sity of attending to the education of the people. If England is to maintain her pre-eminence, that must be the first and chief object of government and legislation. If Ireland is to participate in the prosperity of the empire, in the government and administration, and to have a fair share in commerce and manufactures (in order to qualify the people to discharge the different offices of state, and to fulfil the duties of citizens and subjects with advantage to the empire and the general welfare), a sound National Education should be provided by the State. In Ireland the greatest necessity existed for the removal of absurd prejudices, which long prevailed, and the diffusion of liberal opinions, "by a mixed education, whereby the youth of the land may gradually unlearn the prejudices, antipathies, and mutual injustices of oneanother, which a separate education might engender."* Too long had the people of Ireland been neglected, their prosperity and happiness lost sight of, the national resources undeveloped, and education totally overlooked by the State.

At length a better spirit appeared to animate the councils of the Government; they turned their attention to the importance of National Instruction. The National Schools were established; and now, under Divine Providence, the people in general receive a good and excellent education. But the education of the mass of the people was not (although a great step in advance) sufficient to satisfy the claim of Ireland in this respect. A more extended education was required for the benefit of those who desired to attain a higher position in the ranks of society, and whose ambition aimed at an ampler and wider field of action. To meet this requirement, the Queen's University was founded by letters patent in the year 1850, with power of granting Degrees in the several Faculties of Arts, Medicine, and Law. The University consists of a Chancellor and Senate, and is established as a Corporation, with perpetual succession. The Senate meet at St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle, for holding Examina

Visitation Charge of the Most Rev. R. C. Trench, D. D., Archbishop of Dublin.

tions and conferring Degrees. In connexion with the University are the Queen's Colleges at Belfast, Cork, and Galway, which are liberally endowed by a Government grant. The merit of originating these noble institutions is due to the late illustrious and lamented Sir Robert Peel, who had ever the real welfare of Ireland at heart. Nothing more truly contributed to the advancement of education than the foundation of these much-needed Colleges.

Sir Robert Peel, in propounding the system of united education in the Queen's Colleges for the consideration of the Legislature, said:

"You may have the opinions that you desire, but I shall relinquish with the greatest regret the hopes of an education for Ireland which will give combined instruction to the youth of the Protestant, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic creeds"

Lord Carlisle, in his Address at the meeting of the Senate, on the 11th October, 1861, with much truth and feeling observed:

"It will be in the knowledge of those whom I address that the Act which established the Queen's Colleges in Ireland was passed during the Administration of the late Sir Robert Peel. Amongst the witnesses of their early progress, I rejoice to see at my side to-day the son of that eminent statesman and friend of Ireland. There is no one who has left a deeper mark on the recent annals of this country. There is no one whose memory is more intimately associated with the marvellous work of Irish improvement and progress. Most fervently I trust that the son is destined effectually to carry on the same beneficent and exalted mission; and that, among other subjects of hereditary labour, this Institution will largely share and reward his fostering care."

Sir Robert Peel, the talented and generous son of that great statesman, who had been recently appointed to the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland (an office so ably filled by his lamented father), then addressed the Senate. He made an excellent and admirable speech upon the prospects and progress of the Queen's University. In the course of his observations he said :

"The public spirit of the country ought to come forward, and endeavour to place the Queen's University on the footing of other academic institutions.

"If you allow me, I wish to take this opportunity of saying that, as I am so firmly convinced of the immense advantage which would accrue to the youth of this country by offering exhibitions for competition, I will myself, with the permission of the Senate, establish three Scholarships of £40 a-year each--one for each of those Colleges--for the space of ten years. I only hope the example which I set may be followed by those who have a more direct interest in the welfare of this country. I do not take any credit to myself for doing this. I esteem it as an honour to be able to assist in the work which was commenced by my father, and I accept this position, as I may almost say, on the plea of 'founder's kin.' I have spoken with the Secretary of the University, and I have to-day placed in his hands a memorandum bearing on the subject. I hope that others will come forward and assist in establishing ten or twelve scholarships, exhibitions, or what you please to call them, for the undergraduates of this University. At all events I myself, for a period of ten years, will establish annually three Scholarships of £40 each-one for each of these Colleges."

