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Ou tliQ meaniug of the statute I shall have something to say in 

 my final letter. At present it is safHcient to point out that the 

 examples of the i^ast, the policy of modern law, and the expe- 

 rience of the present coincide. They clearly indicate that the 

 extension, or, indeed, the continuance, of the system of clerical 

 farming, -which is a necessary but deplorable result of recent 

 agricultural depression, is prejudicial to the best interests of the 

 parochial clergy. 



As I have before said, glebeowners have not murmured 

 against their reverse of temporal fortune, however much they 

 may regret its indirect effect upon their spiritual influence. 

 Mere repining is as useless as it is unmanly. The craving for 

 sympathy, if publicly expressed, produces a complete revulsion 

 of feeling, or at the most excites a pity which is largely mingled 

 with contempt. The clergy have preferred to maintain silence 

 respecting their heavy losses and deprivations. No well-wisher 

 to the Church would desire to drag to light the private affairs 

 of the parochial clergy, or to parade their misfortunes in the 

 hope of exciting compassion. Self-respect would reject any 

 expression of sympathy, aroused by such means, as little short 

 of insult. But many reasons render it prudent that the truth 

 should be told respecting the effect upon their position of recent 

 agricultural depression. Two will suffice. First, a false con- 

 struction has been placed upon their silence, sometimes in ignor- 

 ance, often by design ; secondly, the peculiar difficulties by 

 ■which glebeowners are impeded in the cultivation of their land 

 are not only misunderstood or ignored, but imperatively require 

 removal. 



In these days of highly spiced literature local colour and vivid 

 description are almost essential to force and effect. General 

 statements are by compai-ison flat and spiritless. The tempta- 

 tion is great to indulge the public taste by painting with a full 

 brush and warm glow of colour telling scenes of clerical poverty. 

 The material is abundant, the pigments bright and varied. But 

 I venture to think that I shall best meet the wishes of those 

 who have given me information if I continue to treat the subject 

 in the style rather of the parti grisdtre than of the parti 

 fiamhoijant. Descrij^tion and local colouring may, and probably 

 must, lead to the identification of places and of persons. 

 Abstract statements possess at least one advantage— they 

 preserve the incognito of those who have only given informa- 

 tion on the distinct understanding that names shall not be 

 directly or indirectly divulged. 



I propose in the following letter to illustrate the extent to 

 which glebeowners have suffered from the prolonged agricultural 

 depression, and to indicate one of the chief reasons which 

 has caused the blow to fall upon them with exceptional 



