vigour of conception. The parts objected to carry an unfounded accufation of the clergy, or impofe upon them duties which they cannot always easily perform.

The best intentions fometimes carry men into extremes, but,

Infani fanus nomen ferat, æquus iniqui,

Ultra quam fatis eft, yirtutem fi petat ipfam*.

It is well known that in his vifitations he erred from exceffive zeal, and defcended to groundless cenfures, or petty farcafms, which recoiled upon himself.

Let prelates remember, that they are the fathers, not the inquifitors of the clergy. Quem alienum fidum invenient, fi fuis hoftes fuerint? Who among the laity will be their faithful friends, when they are at variance with their own order?

The whole profeffion has peculiar miffortunes attending it; the property annexed *Of which the reader is requested to accept the following imitation.

When virtue reigns in rigour and excess,
The wife are frantick, and the rich oppress.

to

to it is viewed with envy; and every worthlefs man is attended to when he attacks the revenues of the church. On this fubject, fome in the most exalted ranks of life can be grofsly abufive. Who would fuppose the following to be the language of a peer, a regular graduate (as to his first degree) in the University of Oxford? "Tithes are the

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grand destruction to national improvement,

to agricultural amelioration, where the lazy, "idle drone, devours a large portion of the "" labours of the fedulous infect, and of the "product of the induftrious bee." Such is the language of Lord Montmorres, as taken from the Analytical Review.

This drone, it is true, handles not the plough nor the fcythe, but he has often toiled through three dead, and one or two living languages, through the elements of mathematicks and philofophy, and through those authors who are more immediately neceffary for profeffional knowledge. He has fome

times been an inftructor, and too often waited

for these envied advantages, till he is scarce able to enjoy them.

His Lordship spent some of his early days among mock patriots, the pretended friends of liberty.

A noble Lord in Gloucestershire waged perpetual war with the incumbent of his parish, of which, it is hoped, he fincerely repented, for he requested that the incumbent might officiate at his funeral. Some part the litigation is alluded to in THOMPSON'S book.

of

In these days of increased taxation men fhould be cautious how they affix limits to the claims and pretenfions of clergymen, under the idea of humanity to others.

The difcouragements are fufficiently numerous, and it is not very becoming to expect that an income which an eminent furgeon or attorney would defpife, fhould be deemed fufficient for a clergyman.

The

The Bishop of Rochester, in his laft charge, has fufficiently answered the objections against the act in favour of curates, as far as it regards the improvement of their falaries*; but in respect to curacies or small vicarages augmented by the Queen's bounty, there is in the fame act a shameful omiffion. If the framers of the act of George I. by which they are

* Many Curates, however, have not feen the Charge. Great caution will be requifite in enforcing the act; the circumstances of cafes must be nicely weighed, and the Ordinaries and the Curates are equally to be admonished; the former againft rigorous exertions, the latter against unreasonable demands, or expectations.

For a single man, fifty pounds per annum is as good a provifion aş 30cl. for a married man with a family. Out of a living not more than 60l. per annum, it is unreasonable to affign to the Curate more than 30l or 401.

If the Incumbent be a bachelor, or a great pluralift, and the Curate a married man with a large family, then let the whole allowance be given.

If a living were 700l. per annum, or upwards, let the Curate have rool. from the voluntary offer of the Rector or Vicar. In fmall augmented vicarages let the two parties divide the income. The majority of young men muft wait, and if they wait too long for promotion, it cannot be expected that the principals are, from a plenary, but unreasonable exertion of authority, to compensate the inconvenience. There are few clergymen decently appointed, who, befides private unfeen beneficence, do not contribute to publick charities, and especially to the widows and orphans of their deceased brethren.

declared

declared benefices, meant what they expreff ed, they were extremely culpable, and espe→ cially in that day. Happily for many of the Jefs opulent clergy the declaration was not at all regarded. Such appointments have been, as they ftill ought to be, held like perpetual curacies. Without entering into particulars, every one knows what unpleasant confequences may enfue, and it is not the fact that the greater part of them are increased to a very great value. If a beneficed clergyman can obtain one of them, which might add 201. or 30l. per annum to his income, why fhould he be compelled to refign a better living, and be presented over again? Why are these fhackles and fetters put upon the ill accommodated part of the profeffion?

It were devoutly to be wifhed, that the Convocation was allowed to fit, in order that no improper, no hafty, no ill digested bill might be brought into Parliament, wherein the clergy are immediately or remotely concerned.