In consequence of the postponement of the redistribution clauses in
the Irish Reform Bill, the Queen's University has lost its repre- sentation for the present. air. Chichester Fortescue, who wishes
to see a single University in Ireland, including the Roman Catholics and all sorts of Protestants, as in the case of the London University, proposed to group it with the University of Dublin. This would have been, however, at present very like merging it altogether, as the Queen's University musters only about 880 qualified voters, and the Dublin University (when the fee for the honorary M.A. is removed) will have upwards of 3,300. The Queen's University would constitute therefore a very small satellite to the Dublin planet, and could scarcely be said to have a representation by being annexed to it. Mr. Chichester Fortescue lost his motion by 10 votes,-183 against to 173 for it. Mr. Fawcett's motion to substitute the Queen's University for Portarlington was also defeated by an immense majority, 210 against 55. The Queen's University, which well deserves repre- sentation, will ultimately get it in some shape or other,—we rather hope as one element in an Irish national University, which should contain Trinity College, Dublin, and all the other Catholic and Protestant Colleges likewise.
Previous page
