or, if not claimed there, within the province. Besides my wish that your Lordship should be thoroughly acquainted with these circumstances, I state them to show that, if the compensation money should be assigned over to the Board of First Fruits only for the purpose of increasing small benefices, it would be but adding to a fund that has been hitherto so little resorted to, and suffered to accumulate in the hands of the treasurer of the First Fruits.

It were certainly to be wished that the smaller benefices could be augmented in every part of the kingdom; and I would humbly suggest whether it would not be necessary to inquire whether they are the difficulties that are thrown in the way of applicants by the regulations of the Board, or the negligence of the Bishops in looking out for purchases, that have caused these excellent funds so little to answer their object. But the smallness of the benefices is not the radical evil of the Church of England.

The radical evil of the Church of England, and what has, ever since the Reformation, opposed its extension, is, that the parochial clergy are generally non-resident; nor can the Government ever advance the salutary purpose for which a parochial clergy is appointed so effectually as by enabling the Bishops to remove this great abuse. The powers with which they are actually vested for this purpose, as far as it is to be effected by compelling incumbents to build, are rendered ineffectual, chiefly by the hardships which the builder and his immediate successors must experience in procuring and advancing the necessary sums at their own personal risk, as it is their personal property and the inheritance of their family that are made the security. But if, in addition to the present encouragement, which may be new modified, this compensation money be altogether applied to the purpose of procuring residences, I think such a fund would be procured as would remove all the obstacles, and the Bishops, so far from being obliged to interfere authoritatively and to have recourse to sequestration,

will see their clergy voluntarily applying to them; for it must be in general their interest to build, when they are to be no longer personally charged with supplying the funds, nor lie out of their money the whole of their incumbency, nor encumber their family with debt for an object in which they have no peculiar interest, as is the case under the present system.

I am afraid to venture on any financial system for the accomplishment of this object by means of the thirty-five thousand pounds, which I suppose to be the sum allowed. It is a subject in which I am not at all conversant. But I should suppose, if this capital was invested in the public funds for the use of the Trustees of the First Fruits, that they might be enabled to issue debentures, or First Fruit Bills, bearing an interest similar to that of the fund in which the money is to be invested-these debentures to be given on the application of the Bishop, and in payments equal to the progress of the building to the builder, and entitling him, his heirs, and executors, to the principal sum mentioned in each debenture, and to so much interest as shall be expressed therein. Every builder receiving such debentures to be held bound to pay, from the day of his receiving each of them until the end of his incumbency, into the hands of the Trustees, in half-yearly payments, an interest amounting to two per cent. more than the rate of interest which the debenture received shall bear, if he constantly resides, and four per cent. more if he do not reside twenty weeks in each year. At the close of each incumbency, this obligation to be transferred to the successor till the whole debt be liquidated. Provision could easily be made for enforcing the payment of this interest, as well as for the Trustees to apply this surplus interest for buying up outstanding debentures, in like manner as is practised in the Treasury, in respect to debentures issued from thence.

I must repeat my apprehensions that I may expose my own ignorance on this subject, and wantonly abuse your Lordship's time and patience. But, to persons more con

versant in money calculations, I should suppose that such a capital would afford ample means of accomplishing this most desirable object.

I have the honour to be, with the highest respect and most sincere attachment, &c. &c.,

Sent an extract relative to Ecclesiastical Boroughs to the Archbishop of Cashell in a private note, and thanked the Bishop of Meath.

The Rev. Dr. Moylan, R. C. Bishop of Cork, to Mr. Marshall. Cork, July 26, 1800.

My dear Sir-Allow me to request your kind attention to the enclosed receipts. The two poor gentlemen, who have solicited me to forward them, are in great distress, and of all the French Emigrants in this city they certainly are the most deserving of the compassion aud charitable protection of Government. Lord Castlereagh, unless I misconceived him, had the goodness to give me hopes that some addition would be made to their small pension: it would be an act of great benevolence and humanity, worthy of his Lordship. The great question of Legislative Union is, thank God, most happily decided. The manner in which Lord Castlereagh has conducted that important measure is highly honourable to his Lordship, and evinces the most extensive abilities. He has closed a most glorious and successful parliamentary campaign. May the Almighty grant him health and length of days to consolidate this good work, and to see the advantages realised which are expected eventually to accrue from it to this much distracted country! I trust it will put an effectual stop to those civil and religious disorders, which have so shamefully disgraced this nation, and which it seems still the inclination of a certain faction to keep up. Never did that faction display

more violence and rancour of disposition than they did on the first of this month in this city, and in every town of this county, where they have the least influence. Had it not been for the timely precautions taken by General Myers, the peace of this city would have been greatly disturbed, and that day would undoubtedly have been a day of much bloodshed. I hear with much satisfaction that very little of such factious proceedings have appeared in the other parts of this kingdom: there is not, however, a part of the kingdom where the mass of the people were more orderly and peaceable in the worst of times than in this city and county. But, it seems, it is necessary to keep alive this infernal spirit in these parts, to serve the electioneering purposes of one or two great men. What an affecting reflection, that a country is to be disturbed, and civil and religious feuds and discussions encouraged and promoted, to serve the private self-interested views of a few families! Surely, as Government must be interested in tranquillizing this long-distracted country, they cannot but see the necessity of extinguishing this infernal spirit, by suppressing all clubs, of whatever description, that tend to foment and support it.

When I had the honour of seeing Lord Castlereagh, he was so good as to express his intention of having the Chapel that was burnt near Bandon immediately rebuilt. I announced to the poor people of that parish his Lordship's gracious intentions. They received the news with great joy and gratitude. They must surely think I imposed on them, as nothing has been done for their relief, nor has General Myers received any orders on that business. I am not surprised that his Lordship, with the multiplicity of important matters which would press on his attention, should forget so trivial a matter. Would you, my dear sir, have the goodness to remind his Lordship of it, and, at the same time, to present my most cordial respects to him. I have the honour to be, &c.,

H. MOYLAN.

Lord Camden to Lord Castlereagh.

Bayham Abbey, July 27, 1800.

Dear Castlereagh-The Bishop of Clogher has requested me to write to you upon the subject of the appropriation of the £15,000 to be given by Parliament upon the abolition of the Borough of Clogher. This sum of money is to be vested, as I understand, in the Board of First Fruits, with which Board I do not remember that Government used in my time to interfere; but, as so large a sum of money is now vested in that Board, and public purposes of a larger extent are to be engaged in, I apprehend you will take care to have some influence with them.

The Bishop has mentioned, as he informs me, some circumstances which are materially necessary in that Borough; but that on which he particularly desires me to address you is the foundation of a choir, which I heard most strenuously recommended by the King, who was assured in return, by the Bishop, that he would use his utmost efforts to accomplish it. You will oblige me very much by assisting the Bishop as much as lies in your power in this object.

Believe me, &c.,

CAMDEN.

Private.

Lord Cornwallis to the Duke of Portland.

Dublin Castle, July 28, 1800. My dear Lord-The general tranquillity which has for some weeks past most happily prevailed throughout every part of Ireland, with a few trivial exceptions, has not produced of late any material occurrence; and, in consequence, it has entirely precluded the necessity of any despatch to your Grace on the internal situation of affairs in this country.

I have the satisfaction also to state that the formidable banditti in the mountains of the county of Wicklow, under the noted chief Dwyer, have been broken up and dispersed; many