HOUSE OF LORDS.

April 4. The Earl of Clarendon, after briefly noticing the conduct of America towards Texas, and the extraordinary terms in which Mr. Polk had declared the unequivocal right of the United States to the whole OREGON TERRITORY, reviewed the grounds upon which the British claims are founded, and concluded by expressing his anxious hope, that while, whatever could be justly claimed should be readily conceded, the government would not shrink from vindicating, if necessary, the nation's honour or upholding her interests. -Lord Aberdeen would willingly lay before the House the details of the negociation upon the subject of the Oregon territory, and appeal to them for his entire justification in the face of Europe; but, although this might hereafter be necessary, it would now certainly be impolitic. He declined to enter into an examination of the British title to the territory in dispute, but proceeded to explain the course the negociation had taken since the signing of the Washington treaty, and concluded by expressing a hope that this question might be amicably adjusted; but if not, we possessed rights, clear and unquestionable, "which," continued the noble Earl amid loud and general cheering," by the blessing of God, and the support of Parliament, the Government is prepared to maintain."

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

March 31. In a Committee of Supply, Mr. Corry brought forward the NAVY ESTIMATES. An increase, he said, was required for the purpose of meeting the fresh demands on this branch, to add new ships, and also to increase the number of men by 4000. The total charge for the ensuing year would be 6,936,1927. being an excess over that of last year of 68,6727.

April 2. In a Committee of Supply, the ARMY ESTIMATES were brought forward, and the number of troops to be maintained for the military service of the United Kingdom, exclusive of those employed in the East Indies, during the year ending the 31st of March 1846, was fixed at 100,011 men.

April 3. The House went into committee upon the Acts relating to the COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH, when Sir Robert Peel proceeded to develope the plans of the Government relating to that institu

tion.

The House was at liberty to pursue three different courses. First, they could continue, without alteration, the present system. Secondly, they could discontinue it, giving due notice of their intention, and providing for existing interests; and, thirdly, they could, in a friendly and liberal spirit, adopt the institution as one for making adequate provision for the spiritual instruction of millions of their fellow countrymen, with a view to improv ing the system of education, and thereby elevating the whole tone of character and feeling. The first course, that of leaving matters as they now stood, was most open to objection. They professed to educate spiritual instructors for millions; and the annual amount they gave, 9,000l. was just enough to paralyse all voluntary exertion, which, if the grant were withdrawn, would be called into active exercise. If it be a violation of principle to educate the Roman Catholic priesthood, they did it now. The Lord Chancellor (of Ireland) and the judges were the visi tors of that institution; and in its favour they had repealed the statute of mortmain, so as to enable its trustees to hold land to the extent of 10001. ayear. But what was the amount of their endowment? They gave a sum which enabled the three professors of theology to be paid at the rate of 1201. per annum, while others averaged still less. present 440 students were educated at Maynooth, of whom 250 were "free" students, for whose support and education there could only be apportioned the sum of 231. each. Himself attached to the Established Church, he felt that it would be more in accordance with the faith he professed to afford to those from whom he differed, but who sincerely entertained their own principles, the means of adequate and sufficient spiritual instruction and consolation. If they withdrew the grant, let them look to its ultimate con sequences. They gave a grant to the Presbyterians of Ireland; in the coloniesCanada, the Mauritius, and elsewherethey officially recognised the faith of those of their fellow subjects who differed from the Established Church; even in Ireland itself they provided for the endowment of Roman Catholic chaplains to the gaols. Dismissing, then, the idea of leaving the grant in its present state, or of withdrawing it, he came to the third course, which

At

was the one the Government were prepared to adopt. In a liberal and confiding spirit, they proposed to provide a liberallyeducated priesthood for the Roman Catholic Church. First, they would enable the trustees of Maynooth to hold real property to the extent of 30007. per annum. Secondly, a sum of 60001. should be vested in the trustees to enable them to give to the president and professors salaries from 250l. to 3001. and also adequately to support the library of the institution. Thirdly, provision should be made for the education of 500 pupils. To the students on Lord Dunboyne's foundation, twenty in number, he would appropriate 401. per annum; for the support of the entire number of 500, he would assign 281. annually; but to 250, being divinity students, he would give 201. additional. The buildings of the college should be maintained, so as to afford a decent and distinct apartment to each student, and he would devolve this care, as well as that of repairs and embellishments, on the Board of Works. There should be five visitors, who should discharge their duty annually instead of triennially, as at present; but no power would be conferred of interfering with discipline, doctrine, or worship, as he had no desire to spoil a measure which was conceived and intended to be received in a spirit of unmixed liberality. The distinct vote for Maynooth should be 30,0001. for this year.

Sir R. H. Inglis, in a speech of considerable length and eloquence, stated the reasons which induced him to give a decided negative to the proposition, and to divide the House on the question. Entertaining no animosity towards his Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen, he insisted on the Protestant character of our institutions, which ought to preclude us from

being parties to anything which would tend to increase Roman Catholicism. The endowment of Maynooth was not a question of compact or engagement, and could only be defended on the ground of expediency, which he repudiated as a principle, and considered that in practice it failed of producing its expected results. On a division there appeared for the resolution, 216; against it, 114.

