to affirm the Scriptures to be the word | future times? He was not fond of adoptthan the "will of Almighty God;" ing new theological propositions, and he as the will" could be only known by the interpretation given to Holy Writ." Upon the whole, he (Mr. Howard) deemed it unadvisable to insist on the adoption of this or any other test; for, with all respect to the motives of the Mover, and, above all, with all reverence to the written word of God, he did not think the cause of religion would be a gainer by its adoption. Mr. Adderley said, that if the Colleges to be established were to be confined to the teaching of the natural sciences, the religious tests would be unnecessary; but as they would trench on this field of moral duty, the case became altered. He had voted for the Maynooth Bill because it recognised the duty of the State to provide for the religious instruction of the majority of the people; and he should vote for the Amendment, because the Government proposition was a retreat from that principle. Lord C. Hamilton did not think there was any country in which there was so much religion and so little infidelity as in Ireland. Mr. Gladstone said, that the high character of the hon. Baronet who had proposed this Amendment, and of those Gentlemen who supported it, was such as to render it incumbent upon those who entertained objections to his proposition, and who yet had a sincere regard for religion, to say something in support of their reasons for disagreeing with it. He must say, then, that he thought there was much force in the objections which had been advanced by the right hon. Baronet (Sir J. Graham) as to the ambiguity of this test. His hon. Friend must be aware that between Protestants of different sects, and certainly between the Church and the Unitarians, there were many differences with respect to the original version of many portions of the Holy Scriptures. Now, as to matters of general principle, he must say, that it was undesirable for parties engaged in the selection of a test to choose words which they not merely suspected, but which they knew must be used by different classes of persons in a different sense. It was difficult to secure perfect bona fides as to tests; such had been hitherto the case; and what hope was there of maintaining a defined and single interpretat on of such tests in could not consent to adopt a solemn proposition like this without seriously looking to the terms in which it was couched. The Motion of his hon. Friend called upon them to adopt a pre-enunciation of a positive theological principle, couched in language partly resting upon the authority of a Member of Parliament, and partly on that of Dr. Arnold. The proposition was a new proposition-it was not one adopted in turns by the Church of England; and he was afraid that if the House were to adopt it, his hon. Friend would find a difficulty in regard to it, on the part of the Roman Catholics of Ireland themselves. He considered that it was at once open to the charge of being too exclusive, and too lax. His right hon. Friend (Sir R. Peel) had adverted to the case of a large class of theologians in Germany connected with what was called the rationalizing school. He (Mr. Gladstone) did not think any member of that school would feel any greater objection to the terms of the hon. Baronet's (Sir T. D. Acland's) proposition than might be felt by some members of our own church. Indeed, he did not know whether even Dr. Strauss himself, who had acquired an unhappy notoriety in connexion with the school to which he referred, might not be prepared to subscribe the test proposed by his hon, Friend. He held that in certain cases the objections to such a test were entirely outweighed by the advantages which might attend it, and the necessity which rendered it advisable. But he did not entertain that opinion in the present case, for he did not think any advantage could accrue from the application of such a test; but that, on the contrary, great evil might result from holding out a delusive promise which could not be realized. He considered, therefore, that the Amendment of his hon. Friend, far from being an improvement on the Bill, would be entirely the reverse. Believing, then, that this was an ambiguous and equivocal proposition-that it could attain none of the purposes for which such a test ought to be employed, while it was open to strong objections, and that it was a positive evil to make a provision for attaining a religious character by means which they knew to be insufficient, he hoped the Committee would not adopt the Amendment. Mr. Redington was satisfied the hon. | Gore, hon. R. Baronet, in bringing forward this Amendment, did not wish to throw any aspersion upon the religious creed of Catholics; but that he was merely introducing what he considered an essential safeguard in a measure of this