I am therefore of opinion, that a real undefalcated revenue of six hundred pounds a year, is a sufficient income for a country dean in this kingdom; and since the rents consist wholly of tithes, two parishes, to the amount of that value, should be united, and the dean reside as minister in that of Down, and the remaining parishes be divided among worthy clergymen, to about 300_l_. a year to each.  The deanery of Derry, which is a large city, might be left worth 800_l_. a year, and Rapho according as it shall be thought proper.  These three are the only opulent deaneries in the whole kingdom, and, as I am informed, consist all of tithes, which was an unhappy expedient in the Church, occasioned by the sacrilegious robberies during the several times of confusion and war; insomuch that at this day there is hardly any remainder left of dean and chapter lands in Ireland, that delicious morsel swallowed so greedily in England, under the fanatic usurpations.

As to the present scheme of a bill for obliging the clergy to residence, now or lately in the privy council, I know no more of the particulars than what hath been told me by several clergymen of distinction; who say, that a petition in the name of them all hath been presented to the lord lieutenant and council, that they might be heard by their counsel against the bill, and that the petition was rejected, with some reasons why it was rejected; for the bishops know best what is proper for the clergy.  It seems the bill consists of two parts:  First, a power in the bishops, with consent of the archbishop, and the patron, to take off from any parish whatever, it is worth above L300 a year; and this to be done without the incumbent’s consent, which before was necessary in all divisions.  The other part of the bill obligeth all clergymen, from forty pounds a year and upwards, to reside, and build a house in his parish.  But those of L40 are remitted till they shall receive L100 out of the revenue of first-fruits granted by Her late Majesty.

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CONSIDERATIONS

UPON

TWO BILLS, &c.

NOTE.

“In the year 1731 a Bill was brought into the House of Lords by a great majority of the Right Reverend the Bishops, for enabling them to divide the livings of the inferior Clergy; which Bill was approved of in the Privy-Council of Ireland, and passed by the Lords in Parliament.  It was afterwards sent to the House of Commons for their approbation; but was rejected by them with a great majority.  The supposed author of the following Considerations, who hath always been the best friend to the inferior Clergy of the Church of England, as may be seen by many parts of his writings, opposed this pernicious project with great success; which, if it had passed into law, would have been of the worst consequence to this nation.” [Advertisement to the reprint of this pamphlet in Swift’s Works, vol. vi.  Dublin:  Faulkner, 1738.]