Thus did Sir Robert Peel realize the hopes and anticipations of Lord Carlisle by taking an ardent part in the success of the institution, continuing to watch over its interests with zeal and assiduity, and devoting his best energies to its progress and welfare. The example of Sir Robert Peel was productive of great good. Large subscriptions were received for the purpose of founding several additional Scholarships. A committee was formed, which issued a circular, calling attention to the claims of the University to the consideration of the country-comparing the limited funds. of the institution for conferring prizes and exhibitions with those of the older seats of learning, and soliciting the assistance of all who were interested in the moral and material improvement of the country, and, from their station and wealth, able to influence it to the public advantage.

The consequences of this appeal were the creation of a sufficient fund for the endowment of prizes and exhibitions in connexion with the Queen's Colleges, for the reward of merit, and to promote emulation in the students and graduates, which is so essential to the steady progress in learning of all educational institutions.

Sir Robert Peel was the chief promoter of this movement, and in every other respect applied his active "hereditary labour" to the progress of the great work of education. It would be interesting to describe fully the extent of improvement realized; but so many treatises of ability have been published on the subject, that no necessity exists for increasing the number.* Suffice it to say that the general progress of the system in the favour of the people was truly gratifying, and the results attained most satisfactoryfully justifying the expectations of the illustrious founder and the hopes of all interested in the eventual success of the grand experiment.

These measures for the improvement and regeneration of the people of Ireland have proved of vast benefit, and will in time effect a complete change in the condition and prosperity of the country.

Several liberal-minded and enlightened Viceroys were appointed to the Irish Government, and applied themselves to carrying out the intentions of the Legislature in passing these beneficial measures. Not one of these excellent and good Viceroys was deficient in point of duty; but none displayed the tact, the judgment, and the ability of the Earl of Carlisle, who devoted himself to the prosperity of Ireland, and the education of her people, heart and soul. The duties of supervising the National System of Education embraced the entire period of his Secretaryship and Viceroyalty. The annual meetings of the Queen's University for the conferring of Degrees and Distribution of Prizes were held at St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle. On these interesting occasions the Earl of Carlisle was wont to address the assembly upon the progress of the institution for the past year, and no one can depict in colours sufficiently vivid the impression created on the minds of the students by his apt allusions. Nothing could exceed the emulation he excited; his earnest encouragement and

See Godkin's admirable work, "Education in Ireland; its History, Institutions, Systems, Statistics and Progress."

advice must have exercised a great and abiding influence. In fact, his fostering care, unremitting attention, and wise counsels, gave an impulse to the progress of education that cannot be described. Sir Robert Peel, Chief Secretary for Ireland, in his speech at the conferring of Degrees in October, 1864, says:—

"This, I believe, is the twelfth anniversary on which you assembled in this Hall, in connexion with the Queen's University. On eight of these occasions, Lord Carlisle, as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, presided here. How great, then, is his loss on this occasion! He was not the only Lord Lieutenant who has given us his countenance and support. Lord Clarendon I would specially refer to, whose name cannot be mentioned within the precincts of this University without gratitude and respect-to whom we owe the establishment of the Medical Schools in our Colleges. Lord Eglinton, when he came to Ireland, in 1852, at once consented to preside in this Hall. The Earl of St. Germans, when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, said:- When I was Chief Secretary for Ireland, I was instrumental in drawing up the Act which gave the Queen's Colleges to Ireland; and I now rejoice, as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to witness their success in this country.' Although all the several Lords Lieutenant paid every attention to promote the interests which we are here to advocate, there were none after Lord Clarendon who did more service for us than Lord Carlisle. He made the country his home; his whole soul was wrapt up in the service of his Sovereign as Viceroy, and in endeavouring to promote the welfare of this country. There was nothing that could in any way advance the social and material prosperity of Ireland that he was not anxious to promote."

Professors of distinguished merit were appointed, selected according to the system of competitive examinations, which gave universal satisfaction. The interests of the students were in all respects considered. The results of this judicious mode of administering the system were shown in the increasing estimation in which these institutions were held by the people, in the augmented number of students, in the emulation promoted among them, and in the great success of many of them at the competitive examinations for appointments in the Indian and Civil Service. At these examinations the students of the Queen's University carried away many of the most valuable prizes and civil appointments, and highly distinguished themselves, adding lustre to