306 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK III. 



SECTION XXXV. 



ADMINISTRATION OF CHARITABLE BEQUESTS. 



OUR attention has also been called to the constitution of 

 the Board of Charitable Bequests. It consists of the 

 Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland, the Lord Chancellor, 

 the twelve Judges, the Judge of the Prerogative Court, 

 the Provost of Trinity College, the Dean of St. Patrick's, 

 and the incumbents of the several parishes within the 

 city and liberties of Dublin. A Board so numerous can- 

 not be efficient for business, nor is a Board of so exclusive 

 a character, although we are convinced that it acts most 

 impartially, calculated to give perfect satisfaction in ad- 

 ministering funds created by the charity of persons of all 

 religious persuasions. 



We therefore recommend that the powers of the Board 

 shall be transferred to the Poor Law Commissioners, and 

 that they and their Assistant Commissioners be also in- 

 vested with all such powers for the purposes of inquiry as 

 have been given to the Commissioners for inquiring into 

 the state of charities in England. 



REMARKS. 



This Section may give the reader an idea of the 

 legislation which the Protestants have imposed on 

 Ireland. Where is the Catholic, who, wishing to 

 bequeath charitable legacies, would entrust their 

 administration to Protestant archbishops and bi- 

 shops, to the Chancellor and the fifteen judges, all 

 of whom are Protestants ? 



