In our opinion, though we admit we may have thought
differently in the different circumstances of twenty-three years ago, the process should most certainly be one of levelling up. Trinity College has a great past and great traditions, and is
justly proud of them, and we should deem it a great loss to merge these in a new University. She has a right to keep these if she wants to, as we feel sure, and indeed hope, she will. We admit that the levelling-up plan, by creating yet another University, will somewhat overcharge Dublin with University establishments,—there will be Trinity College or the University of Dublin, the Royal University, and the new Roman Catholic University. But, after all, this is not a very serious matter. The great thing is to do what is fair to the Roman Catholics in a way which they will acknowledge to be fair, and at the same time be scrupulously respectful of Protestant rights. If this can only be secured by the plan of two Universities in Dublin—the Royal University is in reality little more than the examining body for the Queen's College, and need not trouble us—then let us have two Universities. In all probability, competition will keep them efficient. We may add that, though we have had letters on both sides, we have been unable to publish them on account of their length.
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