is almost incredible, that such a system of extortion by a church should be tolerated in an enlightened nation. Yet in England and Ireland there are several thousand clergymen who receive the revenues of parishes where they do not reside, and in which they perform no labour. And multitudes of the dignitaries of the church, and powerful members of the aristocracy, hold these livings in every part of the empire, and transfer them to their sons and near connexions. But to resume the figure-if this Bishop in New-York should transfer the annual income of one of these Genesee towns, amounting to $15,000, to his son or son-in-law, who never resided in the parish, but sported away his time in Washington, this transfer would be called the gift of a living, and that son or son-in-law a non-resident, because he would take annually the rich fleece of the flock presented him by the "successor of the Apostles," without residing in his parish or bestowing upon it a single thought, except when the tithes came due. His office would be that of a sinecure, because it would be literally without

care.

One would suppose this would not often occur, as it is such a gross violation of justice and religion. Yet it is so common, that not one half of all the clergymen of the church are found in those places any considerable part of the year performing the duties of their office. In Hansan's Debates, (1103) quoted by Raumer, we find it stated, that there are only 4,416 clergymen who 14

VOL. I.

live where their duty demands, while 6,080 are out of their places! The number is stated to be still larger by some other authorities.

But as if to make an experiment on the credulity and forbearance of man, not satisfied with such outrages on religion and humanity, these livings are often sold at auction to the highest bidder, like slaves in the shambles, only it seems more like sacrilege to speculate upon an ambassadorship from Heaven. These parishes are of course sold to the highest bidder without regard to his character or the use he will make of his power. They may fall into the hands of the rankest infidel or the vilest debauchee; but this is a question the church cares little about.

These auctions are advertised in London Journals, in the same columns with stocks. The London Morning Herald, April 15, 1830, contained the following:

"To be sold the next presentation to a vicarage, in one of the midland counties, and in the immediate neighbourhood of one or two of the first packs of fox hounds in the kingdom. The present annual income about £580; subject to Curate's salary. The incumbent in his 60th year."

In other words, if there is a gentleman in the united kingdom who has money, and a son who has neither brains nor character enough for any thing else, let the good father come on and attend the sale. A curate can be obtained for £30. a year, to preach to the congregation, which could

assemble in a vestry and leave room for a few Dissenters, and then "one or two of the first packs of fox hounds in the kingdom!" Delightful indeed! The living is purchased, all hands pray most earnestly for the death of the present incumbent; and in due time the joyful news comes,

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After the season is down to the vicar

that he has gone off in a fit of apoplexy, or broken his neck in a steeple chase. over in London, the family go age, the son procures a sermon from his pale curate, (who, as in duty bound, says nothing about it,) preaches just 14 minutes and 45 secondsafter which the circle of friends assemble at the parsonage to dine. The sermon is pronounced capital-the wine finer still. In due time, under the inspiring influence of the Falternian, the old man becomes prouder of his son than he ever supposed he would be, and my Lord Patronage, who is present, becomes benevolent withal, and they really think the new incumbent is so clever, (i. e. gets such glorious dinners and has such respectable connexions) that he must not be overlooked, and my Lord Patronage agrees to mention his case to My Lord the apostolical-wire-puller, and together it shall all be arranged-the path to ecclesiastical preferment is opened, and on the swimming, half-glazed eye of the young divine, the image of a mitre glitters in the distance. The chase is settled for the following day, and next morning, "Tally ho!" rings over the parish, and away go the hounds!

"This is no caricature, it is a living reality," said Lord Mountcashel in the House of Lords, "I know an archdeacon in Ireland who keeps one of the best packs of fox hounds in the country, another clergyman not seven miles distant from the former, has also a pack of hounds with which he regularly hunts; and I know another, who after his duties in the church are performed, meets his brother-huntsmen at the communion table on Sunday, to arrange with them where the hounds are to start from the next day."

Any one who will read the London Journals, particularly the Court Journal, will see the names of scores of church dignitaries, who figure largely at the races, dramatic fetes, theatres, balls, masquerades, &c.

The North Devonshire Journal of last year, Nov. 11, contained the following notice :

"Clerical Dinner Party."

"The sporting friends of the Reverend John Russel gave him a dinner on Friday last, at the Golden Lion, in this town, Barnstable, on which occasion, they presented him with a picture by Mr. Lowden, of Bath, representing the Rev. gentleman, mounted on his favourite hunter, surrounded with his dogs. The likenesses are said to be faithful, particularly of his horse, and the execution as highly creditable to the rising artist. The picture was presented to Mr. Russel by his friends, as a tribute to his unwearied exertions in support of the sports of the field."

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This is a fair specimen of not a few of the successors of the apostles," in the established church. What kind of an appearance would Paul make "mounted on his favourite hunter, surrounded by his dogs." "The unwearied exertions of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John," in supporting the "sports of the field." Why has not some "rising artist" thought of composing a picture of the apostles retiring from the Lord's table to the vestry, to arrange where the hounds are to start from the next day? Clerical fox hunters should patronize such designs; they would help the common mind, which is so obtuse, to discovering the resemblance between the established clergy and the apostles. But seriously, if Paul had attended one of these auctions of livings, or clerical dinners? would he not most likely, in his bold, straight forward way, have had a word to say, and judging from his speech, would he not most likely have been taken for a Dissenter? When Diodorus Siculus bought the Roman Empire at auction, wise men augured its speedy downfall. It was not long after the Jewish temple was desecrated by money changers, that that gorgeous structure smoked with the ground. It be so with the church of England.

may

It may be said I select isolated facts to illustrate the general condition of the church, and therefore afford a distorted view of it. I do not suppose the clergy to be all depraved, worldly men. Nor do I suppose things are in quite as bad a state as