nature. He must say, however, that if this Amendment went to a division, he would feel it his duty to vote against it; for the introduction of such a test as that proposed by the hon. Gentle-Hope, man would excite great dissatisfaction among the Roman Catholics of Ireland. The Committee divided on the Question that the words be inserted-Ayes 36; Noes 105 Majority 69. Peel, J. Goulburn, rt. hon. H. M'Neill, D: Manners, Lord C. S. Martin, C. W, Meynell, Capt. Mitchell, T. A. Redington, T. N. Somerset, Lord G. Mr. Hindley contended it involved a violation of liberty of conscience, for it precluded students from resorting for instruction to tutors of their own religious creed, while it compelled them to receive the tuition of professors appointed by the Government. He had, therefore, to move that the clause be omitted. The Committee divided on the Original Question:-Ayes 100; Noes 0: Majority 100. List of the AYES. Acland, Sir T. D. East, J. B. Farnham, E. B. Tower, C. Tufnell, H. Greenhall, P. Hamilton, G. A. Henley, J. W. Hope, A. Jervis, J. Lambton, H. Blake, M. J. Brotherton, J. Flower, Sir J. Borthwick, P. Browne, hon. W. Forster, M. Bowes, J. Bruce, Lord E. Fremantle,rt. hn.SirT. Bowles, Adm. Bunbury, T. Gaskell, J. Milnes Boyd, J. Burrell, Sir C. M. Gill, T. Broadwood, H. Baring, rt. hon. W. B. Butler, P. S. Cardwell, E. Acland, T. D. A'Court, Capt. Aldam, W. Archbold, R. Austen, Col. Baillie, Col. Baring, rt. hn. F. T. Blackburne, J. I. Peel, J. TELLERS. Young, J. Mackenzie, W. F. List of the NOES. TELLERS. Hindley, C. Clause agreed to, as was Clause 15. Mr. John S. Wortley moved the Amendment of which he had given notice, with a view to connect the Colleges with religious instruction as much as possible the 14th Clause, which gave a power to the different religious communities, by private contribution, to endow chairs of theology. It was a well known truth that, in other affairs of life, opposition prevented imposition. In the case, then, before the House, the rivalry of different creeds. would give an impulse to talent, and prove an incentive to exertion; the religicus zeal of individuals should be allowed to supply what was unavoidably wanting in the Government measure. Should an appeal be made to the Catholics of England, he (Mr. Howard) doubted not that he would come forward in aid of his Irish co-religionists, and would strive to procure for the youth of Ireland the blessings of a religious education in the faith of their forefathers. Some years must necessarily elapse before the Colleges in question could be built and opened; ample time would, therefore, be given to organize a subscription in furtherance of the great object they had in view, so dear to that House and the country namely, the combining religious tuition with literature and scientific attainments. Mr. Hindley opposed the clause, as contrary to the spirit of the Mortmain Acts in this country. Clause agreed to, as were the remaining clauses of the Bill. House resumed. Report to be received. EXCISE AND CUSTOMS.] House in Committee on the Excise and Customs Act. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, he wished to move certain Resolutions to be embodied in the Bill. The object of the first was to place grocers who were dealers in spirits in Ireland under the same supervision of the police authorities as other dealers were subject to. The other "To insert after the words, lodged and boarded therein,' the words, and also the provisions and regulations proposed to be made for securing to the said student the means of due attendance upon such religious instruction and divine worship as may be approved by his parents and guardians, and recognised by the governing body of the Col-Resolution had reference to the importalege."" Amendment agreed to. On the 19th Clause, Mr. Spooner objected to the clause as giving an endowment to any teacher of whatever form of belief he might be. It was not even restricted to the endowment of Christian ministers. Such a conflict of religions would tend to infidelity among the pupils. Mr. Philip Howard contended that no great evil could arise from the retention of tion of spirits from Guernsey and Jersey into this country. At the present time those islands enjoyed advantages which were not allowed to any other part of the United Kingdom. The introduction of compound spirits from Scotland and Ireland was prohibited, and that prohibition ought to be extended to Jersey and Guernsey. He, therefore, proposed, that a duty of 9s. a gallon should be put upon spirits imported into England from those islands, and a proportionate amount on spirits imported into Scotland and Ireland, As to the ap with a prohibition altogether of compound persons might be found. He fully agreed spirits. with his noble and learned Friend opposite Resolutions agreed 10. House re. (Lord Brougham) as to the importance of sumed, and adjourned at a quarter before the office of Advocate General of Bengal, 2 o'clock. as the Governor General of India had no other legal authority whatever to refer to NOUSE OF LORDS, for advice in matters relating to questions of international law, or the interpretation Tuesday, July 8, 1845. of Treaties. Interests of the greatest imMINUTES.] Bills. Public.