When work could not be thus obtained, common materials for clothing should be bought to be made by the females at a moderate price, to be purchased by them at the lowest possible amount, and the surplus offered for general sale. Shoemakers could be employed on similar principles, and means devised for employment of many trades.

I fear my letter is somewhat longer than can be admitted in your columns: should you find it inadmissible, I trust the subject will be noticed in a more concise form, and communication, if desired, be held by letter to any address given.

I remain,

Your constant reader,

X. Y. Z.

ON THE CATHOLIC MAGAZINE.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

SIR,-In your number for December you extract a few specimens of the temper of the Catholic Magazine, and wish for information respecting it; whether its "editors are priests ?" and whether "any Romanists of family can tolerate such a production ?" In reply to these queries, you will be surprised when I tell you, that this scurrilous publication is the accredited organ of the Roman priesthood in this island. The prospectus announcing its birth appeared in November, 1830; and was addressed "to the Catholic Clergy and Laity of the United Kingdom." It bore the written approvals of two vicars apostolic, Drs. Walsh and Baines, with that of thirty-seven (afterwards increased to fifty-eight) priests, and these include every name of any note in their body. It was "to be conducted on a liberal and enlarged plan; that the utmost freedom of discussion be admitted, but that all asperity of language be excluded; and that a spirit of moderation, of candour, and forbearance, invariably pervade the work." Of their adherence to this, the passages adduced in the British Magazine are a beautiful specimen. The avowed editors were the following priests, viz. :" the Rev. J. Kirk, Lichfield; Rev. F. Martyn, Walsall; Rev. E. Peach and T. M. McDonnell, Birmingham; and the Rev. T. Gascoyne, St. Mary's College, Oscott; assisted by the clergy who attend the Oscott conference," &c. After such a muster of forces, something worthy the greatness of old Rome was fully expected. A more ridiculous failure has seldom occurred, even in the annals of literary periodical parade. However, what it wants in talent is abundantly made up by personal grossness and misrepresentation; worthy the general character of Mr. M'Donnell, who is known to be, in fact, its chief editor.

To your question whether " Romanists of family can tolerate such a work;" I should answer generally in the negative, for the last number of the Catholic Magazine complains grievously of "the disgraceful apathy of the upper classes of the Catholic body;" and reads them an edifying lecture upon the approaching downfal of the aristocracy. It is, of course, cordially disapproved by such gentlemen as the Hon. E. VOL. III.-Jan. 1833.

K

Petre, who nobly sustained the obligation of his oath not to injure the established church, for which he was arraigned by Mr. Shiel within, and by the Catholic Magazine without; for this Christian production has been constantly labouring (as for instance in the last number) to prove that Romanists are virtually absolved from any obligation to keep that oath. At the same time, there may be individuals of family, though I think not many, who resemble the Earl of Shrewsbury; whose feelings are evinced, as well by his cordial support of the worst productions of his party, as by his vehement attacks on the highest ranks of the English church, in the House of Lords, and upon its humblest members, in the persecution of a private curate, in his own parish.

I could give some striking details of the progress of this our inveterate enemy in the midland districts, and of its bearing upon public meetings; as, among the rest, the rejection of the church-rate at Birmingham, which is imputable solely to the machinations of that active mover of the political union, Mr. M'Donnell, who, in his proceedings, was deserted even by some of the most violent radicals. But I will only add, that the appearance of the Catholic Magazine led also. in Birmingham to the publication of a counteracting periodical, the Protestant Journal, which, I regret to say, is likely to fall, for want of general support. Certainly, I wish the judgment manifested in it did as much honour to the zealous editor, as the typography does credit to the Birmingham press. However, its defects might have been remedied; but, when extinct, a vehicle will be closed for many valuable communications, and for much information respecting the progress of the never-slumbering foe of truth and freedom.*

I am, Sir, respectfully,

L. V.

The Editor cannot avoid saying a few words here respecting the Protestant Journal. Like L. V., he may not always coincide in opinion or judgment with the Editor. But he is bound to offer his tribute of respect and esteem to a man who by all accounts goes through labour the most severe, unremitting, and unrewarded, under every discouragement, simply and solely from a desire to serve the sacred cause in which he is embarked. The Editor has been informed that Mr. Allport is compelled frequently to work eighteen and nineteen hours a day with a most scanty and insufficient income, and with no payment for his learned and curious labours. It ought to be added that this indefatigable man published last year a translation of Davenant on the Colossians, with a most interesting and valuable life of Davenant, and many notes. Whether persons agree in Davenant's views or not, the value of his work is not doubtful; and it is with sincere regret that the Editor has learnt that Mr. Allport has suffered severely by this undertaking. He begs earnestly to recommend the work to those among his brethren who have the means of purchasing it, and thus assisting a most deserving and excellent man.

