Lords Sitting of 3 December 1852

MINUTES.
Tool the Oaths.—Several Lords. Sat First in Parliament. —The Lord Worling-ham, after the Death of his Father.

NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND).
The EARL of CLANCARTYsaid, he had a question to put to the noble Earl at the head of the Government on a subject of very great importance to Ireland. A petition was presented a few evenings ago from a Presbyterian body in the north of Ireland, approving of the present system of national education in Ireland, and expressing a hope that no alteration would be made; and the noble Earl who presented that petition (the Earl of Clarendon) gave expression to the hope that the noble Earl at the head of the Government would state what his views were on the subject of the petition. The noble Earl was reported to have said in reply, that it was not the intention of the Government to make any change in that system of education. Now, he begged to state that there was a strong opinion on the part of a large body in Ireland, that some change in the system was extremely necessary. He believed that four-fifths of those connected with the Established Church were disinclined to co-operate in carrying out the existing system. They had strong conscientious scruples against doing so; and, for the purpose of bringing the system into full harmony with the religious institutions of the country, it appeared to him that it was most important that inquiry into its operation should be entered into with a view-to ascertain what amendments could be advantageously introduced into it with that object. If it was thought, as had been more than once stated, that no alteration
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would be desirable without full inquiry, he would recommend to the Government that they should allow the case to he inquired into, in order that such changes might be made as were advantageous, and the system of education brought more into harmony with the form of Church Establishment in that country. Perhaps the noble Earl would state what were his views upon this point?
The EARL of DERBYsaid, it was with great satisfaction that he had an opportunity of answering once again a Parliamentary inquiry put by the noble Lord, whoso absence from that House had been a matter of regret to all who ever had the pleasure of listening to him. If the noble Earl had been in the House a few days ago, he would have heard the answer which he gave to a noble Earl on the other side upon this subject, namely, that having looked into this question, together with his noble Friend the Lord Lieutenaut of Ireland, with an anxious desire to meet the conscientious objections of those who differed from the existing system of education, they were unable to see their way to any measure that would attain that object, without at the same time endangering the stability of the present system—that this they would regard as a great evil; and consequently that the Government were not prepared to bring forward any measure for an alteration of the existing system. But, if his noble Friend intended to ask him if he would agree to an inquiry into the working of the system, his reply was, that if inquiry was desired, either in that or the other House of Parliament, by any considerable number of their Lordships, or Members of the other House, and if a Motion were made to that effect, he had no hesitation in saying that he should have no objection to grant a Committee; and he thought that some advantage would be derived from the fullest information being afforded as to the practical working of the system in all its details.
House adjourned to Monday next.