The particulars, as they have been imperfectly reported to me, are as follow: 

By one of the bills, the bishops have power to oblige the country clergy, to build a mansion-house upon whatever part of their glebes their lordships shall command; and if the living be above L50 a-year, the minister is bound to build, after three years, a house that shall cost one year and a half’s rent of his income.  For instance, if a clergyman with a wife and seven children gets a living of L55 per annum, he must after three years, build a house that shall cost L77 10s., and must support his family during the time the bishop shall appoint for the building of it with the remainder.  But, if the living be under L50 a-year, the minister shall be allowed an L100 out of the first-fruits.

But, there is said to be one circumstance a little extraordinary; that if there be a single spot in the glebe more barren, more marshy, more expos’d to winds, more distant from the church, or skeleton of a church, or from any conveniency of building:  the rector, or vicar may be obliged by the caprice, or pique of the bishop, to build, under pain of sequestration, (an office, which ever falls into the most knavish hands,) upon whatever point his lordship shall command; although the farmers have not paid one quarter of his due.

I believe, under the present distresses of the kingdom (which inevitably, without a miracle, must increase for ever) there are not ten country clergymen in Ireland reputed to possess a parish of L100 per annum who, for some years past, have actually received L60, and that with the utmost difficulty and vexation.  I am, therefore, at a loss what kind of valuators the bishops will make use of, and whether the starving vicar, shall be forced to build his house with the money he never received.

The other bill, which passed in two days after the former, is said to concern the division of parishes into as many parcels as the bishop shall think fit, only leaving L300 a-year to the Mother Church; which L300 by another act passed some years ago, they can divide likewise, and crumble as low as their will and pleasure will dispose them.  So that instead of 600 clergymen, which, I think, is the usual computation, we may have, in a small compass of years, almost as many thousands to live with decency and comfort, provide for their children, &c., be charitable to the poor, and maintain hospitality.

But it is very reasonable to hope, and heartily to be wished by all those who have the least regard to our holy religion, as hitherto established, or to a learned, pious, diligent, conversible clergyman, or even to common humanity; that the honourable House of Commons will in their great wisdom, justice, and tenderness to innocent men, consider these bills in another light.  It is said, they well know this kingdom not to be so over stocked with neighbouring gentry; but a discreet, learned clergyman, with a competency fit for one of his education, may be an