IRELAND.
Two events in Dublin, on Friday week, but dissimilar in character, Indicate the transitional position of Ireland in its religious and edu- cational aspects. In the one, we have exhibited the rampant spirit of the ultra-montane school; in the other, one of the items of hope for Ireland's future. The success of the Queen's University carries forward the mixed form of 'education from the common schools to the higher branches of learning. At the meeting of the Queen's University, the Vice-Chancellor, Lord- Chancellor Brady, made a comprehensive speech, in which he historically- and 'critically described the institution-
" The colleges were first opened for the reception of students in the yeat 1849, and it is only eight years since the first meeting of the Senate of the Queen's University to confer degrees was held in this hall: In thaeollege, the total number of matriculated etadents, including -those of the current collegiate year, has amounted to 1423 ; the number of students who have not Matriculated, but who have resorted to the colleges for instruction in various branches of knowledge, has been 570. Thus.very nearly2000 individuals have entered those institutions either as matriculated or non-matriculated students, in, I may say, the 6rst ten years of their existence, and the num- ber attending the superior classes in the colleges this year is 546. In the university we have, in the eighth year of its action, admitted to the degree of bachelor of arts, including those presented to us today, the total number of 198 ; to that of doctor of medicine, 93; and to that of master of arts, 62. We have granted to two the degree of doctor of laws, and to 11 that of bachelor in that faculty. The names of 356 graduates, in each of the various degrees, have thus been placed on the roll of the univer- sity, while our minor distinctions of diplomas in engineering, law, and agri- culture have been conferred respectively on 47 students. In regard to the most important of the social relations of the community—perhaps I must rather, though reluctantly, say the most prominent of their differences—that which arises from the varying formsof religious worship, the number of the collegiate students represent all the classes into which, in this particular, our population stands divided. The members of the Established Church, the Boman Catholic, the Presbyterians, the 1Vesleyans, the Covenanters, the Independents, the Seceders, the members of the Society of Friends—all in greater or less proportion, as might be-expected from their relative num- bers in each locality—have bad, and have, their representatives in this common body of associated students, and the general benefit of our collegi- ate and university system, as they have been freely offered to all classes of our fellow-subjects, have by all been thus freely accepted and enjoyed."
The Earl of Carlisle was present, and made one of his genial efforts-
" I consider, with pride as well as pleasure, that I am supported on this occasion by my ',own more immediate associate in the charge of Government, the Irish Chief Secretary, Mr. Cardwell. Without entering further here upon topics not connected with the time, place, and purpose of our present gathering, it is at least notineippropriate to remember that, in the manly and liberal studies of his own Umversity of Oxford, he laid the foundations of that success which, by bringing-the resultsof careful and enlightened eulure to bear upon an eminently calm and clear understanding, he has since achieved upon the ruder and more important theatres of thought and action. And I might refer to many here present as witnesses that he has devoted in a marked degree his time, care, and judgment to the concerns of the Queen's University in Ireland. We have also the high gratification of seeing among us on this day a most accomplished Irishman, Sir Thomas Wyse, who in the Parliament of the realm was the first to recommend and the steadiest to press for the establishment of these new seats of learning in the provinces of Ireland. He had hardly seen the accomplishment of these his early and persevering aspirations brought about by the ready appreciation and con- genial sympathies of the late Sir Robert Peel, when he was himself trans- ferred to a remote, but it may be well termed a still more classical sphere. How trustfully he may have represented and promoted the interests of his country at the Court of Greece, this is not the opportunity to examine. I can at least depose that no more trustworthy or thoroughly informed guide could be found to show the stranger over every inch of that sacred soil—every fragment of that immortal Athens—the city of the violet crown—the honeyed hill of Hymettus—the scarce-seen stream of the Ilyesus—the gleaming quarries of Pentilicus—the unmatched glories of the Parthenon—the olive groves of the Academy. No one, I well know, is more intent to watch or more eager to fan the faintest spark that may lurk among the mouldering embers of that old glory ; and it as the same spirit that now watches over the infant efforts of regenerate Greece that formerly laboured to add new ele- ments of art and knowledge to the reviving civilization of old Ireland. And it will be a gratifying tribute to what has been accomplished here if on his return to his post he shall be able to kindle the emulation of those who still tread the haunts of Socrates and Plato by recounting to them what he has witnessed of progress and energy in his native land."
