Thomas-street, to Mifs Mary Cormick, of Pe liament-freet.- -Patrick Mealey, Ek, di Camden-street, to Mils Anna Jennings of Sack ville-street. foundered, loaded with brick; the poor man was then discovered with a lantern taft in his hand, which he must have had to light him athore the night he flipt in; the corpfe was taken on Tuesday by a boat to Monaftereven to be buried, as his friends live in that place. DEATHS for December, 1986. of late Elq, d RIRTHS for December, 1786. IN N Henry-ftreet, Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton Among the Lady of felony of, comor Balle, county, Bow Robert Hamilton, Eas T Runnimead, the county Rofcom a daughter. -At Toulouse, in the South of France, the Lady of William Richardion, of Drum, in the county of Tyrone, Efq; of a fon and heir.-In Gardiner's Row, the Hon. Lady Terefa Deafe, daughter to the Earl of Fingal, of a fon and heir.-In Dawfon-street, the Lady of John Batty, Elqs of a daughter.-In Henry ftrest, the Lady of Dominick M Caufland, Efq; of a daughter.- The Lady of Doctor Elmond, of Oberstown, county Kildare, of a lon.Ja Merrion-fquare, the Lady of William Colthuift, Eiq, of a daughter.In North Great George's-street, the Hon. Mrs. Browne, of a daughter-In Dawson-street, the Lady of the Rev. Mr. Lovett, of a daughter. IN MARRIAGES for December, 1786. N Cuffe-ftreet, the Rev. John Lewis, to Mifs Warren.Mr. William Sleater, of Caftle-freet, Printer and Bookfeller, to Mifs Pace, of Henry-street.-At Ennis, county Clare, James Sexton, of Coonagh, Eiq; to Mits Arthur, daughter of John Arthur, Efq.-At Derry Lieutenant Savile, of the 13th foot, to Mils Wray, daughter of Henry Wray, Eiq.-Richard Sauce, of Carrick-on Sur, to Mifs Scully, daughter of James Scully, of Kilfeacle, county Tipperary, Eiq.John Edward Nugent, of Cloncullen, county Longford, Efq; to Mifs Bignell, of Henry-street.-William Nicholton, of Dame-ftreet, Elq; to Mils Archer, daughter of Jofeph Archer, of Kilimon, county Wicklow, Liq.Nathaniel Hunter, Efq; to Mifs Boyle, only daughter of Henry. Boyle, of Drumcovit, County Derry, Esq. Jofeph Farren, Efq; of the Exchequer-Office, to Mifs Lambert, of the County of Wicklow-In Gort, Francis Daly, of Cloonebanniff, Efq; to Mif Elinor Forfter. The Rev. T. Tighe, Vicar of Drumgoulands and of Drumballyroney, to Mifs Eliza Beers, daughter of William Beers, of Ballygoran, Eiq. -Dec 8th, in Merrion-ftreet, the Hon. Charles Broderick, brother to Lord Viscount Middleton, to Mifs Mary Woodward, daughter to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Cloyne. Near Dundalk, the Rev. Andrew Brition, to Mifs M'Glathry.— At Cork, Robert Harding, q: M. D. to Mifs Fergulon, daughter to Robert Ferguton, Elq.John Smith, of Dorfctftree, Eq, to Mifs Beatty, of Kells, in the County Meath Robert Walsh, Efq; n emirent Attorney, to Mifs Young, daughter of Thomas Young, of Cortifmore, county Cavan, Eig -Richard Hooper, Elq; to Mits Egan, daughter of Mr. Barnaby Egan, of Wavertord, eftates devolve to James Hamilton, Eq, d the King's Bench-Office.—At Spring-boat County Tipperary, Mrs. Haughton, Lady Wexford, Elq.-In Caftle-street, Mrs. Hilary Tho, Haughton of Kilmannock, in the county wife of Mr. John Hillary, an eminent Printe ter, who for a confiderable time conducted to -In Smock-alley, Mr. Richard Stuart, Pri Majefty's Printing-houfela Dame-fter. Mrs. Marchbank, mother to Mr. Robert Mach bank, Bookfeller.-In Mariborough-street, My Bellinter, Efq; M. P. for the borough of NElizabeth Prefton, fifter to John Pretton, van. At Ardmore, aged 98, Mrs. Shaw, late of Ballynaguragh.Nov. 28th, a de feat of Colonel Rawion, near Bray, in the year of his age, the Right Hon. Marcus Pa fon, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Can mon Pleas, and one of his Majesty's M Lady of Peter Latouche, Efq; an eminent Ba Honourable Privy Council.-Mrs. Latence kerIn Dawfon-street, George Crookhan), Efq; a very eminent Attorney, and Regifer Judge Crookshank.In Clare-street, Mat Charles Jame Dickfon, fon to the Lord Bir the 101ft year of her age, Jannet Cowan, of Downe and Conner..-At Temple-patrick, faid this woman came from Scotland in the yes 1689, when king William landed here. Stee joyed fo good a state of health, that he was sen known to complain of any kind of disorder: within two days of her death.At Bath, Mis Dr. James Fallon, Titular Lord Bishop of El Aldworth, Elq.