§ On the motion for going into a committee on this act,
Lord Hollandrose, and repeated his objections against inserting in this act the Grant to the college of Maynooth, and that to the East India company. The change in the amount of the former grant, he saw no reason to justify. It was a deviation from the principle upon which the grant had first been made, and upon which it had been augmented in the last session of parliament. He wished to learn from the noble secretary of state, by what inducements government had been led to diminish the grant, and thus depart from the principle which had first suggested it to the adoption of government, and the sanction of the last session of parliament. That principle, the world knew, was the principle of so far conciliating the catholics of Ireland.
§ Lord Hawkesburyacknowledged, that the grant had in some measure been diminished; but it was upon an understanding that no larger a sum should be granted I than was necessary to complete the buildings that were then commenced at this establishment. It was originally intended that accommodation should be provided for a certain number of students; but when it was proposed to carry that accommodation to an unlimited extent, it was thought proper to stop at what was first, conceived to be an adequate provision.
The Earl of Lauderdalereprobated the idea of circumscribing the privileges and powers of that house, by conforming to any understanding that might be supposed to have been agreed to in another place. There was no end to the extent to which such a mode of reasoning might be carried, if it was sufficient to say, that upon an understanding between ministers in another place, such and such a measure was to be 1096 adopted and inserted in the Appropriation act, thus attempting to deprive their lordships of the exercise of their judgment on such a measure.
§ Lord Hawkesburydisavowed any such design on his part, and only adverted to the principle upon which the measure had; elsewhere been adopted, and not to any particular understanding between individuals of his majesty's government on the subject.—The bill was then reported.