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be put down . Ho preferred a committee to a commission ; for the latter had no power to compel the attendance of witnesses . Lord Aberdeen-, not because he thought inquiry wanting—there had been adequate inquiry alreadybut because he was willing to concur in the t ide of public feeling , would consent to inquiry , but by a commission , not by a committee , the objects of the inquiry simply being the inanngoment , discipline , and studies atMaynooth , and the effects of the increased grant . He considered , however , that the inquiry would redound to the credit of Maynooth . It was certainly legitimate for Government to see that the intentions of the Legislature were carried out but we must not expect Protestant doctrines in a motion
Roman-catholic college . Lord Winchilsea ' s had an animus offensive to lloraan-catholics , and yet fell very sliort of consistency . If Maynooth were a dangerous institution , not inquiry , but an immediate remedy was required . The measure of 1845—opposed by Lord Winchilsea , who also opposed the Emancipation Act , but carried by the resistless and persuasive eloquence of Lord Derby—would eventuate in good ; it was too soon yet to expect its results ; but it would undoubtedly produce a superior class of spiritual instructors . In opposing his amendment to the motion , Lord Aberdeen hoped no one would suppose that he had abandoned his Protestant principles . He was really anxious for an inquiry that would give
satisfaction to the country . Lord Roden , Lord Shaftesbttey , Lord Desart , and the Bishop of London , re-echoed Lord Winchilsea ' s tone of doctrinal denunciation . The first two noble lords brought in " the Madiai , " the four accused the priests of being seditious and opposed to civil and religious liberty . Lord Roden said , more priests were educated in Maynoot h than were required for Ireland , and quoted statistics to show that Protestantism was increasing , partly through conversions , and partly" through the emigration and mortality among the Roman-Catholics , who being poor , were forced
to leave the country ; and " livingjnostly on potatoes , the " mortality among them had been great . " Lord Shaftesbury pointed out the use of " Den ' s book" as a proper part of the inquiry . The Bishop of London thought a commission best : if there was any secret , the priest would not tell it ; but we should inquire ; the people , unhappily , were dull to the danger of Papal tyranny . Replying to these offensive insinuations , Lord Clankicaiide asked , was it honourable that the character of the Roman-catholic clergy should be assailed by innuendo?—and the Duke of Leinster testified that the Roman-catholic clergy were well
conducted . With some freshness of view , Lord Dufferin enlivened the debate . The relationship between the Roman-catholic clergy and the State has been long " unfortunate ; " the act of 1815 was but the beginning of a better system . If they curried out that system , the Roman-catholics would not forget the lessons of toleration they had been taught ; for the neck of
Protestant ascendancy had been broken . In Canada , the State supported Roman-catholic institutions ; and if the doctrines of Maynooth were unconstitutional , that was known when the grant was first given . Ho was himself opposed to the errors of Roman-catholicisni , arid to any encroachment by the Pope on the rights of the Crown . Such encroachments resulted , he was convinced , from false information given at Rome . To Biich an extent was this false information carried and
circulated , tliat no decent Englishman could go to Rome , but what it was expected ho was on a mission to the chair of St . Peter . When he was sit Rome , his humble lodging wan visited by a deputation ofhishopn in purple and gold- —( laughter)—and he wus asked to officiate at the baptism of a . lew in the character of godfather . ( Laughter . ) The Duke of A iuiYi , r . usefully revived an old argument . It had been said that it was a national sin to give the funds of u Protestant nation to the support of the Catholic religion . But the error of this statement wan obvious . Our funds were drawn in no small ineaNiirc from Catholics ais well as Protestants . Turning on the Into Premier , lie Uien said , " ho could not understand the motives" of the noble earl opposite , who without doubt countenanced . Lord Winchiltfea .
This called up Lord Dkiiiiy . " The noblo dulco who had just rcNUined his sent would allow him , o * i an older man than tho noblo duke , to givo him a word of advico , and Mint was novor to mako an unprovoked attack upon one who had given him no ground for ho doing . Having said this much , ho would toll him an aiwiodotti , which , while it was in point , would also show Ihat lie wiih perfectly good humoured in his advice . Thoro Watt a strong powerful man , one of tlio class commonly known an ' navvies , ' who wiiu married to a remarkably littlu wi !'(> . NeverllioleHS , it was ruinoiuod that thin little wilo wiih in |) io liahit of beating her l > ig husband . So prevalent did tlm ruuumr Ixieomo , ihat ono titty mum ) persons aaked tho ti-oat navvio whether it waa truo ? JLo uaid ,
' Yes , it was . ' They then asked why he allowed her to do so ' P ' Oh / rejoined he , ' it amuses her , and it doesn t hurt me . ' ( Loud laughter . )" For himself , he had not given grounds to any one to suppose that he had modified his views on this matter : he wanted inquiry . He preferred Lord Winclrilsea ' s to Lord Aberdeen ' s means towards that end ; but that did not show that he was opposed to the endowment altogether . He certainly expected Eoinan-catholic doctrine in a Roman-catholic college ; but there were different systems of Roman-catholic teaching . And was it not a question which required would
answering , whether the system , at Maynooth form a Murray or a M'Hale . A committee would be better than a commission ; as different members would cross-examine witnesses . On that very ground Lord Lansdowne objected to a committee . The answers to he elicited from witnesses upon doctrinal points were seldom very conclusive . He recollected a committee which occupied two days in considering whether the creed of St . Athanasius was necessary to salvation . They then examined a right reverend prelate upon the question , and the only answer h e could g ive was , "That several persons had sworn that tlie creed was necessary to salvation . "
Lord Gbey pointed out how insolent it was of Protestants always to say in effect to Roman-catholics , "We are right , and you are wrong . " He could not forget that more than one half the civilized world professed the Roman-catholic faith . He then congratulated Lord Derby on having- retained his liberal opinions of ' 45 ; but Lord Dekby , characteristically interrupting , stated that what he had said was no evidence of his having either adhered to or altered his views in 1845 . After a few more words , Lord Winchilsea ' s motion was rejected by 110 to 53 .