- At Cloona, the Right Re - Rev. Dean Pack, a young gentleman greatly In Trinity College, Mr. Pack, fon to t gretted.In Pall Mall, London, after fever months illness, the Right Hon. Lord Vikte fucceeded in title and eftates by his fon jes Gormanton, of the kingdom of Ireland, he now Lord Vifcount Gormanston, who is in minority.In Bishop-ftreet, William Kis Efq.At his feat, at Elm Brook, Que County, Captain Green Defpard, of the Ret of George Overend, Efq.At Caftle-Hall, Navy.In Lurgan-ftreet, Mrs. Overend, La South Wales, Mrs. Evans, Lady of W Evans, formerly of Kilkern, Efq.Mrs. Jen relict of Edward Jones, Efq; late of Dram Mr. Thomas Ivory, mafter of the fchool fo -On Usher's-quay, Owen Dermot, Elq— chitectural drawings in the Dublin Society Ar demy. PROMOTION. OMINICK M'Caufland, Efq: appe merchant-William Hogan, of Great Long Register to the Hon. Juftice Crankban ford-treet, Etq; to Mifs Margaret Clinch, of the county Mean -James O'Reilly, Liy, of vice George Crookthank, Efy, deceased. 'Explanation of the Frontispiece. The Genius of the Hibernian Magazine presenting a Tete-a-Tete to the Scorn of Minerva, Goddess of Chastity, and Hymer God of Marriage. Account of the prefent State of the Church of Ireland. By Richard Lord Bishop of Cloyne. Toys and Right Boys in the province HE outrages committed by the White of Munster, have employed the minds of many perfons in this kingdom to find out a remedy for the prefent, and a prefervative against future diforders. As tythes have been the avowed pretence for thefe infurrec tions, a revifal of the Tythe Laws is ex pected to take place this prefent feffion of parliament. A commutation for tythes hath been mentioned as the only falutary means of reftoring tranquillity, and this idea has produced feveral publications for and against that important queftion. Amongst the number that before us hath claimed great attention, from the refpectability, information, and known talents of the right reverend author, and in a fhort time ran through five editions. This pamphlet contains eight fections, a poftfcript, and two appendixes, befides an introduction, and advertisement to the reader. In the advertisement, the prelate difclaims any defign of giving perfonal offence, and indeed the whole pamphlet, though written with much fpirit, fhews the greateft candor. The introduction points out the business of this tract-to place the Church in a point of view merely political-to prove that it is fo effentially incorporated with the ftate, that the fubverfion of one must neceffarily overthrow the other; and--that the Church of Appendix, 1786. Ireland is, at the prefent moment, in imminent danger of fubverfion. In pursuance of this plan, the firft fecto the Civil confitution of this kingdom. tion is on the importance of the Ecclefiaftical The fecond fection treats of the charge of extortion in the compofition for tythes, of which charge, the author contends the very fuppofition is abfurd, and turns the odium of extortion from the clergy to the landlord. The third fection enquires into the revenues of the parochial clergy. In this, from an average in eight dioceies the fum of 1331. 68. appears to be the medium for each clergyman, tythes included. The fourth fection ftates the defects in the jettlement of the Church of Ireland, which the Bishop thinks, are the want of churches; and the want of clergymen, there being but one to every 23 fquare miles, whereas in England the proportion is one to every five miles fquare; an almost universal want of glebes, and the want of the Irish language in the established clergy. The fifth fection contains the Bifhop's opinion of Commutation. The fixth fection confiders the bad effects of innovation, either by lowering the tythes, or commuting them. The feventh fection propofes the means of remedying the defects in the fettlement of the church of Ireland. The laft section, details the injuries fuftained by the parochial clergy in their property, and the means of reinftating them in their legal rights. The poftfcript gives fome answers to the writer of a Letter to the Public on the Subject of ૨૧ ૧ ૧ Tythes, Tythes, and bellows fome ftrictures on the letters of Mr. O'Leary, of which we forbear any mention till we have reviewed thefe letters in our next. The first appendix contains obfervations on the proceedings in Ecclefiaftical Courts, and the fecond is a Latin Letter, published by the Titular Bishop of Offory, and public Hiftoriographer to the Dominican Order in Ireland, written by the Pope's Nuncio at Bruffels to the Titular Archbishop of Dublin; in which the oath declaring an abhorrence of the Doctrine that "faith is not to be kept with Heretics, and that Princes deprived by the Pope, may be depofed and murdered by their fubjects," is