-21. Seal Office Abolition; portance might depend upon the proper Statute Labour (Scotland); Documentary Evidence. exercise of the office; and the efficient disReported. Arrestment of Wages (Scotland); Jurors (Ireland) : Brazil Slave Trade : Drainage by Tenants for charge of its functions, too, in courts of Life; Timber Ships; Assessed Taxes Composition. justice was most essential. 34. and passed :-Games and Wagers. pointment to which allusion had been made, Private.-14. Marsh's (or Coxhead's) Estate. - Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway; Edin- he agreed in the condemnation passed upon burgh and Northern Railway ; Wear Valley Railway. it. The juries at Calcutta were willing Reported.—North Wales Mineral Railway: Keyingham enough to find verdicts against the GovernDrainage ; Cork and Bandon Railway; Great Western Railway (Ireland) (Dublin to Mullingar and Athlone) : ment, and it required the best advocate to Great North of England, Clarence and Hartlepool Junc. conduct a case before them. Not only was tion Railway ; Forth and Clyde Navigation and Union this gentleman not the best advocate, but Canal Junction ; Cockerinouth and Workington Rails he was perhaps the very worst in the way ; Lynn and Dereham Railway; Liverpool and Manchester Railway; Richmond (Surrey) Railway. court ; and, for his own part, he (the Earl zá. and passed :-Shepley Lane Head and Barnsley Road. of Ellenborough) had never heard any PETITIONS PRESENTED. By Earl of Clancarty, from Guardians of Ballinasloe Union, for Inquiry into the reason alleged for his appointment, but that Powers and Conduct of Poor Law Commissioners, and he was the son of the chairman of the Board also for the Adoption of a Measure for the Better Relief of Directors. Now, he would ask, what of the Sick Poor (Ireland); and from Guardians of Bala would be the opinion of the people of this rothery Union, for Inquiry into the Operation of the Poor Law Act (Ireland). country, if a Prime Minister thought fit to appoint his son to be Attorney General, 'TAE ADVOCATE GENERAL OF BENGAL] merely because he happened to be a lawLord Brougham wished to know whether yer, and was, from standing or practice, in the office of Advocate General of Bengal, no other way qualified for the office? an office which he held to be of the greatest Would not the Administration of such a possible importance amongst the Colonial Minister be put an end to within twentyappointments of this Empire, and second four hours, by the public scorn and indigonly to tlie office of the Governor General nation which such an appointment would of India himself, had been yet filled up? excite? And yet it really was of less im The Earl of Ripon could not say cer- portance that the Attorney General should tainly whether it had been yet filled up, be chosen for his eligibility for his office, but he believed it had. There was no than that the Advocate General of India doubt of the high importance of the office should be a person really and truly qualialluded to, but it was not very easy to in- fied for that most important office. He duce persons properly qualified for it to had, however, on the present occasion only to express a wish that on this matter in Lord Brougham condemned the last ap- future all former precedents, but not the pointment, which, he said, was clearly owing last one, would be followed, and persons so to the connexion between the party and well qualified as Sir Laurence Peel and the Board of Directors. Mr. Serjeant Spankie selected for the The Earl of Ellenborough said, the office office. In making the appointment, above was one of great importance, and the emo- all things, care should be taken to have the luments were very considerable. The sa-party selected in no manner whatsoever lary attached to it was 5,000.; and if the mixed up with local interests, otherwise individual appointed to it was a competent the result must necessarily be that every person, and of experience in his profession, advice which he gave the Governor General he might make, in addition to that salary, would be looked upon with mistrust and about 6,0001. a year more by private prac- suspicion. tice. With such prospects to hold out, he Lord Campbell know of no office under really thought, if due diligence and discre- the Crown which had been filled by pertion were exercised in the selection of a sons of greater competence; whether there person !o fill the office, fit and competent was an exception in the last case he did not