AN IRISH MAGISTBATE . An explanatory debate , relative to the case of Mr . Kirwan , Irish stipendiary magistrate , took place in the House of Lords on Tuesday ; so that both Houses were engaged on some personal matter . Lord Egmnton stated , that during the late general electio , Mr . Kirwan was resident magistrate at Ballina , a town in the county of Mayo . The county was much disturbed by the election contest . Mr . Kirwan , in conjunction with Mr . Howley , a local magistrate , was in charge of the public peace , and , according to the reports of his accusers , was culpably inactive , allowing Roman-catholic mobs to disturb the town , and
indiscreetly liberating arrested rioters . Mr . Kirwan is a Roman-catholic , and he appears to have acted with the priests in preserving the peace of the town , using on all occasions expostulations with tho mob , instead of employing the small military force at his disposal . His colleague , Mr . Howley , an unpaid magistrate , was an open and avowed partisan of tho Liberal candidates—driving through town , distributing inflammatory placards . Mr . Kirwan was accused , not alone of being constantly in official union with Mr . Howley , but also of dining with the Koman-catholic priests , and in general exhibiting himself in company with them . Mr . Kirwan ' s own account of the election transactions are curious compositions .
Evidently excited by the circumstances , ho represented every disturbance as a formidable riot , and expressed in a warm manner , unusual in official documents , his thanks to tho Jtoman-catholic clergy for their assistance . Ho first wrote off a learned report of a riot on tho 23 rd of July , representing- his duty " as tho most arduous ho had over to perform . " A few days after , ho details the occurrence , pointing- out why ho refrained from causing tho soldiers to fire—adding , " Prudence is tho bottor part of valour . " " With so omall a force ( not even , ono dragoon , I say , without fear of contradiction ) , no magistrate ever yet performed so arduous a duty without allowing ono life to bo taken or ono person to bo seriously injured . This was became still
in a letter to the Costlo ; but Mr . Kirwan more eloquent in a written address to tho Roman-catholic clergymen of Ballina and its vicinity . After thanking them for their conduct ho thus concluded : — " . Blessed bo the Almighty God ! I shall return to my station at Boyle in a few days , without allowing any serious injury to bo done to either person or property , and I trust that I have impartially discharged my duties to her most gracious Majesty tho Queen and the public , to whoso judgment 1 most respectfully submit , although my conduct has been , censured by a fow 'individuals . ' However , Vox jxtpuli vox . Dai . " . Lord lOglintou asked Mr . Kirwan for an explanation of this address , and Mr . Kirwan stated that ho did apply for the assistance of tho Roman-catholic priests in keeping tlio poaco , saying he did so bccauHO Lord Kglinl . oii refused to give him a
sullicient military force . Ho added : — " If I havo erred in writing tho letter of thanks , I am truly sorry for it . . Every man is liable to err . In consequence of being grossly calumniated , I used tho Latin quotation , intending to convoy that I did not fear tho result of my conduct being publicly inquired into , nor do 1 ; but if tho phruso does not convoy my meaning , I can truly assure you I ¦ did not road n Latin book these tweuty-ono yearn . " ( Loud luugliter . ) Lord Kglinton instituted a commiHHion of inquiry into tho affair , and finding that Mr . Kirwan had been indiscreet , and to some extent culpable , ho suspended him for six months . Lord St . ( jeruianson being appointed . Lord Lieutenant restored Mr . Kirwan after four months Huspension . This Lord Kglinton contended was vory inexpedient , as it would deprive tho government of Ireland of its character of oyon impartiality .