unlawful, invalid, null, and of no effect, fo that it can by no means bind, or oblige confciences. And the third Appendix contains, in Latin, the oath taken by a Romish Bishop at his confecration. Such are the contents of this pamphlet, from which we have extracted the fifth fection, both as a fpecimen of the Prelate's mode of argumentation, and because the fubject is of the moft immediate confequence. "IN the foregoing Sections it has been placed, I conceive, beyond the reach of doubt, that the Ecclefiaftical establishment is an effential part of the Conftitution of this Kingdom; that the prefervation of it is peculiarly interefting to landed property, as well as to the Proteftant afcendency which cements this Country with Great Britain; and that the Church of Ireland would not only be stopped in its progress to a complete fettlement, by any confiderable diminution of the fund for the fupport of the Clergy, but would fink rapidly more and more below its prefent very imperfect ftate, till the confequent progrefs of Popery had entirely overwhelmed it.. But many, who concur in thofe ideas, are yet of opinion, that the prefent mode of providing for the Clergy is inconvenient; and may fafely be exchanged for fome other, equal in value to the prefent Clergy and their fucceffors; and attended with fewer inconveniences to the Public. This project of innovation (generally called Commutation) fhall now be examined; and to do it fairly, I fhall ftate the Objections againft Tithes, in their full force. * "I allow, that they operate like a tax T E. N *I fay like a tax, for Tithes, strictly fpeaking are not a tax, though with an invidious view reprefented as fuch. And much mifchief arifes from the adoption of improper terms, fuch especially as carry with them a falfe Affociation of ideas, injurious to any individual or clafs of men. I therefore with to take off the unjuft impreffion that the Clergyman, when he is fetting his Tithe, is collecting and ftriving to encreafe, a tax from his parishioners for his own ufe; which on induftry, and fince the lofs of Tithes of Agiftment, a very unequal one; that they are occafionally the caufe of contention be tween the Minifter and Parishioner; and when that happens, an obftruction to his miniftry: and that they are a troublesome fpecies of property to the Clergy. I fhall further allow, that if the farmer could really put the value of the Tithes in his own pocket, (which I fhall foon prove he cannot, except during the continuance of the lease now subfifting) it would be an encouragement to the Plough. "The Objections to Tithes are ftriking they float on the Surface; it is fcarce poffible, not to fee them. And from thence a judicious man would be led to fufpect, That fuch obvious inconveniences could never have been fubmitted to, for fo many centuries, by fo many wife States, by the whole Wellem Church, comprehending every polifhed nati on in Europe (the small districts, inhabi by the Prefbyterian fect, excepted) The not only Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, and Poland N O T E. will be done effectuaily, by explaining the word tax. A tax is a portion of the Preperty of the Subject, levied by Law, for the Publick ufe. Now tithe of the produce o the land, though raised by the industry of the Farmer, is not his property. It was not his Landlord's, not being comprized in the Royal Grant of the lands; and if it were lef to the clergy, must revert to the Crown, the fountain of property. Again, the porti of Tithe paid to the Minister of a parish is not levied for a publick use; for he is retained to perform religious fervices for the inhabi tants of that particular parish only, m fhould be paid by thofe, whom he ferves His not being appointed by them is no objection; His nomination is in the bands of thofe, who have not only a more compe tent judgment, but better Right; for he pointed either by the Crown, the fountain property; the reprefentatives (either by fcent or purchase) of the Lord of the Manor who founded the parish, or the Bishop, t other perfon, to whom the right of Advowfon was transferred either by the King of the Lord. And the purchafer or renter lands took his intereft in them, on this foo ing. Tithe therefore is a payment of £ quota for his fervices; and, if Tithes Agiftment had not been wrefted from it Clergy, in a manner contrary at once the conftitution, law, and common fente would have borne an equitable proportion his ability. The cafe of Impropriate Tits does not come within the scope of this treatie The cafe of diffenters, who reject the fer vice