April 4. Sir R. Peel made a declaration with reference to the question of the OREGON TERRITORY, similar to that made by the Earl of Aberdeen in the Upper House, which was received with great cheering.

April 7. The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed a resolution for the abolition of the AUCTION DUTIES. After some discussion, a division took place-for the motion, 167; against it, 30. It was then agreed that the auction licence for each individual auctioneer should be 107.

April 11. On the motion for the second reading of the MAYNOOTH COLLEGE Bill, Mr. Colquhoun opposed it, and moved that it be read a second time that day six months, which was seconded by Mr. Grogan. The debate was adjourned to Monday, April 14, and continued every evening during the week to the 18th, when the House divided for the motion 323, against it 176.

April 23. On the motion for Committee on the same Bill, Mr. Ward moved as an amendment that "it is the opinion of this House, that any provision to be made for the purposes of the present Bill, ought to be taken from the funds already applicable to Ecclesiastical purposes in Ireland." The debate was adjourned to the following evening, when a division took place: Ayes 322, Noes 148.

SPAIN.

M. Martinez de la Rosa has formally communicated the fact that the Holy See has at length declared that the moment has arrived for renewing relations with Spain, and expressed his opinion that the desired concordat would soon be obtained. The unsold lands are restored to the clergy, a measure which appears to give unbounded satisfaction to the rural population of Spain. The Spanish Government, however, require from the Pope the sanction of the sale of the national property already disposed of.

UNITED STATES.

The Bill for the Annexation of Texas passed the Senate on the 27th February, the Representatives on the 27th, and was returned, with the signature of the President, on the 1st instant. The Mexican Minister has, in the interim, declared his intention of protesting against the measure. The impression appears pretty general that the Mexicans will view it as an open act of hostility, and will probably declare war. The Oregon Occupation Bill was moved in the Senate on the 3rd, and, on a vote, was lost-23 against, and

March 20. The great laboratory connected with the Apothecaries' Hall at Liverpool, was destroyed by fire. The building was filled with chemical materials, which made the conflagration, towering up for hundreds of feet, like the eruption of a volcano, with occasional bursts of red glare, green flame, and dense black smoke. The loss is estimated at between 70001. and 10,0007.

March 22. The corporation of Manchester have completed negociations with Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart. for the purchase of the manorial rights of the town, which are estimated to be worth 218,755. The average proceeds for the last few years have been 92141. 168. ed. arising from tolls, properties, &c. The council, after mature deliberation, have agreed to pay Sir Oswald Mosley the sum of 200,000l. for the whole of his manorial rights and properties, and to mortgage them for the interest of the amount, which is to be paid at the rate of 33 per cent. per annum. They have also agreed to pay off the principal by instalments of not less than 40007. and of not more than 60007. per annum. By this arrangement it is calculated that the tolls, chief-rents, &c. will realise 10007. a-year more than the sum required to pay the interest. In the year 1808 the proceeds of the Manchester manorial rights were 28007. whilst in 1844 they amounted to upwards of 10,000/.

IRELAND.

The old bridge over the river Shannon at Athlone was lately blown up by Col. Jones, R.E. who sunk gunpowder in shafts under the piers, and then exploded the train by a fusee, thus effectually demolishing the structure upon which King James' and William's armies had contended for victory.

The College of Maynooth is situated in the county of Kildare, which also contains another of the principal Roman Catholic educational establishments in Ireland, namely, that at Clongoweswood. The Royal college of St. Patrick, Maynooth, was founded pursuant to an act passed by

the Irish Parliament in 1795, in order to provide "a home education" for the Irish priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church, who were formerly obliged to resort to the various colleges on the continent. It was first opened for the reception of 50 students in October 1795, and consequently, in the autumn of the present year will complete its first half-cen tury. A lay college was attached soon after the commencement of the establishment, but that addition to the original The plan was discontinued in 1817. buildings of the college in its present state are fitted for the accommodation of 450 students. Of this number 250 are free students, who are selected by the bishops of the several dioceses at yearly provincial examinations. They pay eight guineas upon their entrance into the college, and that is their only expense. The rest of the students in the establishment are either "pensioners" who pay twentyone guineas per annum, and four guineas entrance, or half-pensioners," who pay half that amount a-year. The expenses of the college are supported by these various sources of revenue and by private bequests, in addition to the present Parliamentary vote of £8,928, granted each year. The college is governed by a President, Vice-President, Dean, and Procurator, or Bursar; and the education of the students is under the superintendence of professors of the Sacred Scriptures, of dogmatic theology, moral theology, natural and experimental philosophy, logic, belles lettres, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, English elocution, and of the Irish and French languages. The students rise at half-past five o'clock, and retire to rest at half-past nine in the evening, eight hours being thus allowed for repose.. The students usually remain at the college for their period of study five years. Two of these are devoted to humanity, logic, and mathematics, and three to theology. The course, however, is sometimes shortened by the omission of mathematics from the list of the studies. The college buildings consist of a plain centre, with extensive returning wings. The cost of the erection was 32,0001. before some late additions had been even commenced. There are fifty-four acres of land attached, which are laid out as a park for the recreation of the students.