The MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE, in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, observed that it was introduced for the purpose of giving to the graduates and students in the Queen's Colleges in Ireland the same advantages and privileges which were enjoyed by the students and graduates in the English Universities with regard to their admission as attorneys in the Courts of Common Law, and as solicitors in the Court of Chancery. He could not refer to the Queen's Colleges in Ireland without congratulating their Lordships on the great success with which they had been attended, notwithstanding the severe and selfish opposition to which they had been exposed.
§ LORD MONTEAGLEjoined his noble Friend in his congratulations to their Lordships. He condemned, in strong term3, the resolutions of the Synod of Thurles 325 against these Colleges, but observed, that so strong had been the opposition which they had met with from a large portion of the Roman Catholic clergy, that remonstrances against the decision come to by the Synod, and in favour of mixed education, signed by many hundred persons, clergy as well as lay, had been addressed to the See of Rome; and these protests were so strong that the bishops had not ventured to forward them to Rome.
§ Bill read 2a, according to Order, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.