of the Clergyman, is confidered Sect. II. of 1786. Account of the prefent State of the Church of Ireland: (the Legislatures of which might be fufpect In England, for inftance, which is the fource of our ecclefiaftical establishinent, when the Lords of Manors wished to fix refident paftors amongst their tenants, inftead of their being fupplied with occafional ones by the Bishop; they infifted, that the Tithes of their respective lands, paid before into the common fund of the Diocefs, fhould be appropriated to them. The plan was reasonable: the fervice was reciprocal between minifter and parishioner; each in his vocation laboured for the other. It is not easy to conceive, in thofe times, when by the Feudal fyftemn, which pervaded almoft all Europe, all the peasants were vaflals to the Lords, and the very Rents were paid principally in kind, what other mode could have been adopted of providing for one, who was not able to till.. the ground with his own hand, or if he could, ought not to confume his time in an occupation, which would have defeated the purpose of his Refidence. 675 "On trial of this establishment, it was probably observed, that Tithes rife and fall with the value of money, and therefore are equal to fucceffive incumbents; that they rife and fall with the value of the crop, and therefore are at all times an equal burden on the husbandman; that they vary according to fituation, being highest in the neighbourhood of great Towns, where the market is higheft to the farmer, and the price of the neceffaries of life to the clergyman. It was probably observed, that this mode of payment rendered the Clergyman more depend. ent on the Good-will of his parishioners, than land, or any other feparate poffeffion; that it reminded him of his paftoral duty to each individual, thus annually contributing to his fupport; that the very intercourse of bufinefs which it created, though fometimes the cause of contention in making the bargain, gave very frequent occafion to acts of kindness and conciliation, on the part of the Clergyman, as to the refpite, or entire remittal of payment, which the fmallness of the feveral fums might enable him to afford. It might eafily be difcerned, and was well worth attention, in times when the Church arrogated to itfelf privileges dangerous to the State, that a property thus difperfed in trifling parcels, and infeparable from the property of the Laity, was accompanied with lefs Power, that what would have been derived from Land, or any other poffeffion, of the fame value. It was probably confidered, as one 1 caufe of attachment of the Secular Clergy to N 0 T E. The very Proceffes brought by the Clergy, for the recovery of fums due for tithes, would bear frequent evidence of a forbearance unusual in the demand of other debts, if the date of the agreement were adverted to; and would filence the invidious reflections, derived from the number of them, which is owing to the multiplicity of contracts made in every parifh. Thefe reflections indeed prove only the difficulty, with which the Clergyman collects his prefent income, and the confequent impropriety of diminishing it; forfurely the blindnefs of prejudice cannot go fo far,as to make any man think it unreasonable for a Clergyman to fue, if it be neceffary, for the price of his property. To any man converfant in the management of tithes it is evident, that the best mode for the accommodation of the parishioners is, to fet to every individual his own; which tends, by multiplying Contracts, to give occafion to many Proceffes. These Procefies might be avoided, by fetting them by ploughlands, to thofe worft of tyrants, the petty landlords. A Tithe-farmer would preventall proceffes by the Clergyman. Complaint therefore of the number of Proceffes argues want of due confideration of the fubjeer, Q 999 2 the Government, and prevention of their uniting with the Regular Romish Clergy, in encroachments on the Civil power: which (from the difperfion of the former in all parts of the country, and the influence of their fuperior education and venerable office over the whole peafantry) would have been a very formidable acceffion. It could not fail to have been obferved, that Tithes tend to promote Refidence, more than any other mode of fupport. For the rent of Glebes, or other fixed yearly revenue, may be received and spent any where; but the management of Tithes requires fo much attention, that the income from them must suffer confiderably by Abfence. It may be faid, Refidence may be fecured by Law. So fuperficial men think; but Reason, as well