“The commissioners of education in 1824-5, sensible of the defects of the system, and of the ground, as well as the strength of the objection taken, recommended the appointment of two teachers in every school, one protestant and the other Roman catholic, to superintend separately the religious education of the children; and they hoped to have been able to agree upon a selection from the Scriptures that might have been generally acquiesced in by both persuasions. But it was soon found that these schemes were impracticable; and, in 1828, a committee of the house of commons,[57] to which were referred the various Reports of the commissioners of education, recommended a system to be adopted, which should afford, if possible, a combined literary, and a separate religious education, and should be capable of being so far adapted to the views of the religious persuasions which prevail in Ireland, as to render it, in truth, a system of National education for the poorer classes of the community.” ----- [56] This society, originally founded in 1811 under the designation of “The Society for promoting the Education of the Poor in Ireland,” was managed by gentlemen of various religious persuasions, on the principle of promoting the establishment and assisting in the support of schools, in which the appointment of governors and teachers, and the admission of scholars should be uninfluenced by religious distinctions, and in which the Bible and Testament, without note or comment should be read, excluding catechisms and books of religious controversy. In 1814-15 a grant of 6,980_l._ Irish currency, for the above objects, was made to this society, which removed its establishment to Kildare-street, and thence took the name of “The Kildare-street Society;” and annual grants were continued subsequently, varying from 10,000_l._ in 1821, to 25,000_l._ in 1830, the number of pupils within that period increasing from 36,637 to 132,530. [57] Ante, p. 108. ----- The letter next points out, that on the composition of the board will in a great degree depend the obtaining of public confidence, and the success of the measure; and it is then declared to be the intention of government— “That the board should exercise a complete control over the various schools which may be erected under its auspices; or which having been already established, may hereafter place themselves under its management, and submit to its regulations. Subject to these, applications for aid will be admissible from Christians of all denominations; but as one of the main objects must be to unite in one system, children of different creeds, and as much must depend upon the co-operation of the resident clergy, the board will probably look with peculiar favour upon applications proceeding either from— “1st.—The protestant and Roman catholic clergy of the parish; or “2nd.—One of the clergymen, and a certain number of the parishioners professing the opposite creed; or