


303 On She State of Curates. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HERE are few people who deferve the 
commiferation of the public more 
than the inferior clergy, efpecially the cu- 
rates ; and yet, from the modeft filence 
which they preferve, their diftreffes, far 
fiom being relieved, are hardly thought of. 
Tt is true, thatthe Primate has taken 
ene ftep in favour of the curates, but that 
ftep is a very little advance towards their 
relief. The biil which the Parliament has 
paffed does indeed enable the bithops 
(who before had the power of appointing 
aftipend of fifty pounds per annum) to 
appoint, if they fee fit, feventy-five pounds; 
and in cafe the rector or vicar does not in- 
habit the parfonage, an additional fitreen 
pounds, in all, ninety pounds per annum. 
We will allow, that ninety pounds, with 
the ufe ofa houfe rent- free, 1s a provifion 
that a young fingle man may live upon, 
and maintain 4 female fervant ; provided 
he practices the echt rigid economy, other- 
wife it is impofhble, which, if if were not 
taking up too much of your time; I could 
prove “from an exaét calculation beyond all 
contradidtion. 
it ts wonderful, Mr. Editor, how care- 
ful our tuperiors are to remove all temp- 
tation out of our Mae in order that we 
voay ‘let our moderation be known unto 
allimen ;”” for the atoreiaid ninety pounds 
falls to the Jot of only a few lucky, happy 
individuals. T have had a pretty extenlive 
acquaintance oe the curates, and Lon- 
}y know one fingle inftance of this eminently 
good fortune, which perhaps might: never 
Hinve fallen to the fot of its poflefior, had 
tiot his re€ior been fhut up in a mad- 
houfe, 
“The general ftipends, I mean amongft the 
zpper order of curates; (for as to the north- 
country, or the Weith cobler-curates or 
curate-coblers, I have nothing to fay ; and 
indeed, out of the tendernef{s I have for 
the credit of Chriftianity, I think the lefs 
that is faid the better :) the general {ti- 
pends are fifty or fxty por ands, paid from 
benefices of four, fix, and eight hundred 
pounds per annum. Now, Mr. Editor, 
it is not very evidently equitable, that a 
man who does nothing for it, fhould be in 
the receipt of eight hundred pounds of the 
public money (for furely livings are na- 
tional property) in order to indulge him- 
felf in all the pleafures of life, at Bath or 
London, while his fubftitute bears the 
‘« heat and burden of the day” at home, 
and flarves upon fifty or fixty pounds ; I 
fay, fiarves, for it as capable of undenias 
ble proof, that no curate, how economical 
foever, can poffibly live under feventy-five 
pounds annual income. 
Generally {peaking, the whole care of 
inftructing the nation in points of religion 
and mor ality devolves upon the officiating 
clergy. But, Mr. Editor, the pureft pre- 
cepts, delivered in the moft appropriate 
language, and with the utmoft earnefinefs 
of manner, will fail greatly of their effeé, 
when certain circumitances relating to the 
preacher are previoufly known. 
Poverty, in the minds of the lower orders 
_ of people, has ever an idea of contempt 
annexed to it and as people of this order 
are never very ready at making nice di- 
ftinétions, they will behold their preacher 
with very littl reverence, and, I fear, 
fome contempt, which willrender them in- 
different to his precepts, and by a natural 
affociation of idea, indifferent to religion 
itfelf. The final confequences to fociety 
of this indifrerence I need net point out. 
How can a ftarving curate preach upon 
charity, and exhort his, hearers to the re- 
lief of poverty? Half of them may ima- 
gine he means to beg for himfelf; and the 
remainder reafonably expeét to fee his pre- 
cepts countenanced by his example. I my- 
felt oxce hardily ventured upon this fub- 
ject, during a fevere froit; but it drew upon 
me a number of dolorous applications. in 
the following week, which I could net de- 
cently refufe, nor, without the utmoft in- 
colivenience to myfelf comply with. How 
can a eurate of this defcription (it is be- 
yond all power of face) exhort his hearers 
to ‘‘oweno man any thing,’ when hisown 
butcher, grocer, brewer, or baker, are 
open-mouthed before him. 
Shall I add one more truth -—We find 
it,. Mr. Editor; pretty difficult-to keep 
alive the fervour of devotion in our own 
hearts, chilled’ as they are by penury 3 or 
to ** prefs forward to the aark for the, 
high prize of our calling,’ with another 
nearer goal ftaring us full in the face. 
Ihepe, Mr. Editor, that whatever the 
French may be, the Englifh are not yet ar- 
rived at fuch a degree of indifference to 
religion, and the unfortunate fate of its 
inferior minifters, as that you fhould ima~ 
gine this letter too uninterefting to the 
public for infertion. Provided you give 
ita place in your refpeétable mifcellany, 
it may be read by a perfonage who could, 
not employ his prefent Jeif{ure in a more 
benevolent and generous manner, than in 
forming a bill for the amelioration of our 
hard condition. Iam, &c. 
; CLERICUS. 
Ta 
[Marchi - 

