5 OCTOBER 1878, Page 14

WIVES, OR BENEFICES?

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.']

SIR,—In your review of the Rev. W. Stephens's " Memorials of the Cathedral of Chichester" (Spectator, January 6th, 1877), you call attention to a " curious report" about a certain priest of the- thirteenth century, who had two wives. I think you will find that the article which I send you from the September /risli- Monthly proves conclusively that Mr. Stephens and Dr. Shirley, whom your reviewer followed, made a mistake,—that dues habere uxores was merely a technical phrase for holding two benefices, and that this Rev. William Tooth was not a bigamist, but a pluralist am, Sir, &c., THE EDITOR OF THE Irish Monthly.