classes are educated-and to publish synodical addresses in which he attempts to set class against class-to represent every poor man as a martyr, and every rich man as a tyrant. Such being the case, we ask, therefore, what benefit, can there be in educating men to act under such foreign authority? and further, what has become of the guarantee so pressed upon the attention of Government at the time of the Emancipation Act? Is it not notorious that Paul Cullen refused to take the oath of allegiance? and shall the Pope still be permitted to appoint parties to high stations-who are in fact aliens in the country, and possess neither the rights nor privileges of British subjects-that they may enact laws, and anathematize those who may wish to support the authority of the Government ?* From the various debates, indeed, it was evident that the same game was played in 1825 and 1845 which was so successful in 1795-the terrors of what might take place in case of an invasion-by the Irish Roman Catholics joining with the invaders against the troops of Great Britain, was made to tell so powerfully in the argument, that even the late lamented noble Duke was induced to give it as his opinion that the wishes of the Roman Catholics of the country could not be resisted! Such being the case, that kind Providence which has ever appeared on behalf of Protestant Britain, has wonderfully changed the scene, and in place of the boasted eight millions of Romanists who were by Mr. * On this point see note in Appendix. O'Connell, time after time, held up in terrorem over the English Government, there are at this moment not one-half that number to be found in all Ireland; while the Protestants, who were then said to be a mere fraction of the people, have, like the children of Israel, so increased, as very nearly to balance the number of Roman Catholics now remaining in the country.* Thank Providence on this head there is now no ground of alarm-if such ever existed-as the Protestants of Ireland would be perfectly able to put down any attempt at rebellion which might be fomented by the Romish priests of the country. Indeed, since the periods referred to, things have very much altered in Ireland, as respects the Romish Church and people; and if we are to credit the statements of their own registries and public journals, no necessity now exists for educating the Romish priesthood-they have at present several colleges of their own,† in which a sufficient number of students may now be educated, if they do not think proper to continue Maynooth on their own account, * See extract from Professor Edgar's Essay, in Appendix. †The following list of the Roman Catholic Colleges in Ireland, is taken from their own accredited "Ecclesiastical Register"— Royal College of St. Patrick, Maynooth. Clongowes Wood College, the principal institution of the Jesuits in Ireland. St. Patrick's College, Carlow. St. Vincent's Ecclesiastical College. Catholic Missionary College of All-Hallows. The College of St. Francis Xavier. St. Kyran's College, Kilkenny. Wexford College. St. John's College, Waterford. Diocesan College of Athenry. at their own expense; besides which, large sums are being collected by the Romish Prelates in England, and even in foreign lands, for the establishment of a Roman Catholic college of large capabilities, to be conducted in the most approved fashion of the Roman Catholic exclusionists; and to which it is now well known Dr. Newman has been already appointed President; added to which, Trinity College, and the Queen's Colleges in the provinces, are now open to young men of the Romish persuasion; so that there would be no necessity for their going abroad, while by a united education, what Mr. Grattan and other members considered a great advantage, would be gained*-Roman Catho St. Mary's College, Galway. St. Patrick's College, Armagh. The College of St. Agatha, devoted entirely to the education of young men for the priesthood. In all these institutions young men are trained for the Romish priesthood, and from the Report of the Commissioners of Education Enquiry, it appears that from these sources one hundred and fifty priests are annually added to the number of priests in Ireland. Dr. Doyle, in his evidence, stated that in Clongowes alone there were one hundred and fifty students, each of whom had to pay fifty guineas per annum for his board and education. * The following is the evidence of Dr. Doyle on this point, in 1825— "Do you consider it desirable that the Roman Catholic laity should be educated conjointly with the Protestants?--I see no objection whatever that they should be educated together. On the contrary, if, by being educated together, the harmony of the different sects in Ireland could be promoted, I think that it would be a matter to be desired. "If they were so educated together at Trinity College, Dublin, must they not have separate professors of their own faith to instruct the young men ?-That would not be necessary for those who attend college, as many of those who enter there can lodge in town, and receive religious instruction where they please, and even those who reside within Trinity College have sufficient opportunities of obtaining religious instruction abroad on Sundays. "In point of fact, are there not now some Roman Catholic students in Trinity College, Dublin ?-1 apprehend some hundreds of them. The Roman Catholics in Trinity College are not obliged to attend prayers *For information relative to these Institutions, see Ireland in 1846, p. 25. by P.D. Hardy. lics and Protestants might be, to a certain extent, educated together. From all these circumstances, therefore, it is quite evident, as we have said, that in the present day the same necessity does not exist, for an institution like Maynooth, that was pleaded when that institution was established. No doubt Mr. Shiel observed, in his speech, that "four years spent in Trinity College would constitute a bad apprenticeship for the Confessional!!"-that he was not anxious to see the sons of the gentry of Ireland in the Church." We leave these sentiments of "the great orator" for the calm consideration of the respectable Roman Catholics of Ireland. But there is another point to which we must also more particularly refer that the number of priests educated in Maynooth, is far beyond the actual requirements of the body in Ireland. From the statements in the Roman Catholic registries it appears there are at present in Ireland 2,361 priests, engaged in the regular chapel services, or as missionaries throughout the country, and taking into account the decrease in the Romish population, those would be amply sufficient. Now to keep up this number, not more than one hundred annually would with others; and of course they would resort to the prayers of their own church, at least on Sundays. On other days of the week they might perform their devotions in their chambers." The following is the testimony of Mr. O'Connell, in 1825 "Do you think that a separate education for the Roman Catholic clergy would be an advisable thing to continue or not?-My own wish would be very much that the Catholic and Protestant clergy should be educated in the same university. I think it would be a most desirable thing, and I think it would be one of the consequences that would follow very shortly after emancipation.' be required; and from the statements given by Dr. Doyle before the Parliamentary Committee, it will be seen these could be supplied from Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford, which are all endowed colleges, and from which about one hundred and fifty are annually sent out educated as priests; so far then as the people of Ireland are concerned, it is evident there is no necessity at all for Maynooth-but in reference to this subject, we would enquire what are the real facts of the case? The statements made by Mr. O'Connell and the Editor of the Tablet will explain the matter. Mr. O'Connell observed "The Irish priests are in great demand in ENGLAND! they are very much in demand in all the United States. They are in demand in Canada; in all the British Colonies and even New South Wales is claiming a portion of them." In the Tablet of August 2nd, 1852, we are informed also, that "The main object of the college is to provide an efficient national clergy for Ireland. That she has happily succeeded, the zeal, piety, and uncompromising energy of the Irish priests is a sufficient proof. But, owing to circumstances special to some of the dioceses in Ireland, where, for instance, there might not be an immediate want of clergymen, Maynooth has, from the first year of her establishment down to the present, contributed her glorious contingent of priests and bishops to break the bread of life to those who yet sleep in the shadow of death; and from the wild highlands of Scotland, and the more civilized shires of England herself, to the fertile pampas of the Andes, and the remotest bournes of China and Japan, the |