TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Dublin, 4th May 1853. SIR-I have just heard that it is the intention of the Government to offer a very shabby bribe to the priests, with a view to secure their support for the Income-tax. What I hear is, that it is intended to exempt the priests from the ordinary course of schedule-filling, and to permit them to assess themselves under the supervision of their bishops, and to send forward their claims to be taxed through them. I hope nothing of the kind will be even considered, as I am convinced it would do more mischief than could be re- paired in a generation.
The priests are now a good deal beaten ; why reinstate them in a power that must be so dangerous to all good government ? or why make it pa- tent to the world that Ireland must be governed through their influence ?
A WEST BRITON.
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