On Friday week, a grand " requiem for the brave," so highly cere- monial in its form as to excel anything of -the kind since the Catholic services on the death of O'Connell in 1847, was celebrated for the souls of the brave "Pope's Irish Brigade," who fell fighting the battles of the "Common Father of the Faithful." Great preparations had been made, and their more description occnpies a considerable space in the Freeman's Journal. The feature of the day was, however, Archbishop Cullen's so- called " sermon." He declared that in thus commemorating the services of those.who had died "in defending the eternal principles of justice and religion" they "had walked in the footsteps of the saiuts, and followed the traditions of the church." The noble fellows had fought like heroes, and died like martyrs : their career was short, but it was glorious ; they sacrificed their hope andprospects for the protection of religion and well- being of mankind. - 'The Archbishop was very severe upon that "un- happy man" 'Victor Emmanuel," a wicked Ahab had cast his covetous eye on the vineyard of Naboth ; " "he had shed torrents of innocent blood that will cry up to Heaven for vengeance against him." The Sar- dinians had acted like robbers, had seized the strongest positions, and have nothing but perfidy and brute force to -boast of. The "anti- Catholic and -brutalized press of England" praised these proceedings. The present contest was "only one scene in the long struggle carried on from the beginning of the world' between virtue and vice, light and darkness." The right hand of Victor Emmanuel is the Dictator o Naples, "a man who can only be classed amongst pirates and free' hooters." Garibaldi was educating his son as a Protestant, and did al- he could to show his hatred for the Papacy, the Catholic Church, and the priesthood. A panegyric upon the present Pope closed the service. On Wednesday, a meeting of the clergy, secular and regular, was bald in St. Kevin's Chapel, Marlborough Street, Dublin. Archbishop Cullen presided, and made an opening speech which to a very large extent was a repetition of his sermon on the previous Friday. Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi were again abused; their names "will be branded to the,end of time with ignominy and disgrace." It was a happiness for Ireland to "have among her representatives her O'Ferralls, hfansells, hiaguirat and O'Donogbue's, and other distinguished Men who had protested against the dangerous doctrines of our Ministers." Canon Redmond, who proposed a vote of thanks to the Marquis of Norrnanhy, was of epinkffi that-" the world is out of joint," for he said-
" All the established ideas of right and wrong, truth and falsehood, sat-
archv and order, loyalty and rebellion, appear to be reversed, and the doe- - trine' of the Apostle, inculcating subjection to the higher power under the penalty of damnation, seems to be exploded, .as unsuited to the present state of the world ; and people are told that they may resist any power, no matter how lawfully acquired and justly administered, and may set aside their rulers quite irrespective of their good or evil deeds, without fear of any re- proach from men or punishment from God."
The Canon expounded the title of the Pope to the Roman States, but we are unable to say whether it is the right or the wrong idea, as all such ideas are now " reversed"—
"The States of theChurch are not given to the Pope for his private use and benefit, but, as his name implies, are intrusted, to him for the benefit of the Church at large; and if he allowed them to be wrested from their intended object without employing every reasonable means of defence, he would incur a most serious responsibility before God. When therefore these states were sacrilegiously invaded, the Pope was not only warranted but bound to call on the children of the Church, no matter where, to assist him in protecting theirscommon property ; and the illustrious Lamorioiere and the immortal Pimodan and their brave army, in obeying that call, aoted the part of dutiful children to their spiritual Father, and loyal soldiers to a true and righteous sovereign, and those who died fell in a holy cause, martyrs to their duty, to justice, and to God."
had as England is, it is assuring to be told, that we are not altogether irredeemable—
"But the character of England has l‘een considerably redeemed by an illus- trious nobleman [Lord Normanby l] who has ever dared to be just, and feared not ; who saw Irishmen with his own eyes, appreciated their many noble qualities, and never hesitated to do them justice—whose government in Ireland was marked by the strictest impartiality, confronting faction in its most dominant shape and doing justice to the people at large—whose conduct through life has been distinguished by stainless personal honour and the support of the soundest public principles." The vote was passed.
The sailors of a Sardinian vessel lying in Galway harbour having become objects of opprobrium to some of the inhabitants, principally young lads, took the law into their own hands, and chased a crowd of boys. One of the boys, Greany, was stabbed in the side and fell. The crew were arrested at night, and have been remanded. The cause of the quarrel was Garibaldi, for whom the sailors were supposed to have sympathies.
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