In conclusion, let the Editor call attention to the statement in this letter, that the Catholic Magazine, a work exceeded by none in virulence, coarseness, and vulgarity, is edited by priests and approved by their bishops. What a strange church is the Roman Catholic church! It might stand on its dignity, on its age, on the excellence and learning of its writers. But if the coarsest language, the most unchristian means, and union with all which it most detests and has always denounced, will serve the purpose of depressing an enemy, it never hesitates for a moment to adopt these dreadful and degrading means of warfare.

CURATES.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

MR. EDITOR,-The cause of pluralists has been advocated in your Magazine with all the ingenuity that the subject will admit of. Will you allow me to enter the lists, and with every feeling of personal respect to your correspondent (vol. i. p. 355.), to speak a word in behalf of curates? Now I wish to appeal to those stubborn things called facts, and from the Clerical Guide and Parliamentary Returns, as my authorities, beg to produce the following testimonies respecting the pluralists and curates in 1827. We there find that 12,200 pieces of preferment were possessed by 7659 persons, of whom 3801, or very nearly one half, held more than one preferment each. It farther appears that 390 of these last, who were also dignitaries of the church, held among them 1297 dignities and benefices, i. e. upwards of three each. The state of things cannot now be very different from what it was five years since, and may be assumed to be sufficiently near the truth at the present time. Come we now to the curates, and we learn from the parliamentary return in 1827 that there were at that time 4254. Add these to the number of incumbents, and we shall obtain 11,913 as a fair estimate of the number of parochial clergy required for the ministerial superintendence of the kingdom. This must remain nearly the same, whether these clergymen are incumbents or curates, and as this number must evidently be kept up, the succession, as far as I can see, must remain the same, whether pluralities are allowed or abolished. I believe, indeed, that in many cases, and particularly in our country parishes, the holder of two or more adjoining benefices with a small population might be enabled to advance the welfare of his people more than if the same preferments were divided among two or more incumbents, but it is in such cases alone that I would plead for their continuance. If it be asked, by way of defending pluralities, what can a clergyman do upon a pittance of 150l. a year?—I would reply, what can a curate do upon half that sum? I am sorry to observe that, notwithstanding, by Lord Harrowby's act, the minimum salary of curates is fixed at 807. Out of 4254 stipends, of which a return was made to Parliament, 2375 were returned as below that sum, and only forty-three returned as receiving the whole proceeds of the benefice. And yet, Sir, in piety, talent, and education, and a faithful discharge of their important duties, I do not know that curates are in any way inferior to those who employ them. The Christian principle is this, that the labourer is worthy of his hire; and I cannot see how pluralities, to the extent that they now exist, can be reconciled upon this principle. At the same time, Sir, I would encourage no reckless innovations; I would act with becoming deference to the powers that be, and to whom, as ministers, we owe reverential obedience. At the same time, I would think it a duty both to them and the church at large to offer, in a spirit of Christian meekness, any suggestions which may tend, in my

opinion, to strengthen our Zion, by taking away from her enemies all just grounds of complaint against her. I remain, Mr. Editor,

December 7, 1832.

Your obedient servant,

G. W. R.*

G. W. R's letter is calculated to cause great concern. He wishes to say a word on behalf of curates. Why is any thing required on behalf of curates? Who wishes to ill-use them? Will he allow himself to be asked whether he really believes that incumbents are enemies to curates? Doubtless in a very large body there will be some ungenerous men ; but does he really believe, if he knows the state of the incumbents, that they are as a body inclined to withhold from their assistants what they can afford to give? Who are the incumbents? Some certainly went into the church with a certainty of provision. But how large a class is there who were for a longer or shorter season curates themselves, with no prospects before them, and receiving just what they now give, without thinking themselves ill used. Does G. W. R. believe that these men are enemies to curates, or require any one to speak in behalf of curates to them? Does he think that if he became a rector to-morrow, he should become ungenerous and oppressive to younger and more helpless men? The Editor must say, that having set out in life as a curate without any prospect, he shall always feel strong gratitude to the two incumbents under whom he served for their invariable kindness to him. And he heard only a few days ago of one of these cruel incumbents and pluralists, who by his situation in a cathedral had provided for two of these oppressed curates. These cases are the rule, and ill usage the exception. With respect to the facts, G. W. R. might remember that Lord Harrowby's act applies only to cases of non-resident rectors, and of those whose incumbency began subsequently to his act, while the returns of 1827, doubtless, embrace these two classes. Besides this, are curates the only persons to be considered? The Editor's near neighbours at one time were two clergymen above seventy years of age, whose infirmities prevented them from doing their duty,-one, indeed, was blind. Neither benefice amounted to 180 per annum, and yet the population in each was considerable. Does G. W. R. think that it would be right that if these two men had gone to live with their friends and "die at home at last," nearly their whole income should have been given, in their hour of need and infirmity, to young men, perhaps, just ordained, who had never done a year's service to the church? Doubtless, the people as well as the old pastor are to be considered, but while frail and infirm men are to be employed in the church, the provisions of Lord Harrowby's act cannot be enforced strictly without cruelty, from which any but paper reformers would shrink. On the non-resident or pluralist, competently provided for, every one would wish to see them rigidly enforced.

