tal, 800

In order to find the proportion of Roman Catholics,[1] I have taken, at
random, five years from 1855 to 1859, during which 1378 Students entered
Trinity College, of whom 80 were Roman Catholics, and 61 were Protestant
Dissenters and Jews. We may, therefore, assume that the 1200 Students are
distributed as follows:--

1. English Church, 1077
2. Roman Catholic Church, 70
3. Protestant Dissenters, 53
----
Total, 1200

The preceding figures give an average of six per cent. of Roman Catholic
Students in Trinity College, and in no department of the College do they
exceed ten per cent. Thus, in the Medical School, in which there is a
larger proportion than in other professional schools, during the four years
ending 1867, out of 300 Students matriculated in Medicine, exactly thirty
were Roman Catholics, and three were Jews.

Let us now examine briefly the effect of secularizing Trinity College upon
the Protestant and Roman Catholic Students respectively.

It cannot be believed by any one, that the passing of an Act of Parliament
secularizing Trinity College would alter in the slightest degree the
sentiments and wishes of the 1100 Students of the English Church, or those
of the parents and guardians who placed them in Trinity College, knowing
and expecting that they would there receive, not only a liberal education,
but instruction and training in the principles of the Church of England.
Those 1100 young and intelligent Students would still demand an education
based upon religion; a demand which would be promptly answered by the
Clerical Fellows of the College; and it cannot be doubted that, if they
were well led by earnest and competent teachers, they would found a second
Trinity College within the walls, which would perpetuate the principles of
the College founded by Elizabeth. Such a movement the Parliament would find
itself unable to control; for the portion of the funds of Trinity College
that is now expended on the education of the Clergy would be allowed, in
common justice, to be allocated in future to the same object; and the
Clerical Professors and Fellows would gather round them the germ of the
Trinity College of the future, faithful to the traditions of the past, and
perchance surpassing the reputation of the old College for learning.

From what I know of the