POSTSCRIPT.

SATUBDAY NIGHT.

7 The adjourned debate in the House of Commons, on the second reading of the bill for endowing Maynooth College, ended last night—the sixth night of the discussion—with a majority for the bill in the proportion of thirteen to seven. Our space is reduced to the narrowest limits; but we shall endeavour to-convey the spirit in which this most important contest closed.

The following Conservative Members supported the bill—Lord CLAUDE H A UTT TON, who advocated trying a new course of justice and liberality to combat the prejudices of Ireland against this country; Mr. NEVILLE, Sir FREDERICK TRENCH. Liberals—Mr. MONTESQUIEU BELLEW, Mr. COB- DEN, and Mr. SHEIL: Mr. Shell contended, that if the measure were re-

fused, it would afford the Irish proof that the Government of their native

land was not to be carried on in unison with the views of its inhabitants, but in conformity with the most fanatical portion of the English and

Scotch Dissenters. He promised Sir James Graham, after his palinode, a warm welcome in Ireland. He rejoiced to gather from Sir James's speech that the measure had the full consent of queen Victoria; praying that her visit to Ireland might endow that unhappy country with perpetual peace.

-Three Liberal Members opposed the bill, on the" Voluntary principle." Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD acknowledged its kindly spirit; but resisted a

measure which would help to preserve the Established Church in Ireland.

Mr. MuNTz charged Sir Robert Peel with gross deception, and would never put confidence in him again. Mr. THOMAS DoNcomeE wondered at the

Irish gratitude for this paltry and beggarly grant. The Conservative

opponents were, Captain TAYLOR, Mr. LAW, [Lord Ellenborough's bro- ther,] Mr. FERRAND, and Sir ROBERT INGLIS. Mr. FERRAND read the

declarations made by several of the present Ministers at the late general

election, in which they boasted that they had saved the Church of Eng- land from its open enemies; and asked the people to demand from the Crown a dissolution of Parliament. Sir ROBERT INGLIS called upon Sir Robert Peel to declare, whether this measure was intended as the end or the beginning; whether for the education of five hundred priests, or for the endowment of the whole Roman Catholic Church; and whether such endowment would not be inconsistent with his principles?

Lord JOHN RussELE, glancing eta variety of arguments for and against the measure, and giving the preponderance to those in its favour, pointed

to the bad feeling which would be produced in Ireland, if, on the plea of objecting to all State endowments, arguments were bandied about without coming to any practical measure. To the Protestant Dissenters this country is deeply indebted in respect to all questions of civil and religious liberty; but he regretted to see so much of that intolerant prejudice against the Ro- man Catholic religion which has come down to us from the Reformation.

If you pronounce against measures of the kind on strictly religious prin- ciples, and will not allow the Irish to decide for themselves in such mat- ters, you must dissolve the Union. But Members of Parliament must not

act on every impulse which they receive at the time from their constituents;

they should act.as they did when the Protestant Dissenters begged to be relieved from burdens on their own consciences, and when the Roman

Catholics were relieved in 1829: the object then was, not to favour either Dissenters or Catholics, but to render the same justice which is now offered. The only course to make public as well as pri-

vate life tolerable is, to live well—to act as you think in each situa- tion you will best advance the great interests of your country. Whe- ther this favour is "paltry," it was not for him but for the Irish people to judge: he could only judge by its effect on them. He would indeed

render full justice to the Irish people in respect to that great anomaly, the large Established Church for a small minority. Consider how many Ad-

ministrations, going back only so far as Mr. Pitt's time, have been shaken and broken up by these Irish questions: there has been no great disruption of an Administration but what has been in some degree dependent on the Mate of the Roman Catholics and of Ireland: if therefore you can hit on

any course of policy in which parties generally may agree--in which you may come to some concord on this question of Ireland—you add immeasur-

ably to the strength of the country. Have the petitioners considered all reference which this question has to the strength and power of the coun- try? If not, let him, differing from them with the utmost respect, venture to use his own independent judgment, and vote in favour of a bill which may tend in some degree to heal the bleeding wounds of Ireland, and ren- der it the most improving if not the most happy portion of the British do- minions.

- Sir ROBERT PEEL made one of the most impressive speeches that he ever delivered; less, however, in the elaboration of its pleading, than in its

earnestness, its directness, the plainness of its language, and in the gene- rous breadth of its sentiments. He acknowledged the honourable and inde- pendent conduct with which that debate had been rife, among both the supporters and opponents of the measure, on both sides of the House. Whatever feelings might have affected him in the course of the debate, all were merged in the one feeling of deep earnestness that the House would not be a party to the rejection of the bill. The House might think, and

perhaps not unjustly, that it would have been better that this measure should have proceeded from the constant and strenuous friends of the Roman Ca-

