weeks elapsed before the 3,000 l. worth of oats, oatmeal, and potatoes could be got down to relieve the famishing people of the north, which then seemed black enough, even to its own inhabitants.  Hence the humane primate was obliged to write:  ’The humour of going to America still continues, and the scarcity of provisions certainly makes many quit us.  There are now seven ships at Belfast that are carrying off 1,000 passengers thither, and if we knew how to stop them, as most of them can neither get victuals nor work at home, it would be cruel to do it.’

The Presbyterian clergy suffered greatly from the impoverishment of their people.  Several of them who had been receiving a stipend of 50 l. a year, had their incomes reduced to less than 15 l.  In their distress they appealed to the primate, and, staunch churchman as he was, they found in him a kind and earnest advocate.  Writing to Sir Robert Walpole, on March 31, 1729, he pleaded for the restoration of 400 l. a year, which had been given to the non-conforming clergy of Ireland from the privy purse, in addition to the 1,200 l. royal bounty, which, it appears, had been suspended for two years, owing to the death of the late king.  ‘They are sensible,’ said his grace, ’there is nothing due to them, nor do they make any such claim; but as the calamities of this kingdom are at present very great, and by the desertion of many of their people to America, and the poverty of the greatest part of the rest, their contributions, particularly in the north, are very much fallen off, it would be a great instance of his majesty’s goodness if he would consider their present distress.’  In our own days a Presbyterian minister would be considered to deserve well of his country if he emigrated to America, and took with him as many of the people as he could induce to forsake their native land.  But what was the great plea which Primate Boulter urged on the English Minister on behalf of the Presbyterian clergy of his day?  It was, that they had exerted their influence to prevent emigration.  ‘It is,’ he said, ’but doing them justice to affirm that they are very well affected to his majesty and his royal family, and by the best enquiries I could make, do their best endeavours to keep their congregations from deserting the country, not more than one or two of the younger ministers having anyways encouraged the humour now prevailing here.  And his majesty’s goodness in giving them some extraordinary relief on this occasion of their present great distress would undoubtedly make them more active to retain their people here.  I cannot help mentioning on this occasion that, what with scarceness of corn in the north, and the loss of all credit there, and by the numbers that go, or talk of going, to America, and with the disturbances in the south, this kingdom is at present in a deplorable condition.’