POLICY OF A PROVISION FOR THE CATHOLIC CLERGY OF IRELAND. 
-to men that were to defend their coun- 
tries, was this, that they were to hazard 
_ their persons for their altars and hearths, 
for their religion and their houses: but by 
this arbitrary way that was practised in 
Ireland, and counselled in England, no 
man had any certainty either of his re- 
ligion, or of his house, or any thing 
else, to’be his own. But, besides this, 
such arbitrary courses have an ill opera- 
tion upon the courage of a nation, by 
embasing the hearts of the people. A 
servile condition doth, in time, beget in 
men a slavish temper and disposition. 
Those that live so much‘ under the whip 
and the pillory, and such engines of 
355 
torture as were frequently used by the 
earl of Strafford, they may have the 
dregs of valour, sullenness, and stub- 
bornness, and revenge, which may make 
them prone to mutinies and discontents: 
but of those noble and gallant affections, 
which put men on brave designs and 
attempts for the preservation or enlarge- 
ment of a kingdom, they are hardly 
capable. Shall it be treason to embase 
the king’s coin, though but a piece of 
twelve-pence, and must it not needs be 
a greater treason to embase the minds of 
his subjects, and to set upon them a 
stamp and character of disaffection?” 
Anzr. LIV. Afints on the Policy of making a National Provision for the Roman Catholic 
Clergy of Ireland, addressed to J. Bagwell, Esq. 8vo. pp. 48. 
THE simplest method of making a 
becoming national provision for the Ro- 
man catholic clergy of Ireland, would 
be—to repeal the act of uniformity. 
The advowsons could then be pre- 
sented by catholic proprietors to catholic 
priests; and thus the established religion 
would, in the country, every where co- 
incide with the actual distribution of 
property. In towns, the rights of pre- 
sentation might be purchased by pa- 
rishes ; and an elective priesthood would 
thus arise, coinciding in religious opi- 
~ nion, with the population. 
In Great Britain some changes of 
another kind would take place. The 
residual petitioning clergy would castrate 
their liturgies, to suit the modesty of 
their creed. The dukes of Grafton, 
and other socinian noblemen (if others 
_ there be), would be able to present their 
__ benefices to the unitarian clergy. The 
lectureships, and similar elective insti- 
| tutions in the large towns, could be con- 
tended for by calvinists, methodists, bap- 
tists, and others, who are now obligedto be 
separatists. Thus a practical comprehen- 
_ sion of the dissentient sects would be 
accomplished in the established church: 
im other words, a co-establishment of 
all denominations would, by this. easy 
_ process, be effected; and each sect would 
_ acquire a share or interest in the eccle- 
. Siastigal property, exactly proportioned 
to its numbers and its opulence. No 
man would have been disturbed in his 
_ ereed, or in his property. All would 
agree to differ about doctrine, and would 
unite about discipline or constitution, 
Consequently, the perpetuation of the 
| Mational church, and not its overthrow, 
| i would shortly become the object of all 
- « 
| 
| 
sects universally. This would perhaps 
strengthen the church too much for the 
convenience of the statesman; but it 
would secure a religion progressive with 
the culture of the community. 
Our author’s proposal is rather dif- 
ferent. 
** Let the roman catholic clergyman be 
appointed by and provided for by govern- 
ment, and you lay the foundation-stone of 
Irish prosperity, of true catholic emanci- 
pation.” 
He thus proceeds in the sketch of his 
plan: 
«< If government pay the priest, it is but 
just it should appoimt him. As to mere 
questions of faith, I see no serious objec- 
ions to their remaining in the hands ef the 
old lady, who now appears to have lost every 
spark of that termagant humour which once 
made her so very formidable to her neigh- 
bours. The appointment of bishops should 
exclusively belong to government; that of 
priests, perhaps, may be subject to a modt- 
fied approbation of the diocesan, who, in 
case of objection, should state the*same to 
government, which might then finally de- 
cide. It may be right to corisider each priest 
in the light of avicar, and never to admita 
curate but in case ef necessity, to be first 
allowed by the bishop. Moderate stipends 
will suffice mea professing a life of celibacy. 
Accumulation for the support of a family 
can never be an object with them; and the 
dread of indigence in the decrepitude of a 
may be guarded against, by admitting sub- 
stitutes under certain regulations. In en< 
deavouring to avoid the dangerous extremes 
of penury on the ene hand, and of affluence 
on the other, it will be satisfactory to cons 
template the happy result of the equal aud 
moderate system established in Sentaha: a 
system which diffuses social order, industry, 
and content over the bleak and barren hills 
Aa2 