tholics: if so, withdraw your confidence---punish the men; but do not disregard the consequences of rejecting this measure after it has been intro- duced. He had been warned that if he were to appeal to his own consti- tuency, limited and friendly as it is, he would lose his seat: be it so; but could anything induce Ministers, watchful of events in Ireland, to ran their risk, but a sense of public duty? He recapitulated the motives which had actuated them, much as Sir James Graham had done; succinctly repeated the reasons which he gave on pro- posing the bill, for altering the state of Maynooth; and pointed out the

bearing that this measure for the education of priests has upon the Chari- table Bequests Act, which facilitates the voluntary endowment of the Roman Catholic Church by members of its own body. To illustrate the happy feeling already excited in Ireland, he read from a letter signed by sixteen oat Of the seventeen Professors at Maynooth, (one being incapacitated by Bina%) this declaration- -"The undersigned beg leave mostermpectfully to express our deep sense of gratitude for the very liberal provision which :you, as the head of the Govern- ment, have proposed for the education of the Roman Catholic clergy, and still more for the kind and gracious manner in whichlou have recommended the ales attruto the friendly consideration of the House."

Be answered Sir Robert Inglis's questions-

" This proposal is brought forward simply and exclusively on its own abstract merits. This proposal is not part of a preooncerted scheme. 'It ismot brought forward with a design of facilitating the endowment of the ROE= Catholic clergy, by the State. We have had no communication on this subject of endow- ment with any authorities in Ireland or elsewhere. We have nothing on that subject in our contemplation. Reports that we have had some secret communi- cation with higher powers at Rome are altogether without foundation. I enter- tain the strongest conviction that we can do no good in Ireland by secret and en- avowed negotiation with Rome to which the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland is not a party." Ile had no reason to believe that the Catholic body in Ireland are disposed to depart from their late declaration against an endowment; he saw great difficulties in it, especially in the recent demonstration of public feeling in England: but, he said, I will not hamper or embarrass any future Government by a declaration, now, that the difficulties are altogether insuperable." • • • "I cannot say that I think there is a decided religious objection to such a mea- sure." He could not see how those who object to it could get over the difficulty of reconciling their argument with the support of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada and the Colonies, especially in Malta. Dissenters, too, are compelled to pay church-rates, though it is said that it is a violation of conscience to sup- port a church from which you dissent: "if it violates my conscience to contribute towards the support of the Protestant Dissenters in Ulster, it equally violates the conscience of those Protestant Dissenters to contribute to the support of the Established Church."

He would abstain from recriminations; though Mr. Macaulay is the last man who should have thrown out imputations against Government for departing from former precedent-

" But I freely own, that every feeling with regard to imputations of inconsis- tency, every feeling with regard to the security of the Government, every feeling is subordinate to one—do not reject this measure." "As I said before, punish us, visit us with censure; let the two parties combine upon the ground that this policy ought to be carried out by those who were its original projectors; take what course you please, but do not let your indignation fill upon the measure; let it be con- fined to those who have proposed it.' "We have been responsible for the peace of Ireland: you must in some way or other break up that formidable confederacy which exists against the British Government and British connexion: I do not be- lieve you can break it up by force; I believe you can do much by acting in a pirit of kindness, and forbearance, and generosity." There rises in the far Western horizon a cloud, small indeed, but threatening future storms :.Ministers were lately called upon to declare that they were prepared and determined to maintain the rights of this country: "I own to you, that when I was called upon to make that declaration, I did recollect with satisfaction and consolation that the day before I had sent a message of peace to Ireland." [Cheers burst forth repeatedly, at all those passages.] He deprecated war with intense earnestness; but, should it come, he prayed that every pulse throughout this mighty frame might be beating in harmonious action, Ireland standing ranged by our side. And here he al- luded to another contingency- " God forbid that this state of general peace should be disturbed! If it be, I doubt whether, considering what is now transpiring, the vindication of its honour and interests Will not be committed to other hands; but, to whomsoever it be committed, I shall take my place beside them, encouraging them by every support which I can give in a just and honourable cause."

Sir Robert resumed his seat amidst rounds of applause, continued for several minute S,

The House divided, and the numbers were—For the second reading, 323; against it, 176; majority for the measure, 147.

The House was again divided by Mr. TnomAs DUNCOMBE, on the mo tion for going into Committee next Monday, to take the money-vote for Maynooth College. The order for the Committee was carried by 61 to 25; and the House adjourned, at half-past three o'clock this morning.

In the House of Lords, the Marquis of NORMANDY introduced a bill to extend the elective franchise to all persons who pay the Income-tax. Lord STANLEY asked, whether the Marquis meant to guarantee the permanency of the tax? But there was no discussion at that stage.

The Earl of Pow's asked, whether Ministers intended this year to in- terpose, as they did last year, the Royal prerogative, in order to prevent his proceeding with the bill for continuing separately the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor? The Duke of WELLINGTON replied, that he had not received her Majesty's authority to give her consent to the bill. Lord Fowls said that probably he should pursue a course different from that which he took last year, and he would state it on Monday.