The Problem of Irish Education, an Attempt at Its Solution

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...d Lieutenant, the highest in rank of the Lords Justices, most probably the Commander of the Forces, was to fill the place of our Chancellor. It was the sending of the University, its Senate, and its authorities, to pass under the caudine yoke. The placing of the University under the control of a Council of Castle nomination was to convert Irish University education into a State machine, which might possibly have been worked to advance that which is supposed to be the English interest in Ireland; very probably to forward the views of English faction; more likely still for the purpose of the coteries that for the time had the ear of the Castle or the ascendency in the Council; most certainly not for the benefit of Ireland or the development of her intellectual life. The University thus constituted was endowed with 12,000 a year from the revenues of Trinity College, with 10,000 a year from the Consolidated Fund, and with a further contribution from the surplus of the revenues of the disestablished Church; the amount of the latter was not named. Mr. Gladstone estimated the revenues intended for the new University at 50,000 a year. These revenues were all under the absolute control of the University Council. They were to be spent in providing for the expenses of the University examinations for degrees, in paying such Professors as the Council might see fit to appoint, in endowing University Fellowships, tenable for five years--the holders of which were to have no duties to discharge--and, lastly, in founding exhibitions and bursarships for matriculated students, the holders of which were to be under no obligation of residence or otherwise. These latter were, in fact, prizes for proficiency, not aids or helps, unless as the...