A mild conversational discussion took place , several peers giving their opinion . Lord Aberdeen said , no reflection on Lord Eglinton ' s act was intended by the restoration of Mr . Kirwan . But , generally speaking , suspension of magistrates wns injudicious . They returned to the bench no better , no worse . Censure or dismissal were the best courses . Lord Debby took a diiferent view—military officers and clergymen were often suspended with good effect . Lord Sfe . Germansf
act was partial . The Duke of Newcastle asked Bowthat could be , when Lord Roden was offered restoration at the same time . Lord Roden" expressed displeasure at being classed with Mr . Kirwan . Lord St . Leonards . said , that ' suspension of a magistrate was quite constitutional , illustrating 1 it by his own practice regarding ordinary magistrates . The Lord Chancellor was . astonished to hear suph a statement ; a magistrate in the commission of the peace could not bo legally suspended . The subject then dropped .
Ejection Committees . —The work of exposure continues ; but few new features are added to the well knovrai portrait of electoral bribery , treating , and intimidation-Two members have been unseated , Sir W . Eraser and Mr .. Richard Bremridge for Baknstaple , the Committee ' report that corrupt practices have extensively prevailed in ; the borough ; and Mr . Bremridge is directly implicated in . one case of bribery . But , as a set-off , Mi \ Aglionby and ! General Wyndham , for Cockeemottth , and Mr . George ? H . Moore and Mr . Dusely Higgins , for Mayo , have beem declared duly elected ; although , undue influence was ; apparent in the former election , and intimidation in the ?
latter . The most striking discoveries are connected with * Rye ; where Mr . Jeremiah Smith , long an agent for the-Curteis family , in their electoral transactions in that borough , has disclosed how he hit upon a plan of lending money to needy electors , great and small , how the scheme 4 has been in operation since 1832 , how he had lent as muchi as 7000 Z . in small and larger sums , and how the Curteis ; family had repudiated his claims . In fact , Mr . Smiths clearly showed that the borough was in his hands , and that Major Curteis "was in his hands , and that the- weptrsure is owing to a dispute about a bill for 10 , 000 & put in . by Smith , who , failing to obtain his claim , bro *» ght downi a man of his own , and contested the borough last July .
Mr . Dod , member for Maidstone , has boon declared aoff duly elected . The House of Commons has sanctioned an address to the Crown , praying that a Comnoission might issue to inquire into corrupt practices at Maiden , in Essex . On the motion of the Earl of Abbbdeen , the House of : Lords agreed to an Address , to . the Crown for a Commission of Inquiry into the coajafupt practices which had prevailed in the Hull electioa . Colonial Fisheries . —The Earl of Malmesbuey asked in what state the negotiations now stood with
tho-United States' Q-overnment respecting the Colonial Fisheries , and whether it was tho intention of the Government to protect the British fishermen . The Earl of Clarendon said , that Mr . Crampton , British Minister afc-Washington , in obedience to instructions from Lord Malmesbury when in office , had entered into negotiations ; on the subject of tho Fisheries , which were still pending-With respect to the protection to be affordod to British ^ fishermen , the present Government had adopted precisely tho same instructions as thoso sent out by their pre * - decessors .
Cab Legislation . —Mr . Fitspioy ohtaiimdJ leave to bring in a bill for altering tho system , of granting licenses for hackney carriages ; for reducing ; the faro to Od . per milo ; for furnishing ; tho hirer with a knowledge of tho truo amount of tho fare ; and providing other reglulations for the carriages and drivers . Tho bill places groat power in tho hands of tho police .
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LETTERS FROM PARIS . [ FllOM OUft OWN COHRESPONDKNT . ] Letter LXIX . Paris , Thursday , April 21 , 1853 * .. Akrests continued Saturday , Sunday , Mtwuluy , and Tuesday . They include men in every class ofitlm ? population . Officers and Hub-officers of the garrison of l ' aris arc involved in this mass of Hcizuros , whioh looks aa if there wore a subterranean movement at work in the army , which lSofinpnrte may find future cause to repent . Merchants , too , have been arrested , on tho accusation of having subscribed to a national loun got up in tho name of thu democracy by the refugees of London and Belgium . Afc one moinunt it was said that M . Goudchaux , tho banker , was comprised in the
measure . But it was not correct ; though he has been long a marked man in the eyes of tho Government , us tho trouKurer-genernl of nil tho funds from donations ,, collections , &c , in favoup . of tho proscrilMsd and suffering democratic refugecH . To account for these arrests , the police spread A report of tho discovery of a republican , conspiracy at tho Burriere Fontahiubleau ; hut now that , everybody conspires , and oven if this report were true , it would only ho one of perhaps u thousand / oc < of conspiracy that exist in idl directionrf , no one nttuchoH any importance to tlio report . Nevertheless , I begin to suspect tho truo oiiuho of all these arrests . Our friends in London and Brussels are continually . sending uh > hy tho post , letters , and even , occasionally , printed eireuluru , in envelopes . I Huspect nil thoHO lninsivoH iun * duly opened by tho police , and tho individuate to wlioin
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\ . " - 390 THE LEADER , [ Saturday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), April 23, 1853, page 390, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1983/page/6/
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