the Fourth, might be stripped of its supernumerary articles, attached to the Nicene creed; their Episcopal regimen restored to simplicity; and their religion regenerated according to its primitive Apostolical standard of St. Patrick, St.David, and St. Columbe*.

The evils of Ireland are ascribed, by Mr. Birt, to misgovernment, and (somewhat strangely) to commercial jealousy. "A brighter day, however," says he," has dawned upon her; it already illuminates and tinges the summits of her hills; and though the dark shadow of Papal superstition yet reposes on her acclivities, occupies her vallies, and beclouds her fields, that day shall become broader and broader, until it fill the whole expanse. Then shall Ireland and her friends with joy exclaim, 'The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth," "

* See Hale on the British Church, p. 396; and Birt on Popery, p. 128.

Note.-Pursuant to order of Parliament, June 2, 1824, Accounts and Papers, relative to Schools and Education in Ireland, are just published. They consist of Returns of Diocesan Schools-the number of scholars their means of support,—and a statement of the expenditure of sums granted for education.

From 1816 to 1823, grants have been made of from 6,000l. to 11,000l. in each year, to assist the Society for Promoting the Religious Education of the Poor in Ireland; by

instituting schools, and distributing tracts, without interfering with the religious opinions peculiar to any party.

It appears, that an average of one hundred and twentyfive thousand books and tracts has been dispersed in each of the above years; and an average of 40,000l., composed partly of the Parliamentary grants, and partly of private funds, has been annually expended, in education.

The Rev. Samuel Wix has proposed a General Council, for adjusting the differences between the English and Popish Churches; and Bishop Burgess has replied, in his book entitled "Popery incapable of Union with a Protestant Church," that such a measure is impracticable, unnecessary, and nugatory. His Lordship shows, that Archbishop Wake did not compromise a single principle of the English Church, or of the Protestant creed, in his "Overtures for an Union, not with the Romish, but the Gallican Church. 1820."-The late Mr. Rennell called this proposal, "a plan for making the Thames and the Severn run in the same channel."

This chapter, burnt in the fire of Little Queen Street, is now reprinted, while the bill for Catholic Emancipation has passed to the House of Lords. I reserve the whole history of Catholicism, during the present session, for my next and last volume.

CHAPTER XXVI.

ON RESIDENCE AND CURATES.

Contents.

I. Qui Tam Actions, and Residence Act.-II. On Residence-III. On the Improvement of Livings.-IV. On Dispensations.-V. On too great Rigour in enforcing Residence.-VI. Sir W. Scott's Bill; fails of its Object.-VII. On keeping up Curates and Lecturers. VIII. On Diocesan Discretion; Objections.-IX. Defence.-X. Other Remedies for Non-residence.-XI. Curate's Act.-XII. Hardships of Curates.-XIII. New Curate's Bill.-XIV. Difficulties of assigning Stipends.-XV. On the State of Curates at the Death of the Incumbent.

I. WRIGHT, an attorney, having brought several actions against the non-resident clergy, under an old statute of Henry the Eighth (whose commencing words gave to such prosecutions the uncouth name of Qui-Tam), the legislature stayed the proceedings; by which, through a literal interpretation of the statute, a few worthy pastors had been distressed. They then passed an Act, 43 George III. ch. 84, A.D. 1803, amending the laws which related to spiritual persons residing on their benefices in England. By this Act the

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clergy are enabled to hold lands, for accommodation of their households, and exercise of hospitality; they may take leases, and improve their farms, under certain limitations. The Act also abolishes the old penalty of ten pounds on nonresidence; and prohibits the bringing of any action for absence prior to any year's residence of the incumbent. It continues the exemption of chaplains, University officers, and others favoured by former Acts. It enables the bishops to grant dispensations, in cases where the parsonage-house is unsuitable, where the holder of a small living serves as a stipendiary curate elsewhere, or where the incumbents serve as masters or ushers of endowed schools, or preachers in endowed lectureships, preacherships, and chapelries. It empowers the bishop to allot such salary to the stipendiary curate, as he shall think fit; due regard being paid to the value of the benefice. It directs that dispensations shall continue valid after the death, or removal, of the bishop who grants them; unless formally revoked by his successor : while it adds the power of appeal against a revocation, to be brought by the incumbent to the archbishop. It enacts that no licence, under the Act, shall continue valid for more than two years. His Majesty, it appoints, shall receive yearly, in council, a list of dispensations in the various dioceses; along with the reasons for granting them. The bishops may issue a monition to non-residents;

and, if this be not obeyed, they may sequestrate the proceeds of such livings, and add the profits to the funds of Queen Anne's bounty. The ministry are allowed an absence, in the year, of any time less than three months. In actions, brought for non-residence from three to six months, one third of the annual value is to be forfeited; deducting, however, all outgoings, except the stipend of the curate. For absence from six to eight months, one half of the value is forfeited; and when the absence extends to the whole year, three fourths of the whole value.

II. Non-residence, and the difficulty of correcting it, are mainly owing to the impetuous, profuse, and plundering Henry the Eighth. It was he who first occasioned the evil, and then devised a bungling remedy. His spoliation of church revenues has multiplied small preferments; so that the residence of clergymen, liberally educated, habituated to comforts, having large families, and perhaps advancing in life, on benefices inadequate to their support, cannot be enforced without extreme cruelty. Hence pluralities have been rendered, in many instances, a necessary evil: the smaller livings being united to maintain a gentleman; and, as the holder of them cannot divide himself in twain, one of the two preferments is deprived of a resident pastor. It is true, that this evil is not without qualification. The two preferments must either be so contiguous (within thirty