as fact, proves the contrary. There are fo many occafional circumftances, which render refidence impoffible, that it is neceffary to lodge in some perfon a difpenfing power. That power, whereever it be lodged amongst human creatures, is liable to abuse, through inattention, through misinformation, through favour, through falfe good-nature, or (which is more common) through a fear of that Obloquy, which the enforcement of Difcipline ever excites, even from thofe, who clamour loudeft against the relaxation of it. The moft effective method of infuring refidence, is by an income, which will be certainly impaired by non-refidence; as in all'inftances, that is the beft law, which executes itself, by annexing an immediate reward to obedience. Further, though the lofs on Tithes be fufficient to difcourage Non-refidence; yet Tithes do not hold fuch temptation to the refident Minifter, to immerfe himself in fecular concerns, in order to increase his income, as an allotment of Land; which might induce fome to devote their time to Farming, and by fo laborious and low an employment, leffen not only their attention to their duty, and their application to learning, but like wife the refpectability of their Character. Thefe confiderations, and furely they are of fome weight, fhould be put fairly in the fcale against the Objections, to which Tithes are confeffedly liable; but the balance is, and ever has been, turned in favour of them, with the wifeft Legiflators, by the difficulty, hitherto esteemed infuperable, of deviling a Substitute, liable to fo little Objection. What fcheme, if any, may be in the contemplation of the prefent favourers of innovation, the writer cannot decide. None has yet appeared: and if no person has a N OT E. *Of course, nothing is left for the Author, but to draw his conjectures of the fpecies of binov. tion which may be intended, From the projects fuggefted in common Cone right to be called a Friend to Commutation, who has not a difline idea of the two things to be exchanged (which feems a reafonable principle) Commutation has, I believe, few, if any, friends. The general confused approbation of it amongst the Laity is little more than a proof that fome of them have discovered the Objections to Tithes above stated, or that the Generality wish to get rid of an obligation to pay money. They confidered Tithes as a tax, and they do not relish the payment of any kind of taxes. But if Tithes were a tax, that fuppofed tax is deftined to the moft necellary of all political purposes, the Civilization of the people. Now when any new tax is oppofed, the Minifter says with great justice,lf you diflike this, propofe a better: and whenever a better plan fhall be fuggefted for the payment of the Clergy; that is, one equal in va lue to them in fucceffion, and more convenica to the Laity, they will thank the Statesman, who thall difencumber them of the conftant Trouble, and the occafional Ill-will, anifing from Tithes. At present they with the old fyftem to be continued, from despair of ever feeing fo good a one established in its place. A little reflection will difcover the complicated difficulties attending fuch an attempt in this Kingdom. The firft ftep towards Commutation is, to afcertain the prefent Value of Livings. This is eafi y talked of; but not quite To eafily effected. Who are to be Commiffioners før making this valuation? Are they to be a mixed body, half lay, and half clerical; or are Laymen of property to decide, how much of that property they are to give fær the Tithes of the Clergy? Would the Laity think it juft, that Clergymen thould be the fole Coinmiffioners? Or would the State be fafe, in leaving the fupport of a neceffary clafs of their Officers, exposed to the intrgues of private rapacioufnefs; any dimnution of which fupport must either take from the public Service, as proved above, or pecafion a general tax to replace it? N OT E. verfation.- -The feveral plans hereafter mentioned are not however mere phantoms of his own creation, but fchemes which be has heard men, of good judgment on other fubjects, endeavour to fupport; and the leaft abfurd (which is the true line of compa rifon, in this cafe) which have come to his knowledge. The judicious reader therefore, when tired of attending to the detection of fuch abfurdities, as are obvious to a good underftanding, will pardon a trefpais on his patience, necessary to an Author, who is reduced (by the importance of his fubject) to the neceffity of obviating the prejudices of the ignorant, and anticipating the whimfies of projectors. But |