410 ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY. 



the States is that of the Episcopal Methodists, who num 

 ber nearly 1,250,000; but they have not the political 

 strength, because they have not the unity and concentra 

 tion, of the Roman Catholics. Yet, from the peculiarity 

 of their pastoral system, and their skill in availing them 

 selves of local energy and talent, perhaps the Methodists 

 in the newer and thinly-peopled backwood regions are 

 the fittest parties to contend, on equal terms, with the 

 missionaries of the Romish church. 



The Roman Catholic clergy have increased in the 

 United States during the last fifteen years, but not to 

 such a degree as to cause the alarm which many profess 

 to feel. The increase from 1837 to 1849 has been as 

 follows : 



1837. 1849. 



Dioceses, 13 29, and Vicar Apostolic 



and Archbishop. 



Bishops, 12, coadjutors 4 26, coadjutors 2. 

 Priests, 373 1026 



Churches, 300 1024 



Their priests number only 1 024,&quot;while the whole num 

 ber of clergy in the Union is about 26,000. Surely the 

 25,000 Protestants are sufficient to countervail the soli 

 tary thousand Roman Catholics, however zealous, de 

 voted, or intriguing they may be. 



Compared with Great Britain, the number of churches, 

 priests, and people in the United States are as follows : 



Great Britain. United States. 



Bishops, .12 27, coadjutors 2 



Priests, . 972 1026 



Churches, . 694 1024 



Colleges, . 11 13 



Population, 20,000,000 23,000,000 



Taking numbers and population together, the machi 

 nery for conversion is more formidable in our own island 

 than in the United States. But even here, were the 



