CLERICAL USURPATION: QUEEN ANNE'S BOUNTY: IRISH LIVINGS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
SIR—In the article contained in your paper of last week, beaded as above, there is a typographical error, which I request you will permit me to correct. Instead of the payment of 9947/. I Is. Sid. as Irish First Fruits being made in eighty years, as mentioned in your paper, that sum was paid within eighteen years, being about the 146,000th part of what should have been paid, for the latter period, by the Bishops and beneficed Clergy of Ireland. In another part of the same article you say—" It appears, however, that the Irish Bishops have, by some means sot explained in the pamphlet, contrived to obtain from the Crown the right of presentation to upwards of one thou- sand benefices, formerly possessed by the Catholic nobility and gentry." The only explanation that could be given on this point is stated by rue in the pamphlet adverted to, and you have fairly inserted it ; namely, that the Roman Catholics were by Acts of Parliament divested of their right of presentation to Protestant churches, and that the Crown was appointed trustee until their conformity to that Church ; but the Crown neglected to execute the trust so reposed in it, consequently the Bishops usurped the livings and intruded their sleeks into these chinches, thus defrauding both the Crown and the rightful patron. By your giving insertion to this short explanation, you will oblige,
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