accept it. accept it. know. He was astounded, however, to Earl of Clancarty said: My Lords, I beg hear that the office was going begging in to present to your Lordships, from the Westminster Hall; for he had always con- Board of Guardians of the Poor Law Union sidered it a prize for a young lawyer of of Ballinasloe, a petition of which I lately great eminence; and he had no doubt that gave notice, upon the subject of Medical men of the highest lionour--the brightest Charities in Ireland. The petitioners pray ornaments, without local connexion, would for the speedy establishment of a sound system of relief for the sick poor of IreThe Earl of Ripon begged to correct an land. The subject is one of great and urerror into which the noble Earl had fallen gent importance, and in reference to which with respect to the salary attached to the it has been admitted by Parliament and office-it was only 3,5001. a year, though by the Government that the laws require the emoluments from private practice might great alteration and amendment. If, my make it reach 10,0001. Certain it was Lords, an improved and enlarged system that this office had, upon this occasion, been of medical charities would involve (which offered to eight or ten individuals of very I do not think it would, at least to any distinguished talents, with respect to whose sensible extent) an increased taxation, it is competency every means had been taken to those who now approach your Lordships as ascertain the truth, and that it had been petitioners that will have to pay the tax; declined by them one after another, as not nor are they singular as poor law guardians being consistent with their professional in their desire to see the medical charities views. of the country placed upon a proper and Lord Broughum said, nothing was so efficient footing. I hold in my hand a easy as to make the offer to those by whom copy of an address of the Ballina board of it was certain to be refused, that under the guardians, unanimously agreed to at a cover of these refusals an incompetent, meeting with twenty-six guardians prethough a worthy and well-meaning man, sent, praying the attention of the Lord might be appointed. Lieutenant of Ireland to that important Lord Denman said, the office had been subject. Those whose petition I have now very properly offered to many gentlemen the honour of presenting to your Lordof ability, whose situation at the Bar of ships, did also address the Irish Government this country could not make it a safe spe- in the first instance: I regret to say, how. culation that they would be sure to refuse ever, without any effect-that no prospect this appointment; they were gentlemen of whatever was held out that Her Majesty's moderate business, though of high expec- Government would take any steps whatever tations, and of great talents and learning: in the matter. It is, therefore, that they With regard to the last person who had now approach your Lordships; and I canheld the office, he had the slightest pos- not do better than read to your Lordships a sible acquaintance with him, and had no portion of their petition, as placing the evidence to bear of his position at the Bar; subject clearly and in a few words before but many persons who well knew him had you :formed the highest opinion of his ability: “ Petitioners represent that the present systhey would hear with pain the observations tem of inedical charities is most unsatisfactory, now made, and their opinion was, that he and inadequate to the wants of the country, was overcoming his difficulties, and was and oppressive to a numerous portion of the getting into a position in which, by his ratepayers, who can derive no advantage application and his industry, he would in whatever from the medical institutions for which they are taxed. That, under the exisia time have removed the objections to him. He had heard this from several individuals ing law, a want of due economy prevails, and many great abuses are practised, as must for whose opinion he entertained a high necessarily be the case in the absence of unirespect. formity of system and of efficient inspection. The Earlof Ellenborough would very wil. That the present county infirmaries, though lingly do justice to the good intentions of most useful in their several vicinities, are, from that gentleman, but he did not enjoy the their inadequacy in point of number, necespublic confidence; and the strongest evi- sarily too far apart to be of any benefit 10 the dence was, that he had no private business great majority of the population, who are whatever. equally iaxed for their support. That the same objection applies to the fever hospitals. Subject dropped. That ihe law only authorizing the establish ment of dispensaries, where private subscripMedical CHARITIES IN IRELAND.] The tions can be obtained, it follows that the poorer |