informed myself as to Magee College; but the source from which I obtained information is quite open to the noble Lord. For his convenience and that of other Members, 899 I have requested that a calendar of the College may be sent to the Library of this and to the Library of the other House. I am afraid that under the disadvantageous circumstances in which the College is placed the numbers have considerably diminished in late years. Two years ago I think the number was 68; during the last two years the numbers were only 46 and 44.