that no evil of any kind could arise out of this plan; for the benevolent design of Lord Stanley "to diminish the violence of religious animosities by the association of Protestant and Roman Catholic children, in a system of education in which both might join, and in which the large majority, who were opposed to the religion of the state, might practically see how much there was in that religion common to their own," has failed signally and in toto; the children of different persuasions do not, and will not, commingle in these schools as at present constituted. Occasionally we found in the south a few Protestants-averaging perhaps four to a hundredamong the Roman Catholic pupils; and in the north about the same proportion of Roman Catholics with Presbyterians and members of the Established Church; but in no instance did we find the opposite classes so mixed as to lead us to anticipate results such as those which the accomplished and generous statesmen certainly hoped for, and, perhaps, expected; in this respect the plan has been a failure; in all other respects it has been, we think, successful beyond the expectations of its most sanguine upholders. We believe, then, that the system is working well-marvellously well, considering the great and manifold difficulties by which it was formerly surrounded; many of these difficulties have been surmounted; others have been materially lessened; and those that remain may be removed by the cordial co-operation of the clergy of the Established Church. Let us hope that this will be no longer withheld; "so that "-we quote an eloquent passage from one of the many 'Reports' submitted to Parliament—they may assist "in bringing up children of all denominations in feelings of charity and good-will, in making them regard each other not as belonging to rival sects, but as subjects of the same sovereign, as fellows of the same redemption, so that all may hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life." Our notice of Dublin and its educational institutions has been extended far beyond its due proportions; but we cannot bring it to a close without mentioning, however briefly, an event which will long be remembered in its annals: we allude to the royal visit of August, 1849. Her Majesty's sojourn in the Irish metropolis was limited to a few days; but, with her accustomed activity, she so well employed her hours, that ample time was found to see the principal objects of interest in Dublin and its vicinity, to render her Irish subjects of all ranks happy by her frequent appearance in public, and to exercise one of the most pleasing, if not the most important functions of royalty—the holding of a drawing-room and levee in the Castle of Dublin. The mere enumeration of the places visited by Queen Victoria and her royal consort would be but a tedious catalogue; and as our limits preclude us from describing the innumerable modes in which Irish loyalty made evident its desire to do honour to the auspicious occasion, of Dubla and seductional soorn in the Irish metropolis w ito a Aa days; but, with her accustor she so well employed her hours, tr priple tiene ser fotud to see the principal J ら fs' rest in Dublin and its vicinity, t render or Irish subjects of ail ranks happy by herent appearance in public, and to exercise one of the most pleasing, if not the most important functions of royalty--the holding of a drawing-room and levee in the Castle of Dublin. The mere emmeration of the places visited Ly Queen Victoria and her royal consort would but a tedious catalogue; and as our limits de us from describing the innumerable which Irish loyalty made evident its o honour to the auspicious occasion, Phoenix Park, Dublin Reproduced from an Original Photograph |