ago, when an Austrian Cabinet was being heckled by some anti-clerical opponents upon its alleged encouragement of an excessive number of clerical persons in Austria, the Minister replied, ’If you want to know what an excessive number of the clergy is like go to Ireland.  In proportion to their population the Irish have got ten priests and nuns to the one who exists in Austria.  I do not prejudge the question.  They may be wanted in Ireland.  But let not honourable members talk about over-clericalism in Austria until they have studied the clerical Statistics of Ireland.’  A Jesuit visitor to Ireland, on returning to his English acquaintances, and being asked how did he find the priests in Ireland, replied, ’The priests in Ireland!  There is nobody but priests in Ireland.  Over there they are treading on one another’s heels.’  While the population of Ireland has diminished one-half, the population of the Presbyteries and convents has multiplied threefold or more.  Comparisons are then instituted between the Sacerdotal census of Ireland, and that of the European Papal countries.  I shall state results only.  Belgium has only one Archbishop and five Bishops; but if it were staffed with prelates on the Irish scale it would have nine or ten Archbishops and some sixty Bishops.  I suppose the main army of ecclesiastics in the two countries is in the same grossly incongruous proportions—­ten or twelve priests in Ireland for every one in Belgium!  The German Empire, with its 21,000,000 Roman Catholics, has actually fewer mitred prelates than Ireland with its 3,000,000 of Roman Catholics.  The figures of Austria-Hungary with its Roman Catholic population of 36,000,000 are equally impressive.  It has eleven Archbishops, but if it were staffed on the Irish scale it would have forty-eight.  It has forty Bishops, but if it were like Ireland it would have 288.  Mr. O’Donnell goes on:  ’This enormous population of Churchmen, far beyond the necessities and even the luxuries of religious worship and service, would be a heavy tax upon the resources of great and wealthy lands.  What must it be for Ireland to have to supply the Episcopal villas, the new Cathedrals, and handsome Presbyteries, and handsome incomes of this enormous and increasing host of reverend gentlemen, who, as regards five-sixths of their number, contribute neither to the spiritual nor temporal felicity of the Island?  They are the despotic managers of all primary schools, and can exact what homage they please from the poor serf-teachers, whom they dominate and whom they keep eternally under their thumb.  They absolutely own and control all the secondary schools, with all their private profits and all their Government grants.  In the University what they do not dominate they mutilate.  Every appointment, from dispensary doctors to members of Parliament, must acknowledge their ownership, and pay toll to their despotism.  The County Councils must contribute patronage according to their indications; the parish committees of