Curate, was to the Rector or Vicar, often as poor, inhuman; for, in cases where the living was not worth more than 150l. a year, the Curate was to take all, when perhaps the Vicar had done his duty for forty years anxiously and piously; for Rectories being chiefly in lay hands, a poor Vicar, who had spent his best days with his humble parishioners, beloved and respected, might go, with his children, to a gaol or a workhouse. This was Lord Harrowby's benevolent and pious intention; but, at present, the Bishop has a power to settle the terms of the Curate, in case the living does not exceed 150l. per annum, so that the Vicar shall not, in his

and with his children, beg his bread !

grey hairs,

In his days of strength and health, and residing necessarily on his living, where is there a clergyman who is not "working?" unless exempted by illhealth from residence- or, as in some cases, holding two livings. He, besides his weekly duties, instructs the children visits the poor

prays

over the sick in the parish where he has been long resident

as much, and with as warm, and why not warmer interest, than any Curate? When a Curate is resident in a parish in which the Rector or Vicar cannot reside, having another living, and being exempted by Act of Parliament, or licencemost active, and laborious, and anxious is generally the life of the working Curate, but not more than a conscientious Rector or Vicar, though, among ten thousand persons, there must of course be many

individual exceptions. But, let us see who, in a higher sense, are the "working Clergy?" Not merely the Curate or Rector, who does his duty in his parish. In a much higher and more appropriate sense the Horsleys, the Paleys-the Fabersthe Magees the Lawrences-the thousand eloquent defenders of Christianity against assailants -the ten thousand vindicators of truth - the host of learned elucidators of the Scriptures, from those who translated the Bible to the present day -- these are the "working Clergy;" and these, almost without exception, are from the higher stations or orders of the Clergy. But, I as warmly say, whenever such "working" Clergymen are found among those whom the sunshine of Preferment has not visited, they have a claim, a paramount CLAIM, on their more prosperous brethren. Many such examples I do know many of the greatest talents and of the purest lives, are found, scattered through our Sion, yet are their grey hairs unremembered. As to sinecures, those who are called to reside at their Cathedrals attend the service of the Cathedral every day; for three months they cannot go beyond the sound of the bells-they preach in their turns-and, when the term of residence is expired, they go back again to their village duties, as Parochial Clergymen. If you say there ought to be no such thing as Dignitaries, then say there ought to be NO Cathedrals. Besides this, I affirm, and the proof is easy, that the most learned, the most eloquent

works, that throw a radiance on an intellectual and Christian country, are not from the lower Clergy -Jewel, Butler, Bull, Sherlock, Pearson (Creed), Douglas, Tillotson, Taylor, Lowth, &c. are from the highest orders, and these, of the "working Clergy," are the noblest and most useful. Nor do I think that any thing can be found more injurious to a State than a plebeian Clergy, unless gifted with the learning or inspiration of St. Paul.

By the expression of plebeian Clergy, I trust it will not be supposed, for one moment, I could possibly mean any except illiterate, and illiberal persons. Some of the highest ornaments of the Establishment have arisen from humble parents. When I speak of plebeian Clergy, I mean those who, undistinguished by manners or education, have been clandestinely, or hastily, or from false views, admitted into the Church, by those who ought to "lay hands suddenly on no man."

Such men, as often destitute of morals as manners, get into the Church for "the piece of bread,”

- the advanced value of Curacies; and, when they have gained thus much, stun the public with accounts of neglect of MERIT! and that the "working Clergy," and "most deserving Clergy," are neglected!

the Rector being a mere drone, and they "the only labourers worthy of their hire!" Nor let it be supposed that, by saying this I would pass by without reprobation that character-when such a character is found that on

"Fat pluralities supinely thrives,'

and contentedly lets others do the work, at the least possible pay! That some characters of this kind. may be found among ten thousand men there can be no doubt, but I believe they are rare. Amidst these conflicts, my Lord Mountcashel has put him self at the head of a Synod to petition Parliament to reform the Church; and, in fact, to legislate for the Church according to his views of piety.

The Church of Ireland, and that of England, do not stand upon the same ground: there is more enormous wealth on one side. Of the Irish Church, I speak nothing; but, when such men as Magee and Lawrence have succeeded an Usher, in this Church, to such, and to many such, might she well point with triumph. I am only speaking of the Episcopal Church of England; and I say, in the face of my Lord Mountcashel, that vile must be that mind that brings false statements as facts for accusation. The same candour is visible in making general charges, as if the general charges were universally admitted, when, perhaps, not two instances in a thousand could be adduced. So we are told of petitions to Parliament against the immorality of the Clergy-a host of petitions -when there is found only one.

I fear, from what appears in this advance-guard of attack on the Episcopal character, and Church property, not that piety, not that piety, and the good of the Church, is intended- but a peculiar kind of piety, of which we have seen the fruits in a former age.

I particularly think myself justified in believing this, when I find the selected sin of the Church of England is that in which, if it be a sin, I shall be an unrepentant sinner as long as I live-that of attending an oratorio, when I can, in its most appropriate place. We might easily excuse his Lordship from attending such sacrilegious meetings, but we know not, from reason or Scripture, that he, ex cathedra, has a right to erect himself into a judge of that which I think no sin at all, but, on the contrary, assistant to piety and purity; and which, if it were a sin, so pronounced by a Puritanical Pope and Council in Ireland, is not half so great a sin as insinuations which are false· as charges which are without proof -as bearing witness against our neighbours, whilst we profess duty to God!

We know that the "Tryers" under the "Lord Protector," examined thousands of pious and deserving men, and dismissed them to seek their bread, because they did not answer, satisfactorily to the examiners, on questions of "experiences"

grace

and horror of theatres! Yes, my Lord, reformation is indeed necessary; and, to adopt your Lordship's discriminating style, it is requisite most among those "nominal" Christians, who assume the character of exclusive righteousness. It would be proper to reform them, in giving them some notion of charity! It would be proper to reform them,