1808. 
the petitioners to keep up the connection 
with the Continent, under ail its disad- 
vantages: to grant it, would be render- 
ing the Catholics poke country .the me 
dependent patrons of their own schools 
and system of education. Govern- 
ment, therefore, adopted a medium: 
the Catholics obtained leave fer one col- 
lege, to possess in land one  Enousand 
pounds a year, and no more:* but then 
eight thousand pounds were granted py 
parliament, with the expectation of the 
same grant being renewed annually ; 
though without any certainty, This pre- 
carious and insufcient boon was hailed 
by the un suspecting Catholics, as the 
most auspicious omen of futyre favours : 
while by the cabinet it was prubi bly in- 
tended as the means of controuling both 
pastors and people. 
The sum of eight thousand pounds was 
given for the education of Catholics, 
without distinction of laity or clergy: 
but before education could commence, 
buildings were requisite to be found. 
For this purpose no money was yet ap- 
propriated: years therefure might elapse 
ae from the saving of the fund, any 
houses could be erected. Five years had 
already passed away siuce the connection 
with the Continent had been interrupted ; 
five more must pass over before the new 
seminary could be fiited up to receive its 
complement of pupils and professors. 
Never was there a better opportunity 
of forming a selection from the literati 
throughout the Catholic countries of 
Europe; most of whom, especially such 
as belonged to the clerical orders, had 
been set adrift by the consequences of 
the French Revolution; and would ea- 
gerly have embraced any decent offer of 
a permanent establishment. But alas, 
for want of means, of a building, aud of a 
perpetual grant, only two foreigners were 
adopted as members of the college: and 
three natives of merit received their ap~ 
pointment the first year, 1795. ‘The lat- 
ter were the professors, Aherne wee 
Paris; Clineb and Euatace, both educa- 
ted in Ireland. The college has already 
lost Dr, Aherne, by death, in avery few 
years: and the other two by resignation, 
Delort,an emigrant of repite asa ynatural 
philosopher, has also vacated his place 
by resignation on his return to France. 
* In 1794, the Musicians of Dublin got an 
Act passed in their favour withouc difficulty. 
They were empowered to possess an uali- 
mited fund: to chuse and dismiss a come 
mnittee, &c. Happy fidlers | 
‘at Maynooth, near Dublin, 
‘closing, 
435 
So that Abbé Darré, a Gascon, is the 
only one remaining of the original sci- 
entific teachers. The other appointments 
of the first year, such as that of President 
Hassey, D.D, Vice-president Power, 
A.M. Secretary’ Dunn, DD. &c. 
served more to the farnintion than to the 
celebrity of the institution. 
Such an opportunity of uniting all the 
literary talents of the continent can 
never recur, It is fruitless now to la- 
ment the parsimony and the shufiling 
which prevented Ireland from profiting 
by it. 
The next year, 1796, the college made 
agreat acquisition in Dr, Claney, an Irish 
professor from Pracue; and the onl 
professor of the Holy Scriptares the 
establishment ever had. 
Before the end of 1795, the studies com- 
menced ; for we reckon thirty-seven stu 
dents who entered immediately; of fa eid 
thirty-fve were twenty-five years old ae 
upwards, on their admission ; two, were 
younger and soon left college, while the 
others prosecuted their studies and were 
ordained in due time. In the second 
year only nineteen more were admitted: 
maki ing in all forty-six students; to these 
thirceen others were added in 1797. 
in the year 1798, the number of ad- 
mitted were nineteen. None tntherte 
had paid any money on admission: we 
presume the buildings had not heen 
fitted up for their reception, so that stu- 
dents and perhaps some professors must 
have lodged with the villagers. We reck- 
on eighty-one admissions in 1799, and 
now for the first time, we find admissiun~ 
money amounting to nine hundred pounds. 
And need there “ 3, for this year governe 
ment gave nothing. 
* In the second year, 1796, the grant was 
only seven thonsand pounds, ** to enable the 
trustees to tuild a seminary capable of con- 
taining two, hundred persons. In 1797, the 
suin of ten thousand pounds was given, and in 
1798, that of ten thousand three hundred and 
two pounds, five shillings, and ten pence, to 
complete the building of the Catholic se+ 
minary at Maynootn. “It is expressly required 
that an estimate and plan be laid before pare 
liament, and thence we may suppose the 
oid pounds, shillings, and pence, to arise. 
The sum total expended in building and en- 
to 1808, is stated at twenty one 
thousand six hundred and forty-three pounds, 
one shilling, and ning pence half-penny ; yet 
Sir john Carr asserts, that government 
advanced forty thousand pounds for building. 
What a stranger to Ireland!«In 1799, we 
find no grant whatever, 
| This 
