PAROCHIAL CLERGY. 109 



My father served the office of Vicar's churchwarden for 

 twenty-five years in succession to the Rev. Mr. Morley. 

 Many scenes I can call to recollection, thought innocent 

 enough at the time, of the manners then of the paro- 

 chial clergy. Aylesbury was a " peculiar," and therefore 

 not under the jurisdiction of the Archdeacon, and once 

 a year "The Peculiar," as he was called, visited the 

 parish, and this visit was made the occasion of a 

 demonstration in favour of the Church, and as a natural 

 consequence then, a jovial dinner followed. I am sorry 

 to say that at such gatherings I have repeatedly seen 

 even the clerical dignitaries themselves in a high state 

 of fever, I fear not so much from their post-prandial 

 speeches, as from the libations they poured out and 

 imbibed in responding to the loyal and patriotic toasts 

 which were given on these occasions. It was the custom 

 for about thirty of the principal inhabitants to dine 

 together, and a sum of ^5 or £6 was charged to the 

 parish from the church-rate, the balance being paid 

 pro 7'ata by those who dined, and this custom was 

 continued until loud complaints were made, when the 

 question of church-rates became a vcxata qucestio. 



As an instance of the complete change of opinion 

 that has taken place since that time, especially as to 

 the manner of conducting Divine service, I may state 

 that in the old church at Aylesbury, which is one of 

 great beauty and interest — erected about the end of 

 the twelfth century, and a splendid specimen of early 

 English — a huge organ gallery filled up the whole of 

 the centre of the tower and part of the transepts ; 

 on each side were seats for the choir — two young 