With respect to the argument about pluralities alluded to, G. W. R. does not appear to understand it, and the Editor has found the same difficulty with many persons in conversation. No one denies that if every benefice was served by its incumbent, the same number of clergy would be required as now. But what was meant about the difficulty of getting a succession in that case was obviously this. Now as a curacy, from being temporary in duration as well as limited in amount, is not valuable, there is nothing painful or objectionable in any man's asking for one. And besides this, there is a constant demand for curates, by the change of circumstances in persons and benefices. Many men are ordained upon titles for two or three years, a period for which an incumbent happens to want assistance. But supposing such curacies were things unknown, would a man who had no friend ready to give him a living even when it was vacant, resolve on going into the church? How should he accomplish his object, if he did so resolve? There would be a few curates employed by resident rectors in large places, and the competition for these curacies would be such as to make them almost as difficult to obtain as a small living. Could a young and friendless man apply to the patron of even a small living, to whom he was unknown, and ask him for the reversion of it? Would the patron, even if inclined to listen to such applications, do right in promising preferment to one who might turn out unworthy and had then given no proof of his ministry? And finally, suppose all these difficulties over, and a promise even of an old man's living obtained, (old men live much longer than is expected,) what is to become of the expectant in the mean while? He could

FARTHINGHOE CLOTHING CLUB, &c.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

SIR,-In numbers five and eight of your useful Magazine, the Farthinghoe Clothing Club is mentioned by two correspondents, in terms of high commendation. Upon one of the rules, however, they have formed, it seems, very opposite opinions, I mean the rule which determines the time for depositing. If I may be allowed through the medium of your Journal to correct an error into which C. S. has fallen, and to give my reasons for framing the regulation as it really exists, I may, perhaps, obtain the entire assent to my plan of a gentleman who appears anxious, like many others, to discover the best method of improving the condition of the poor. I am induced to request this permission in your December Magazine, because this is the season of the year when the public are naturally better disposed than at other times to consider and promote the cause of charity, and because the beginning of a new year is usually and properly the time when clothing societies commence their depositing operations.

C. S. objects to the deposits being paid on Sunday at the church, and asks, after a flattering encomium upon the state of the parish, whether Farthinghoe has not some school-room to which the children of the poor might bring the deposits of their parents on a week day, if those parents were unable to attend. Now, to the acceptance of money from a parent by the hands of the child, I have many strong objections, one of which is, that the practice would soon become general. In Farthinghoe, not only a parent from every cottage is a depositor, but almost every child from every cottage, and in my opinion the moral effect of the Society is greatly encreased by the numerous attendance which I secure, by insisting that no one person shall bring two deposits. If a substitute is accepted, in any case, it is

not go into the church without a title or employment, and it would certainly be a great evil for him not to be professionally employed. Again, take the case of those who have livings at command. The patron of a benefice brings up a son or relation to the church, knowing that he shall have no difficulty in obtaining a curacy for him till the living is vacant, and that thus he will be settled in his profession and properly employed. If he could not have this prospect, what is he to do with his relation till the living is vacant? No one has attempted to answer these questions, but every body contents himself with saying that as there will be the same number of vacancies, the same number of persons will get into the church every year. The real question is this: If a man has no hope of any living at all, or only of the living A, what matter is it to him that there is every probability that livings B, C, D, and E, on to the end of the alphabet will be vacant, when he has and can have no connexion with them?

G. W. R. talks of curates being as learned, intelligent, pious, &c. &c., as rectors. But clergy begin their career as curates, and if it may be said without offence to G. W. R., a young man ordained yesterday is not so learned, intelligent, or experienced, as he will be ten or fifteen years afterwards, and on that account has not the same claims in the one case as the other. G. W. R. and others seem to think of incumbents as a dreadful race. If G. W. R. after six or eight years' service as a curate should obtain a living, does he imagine that he shall find himself a less pious man the next morning, or will he think that the young curate to whom he may give a title the next week has as strong claims on the church as himself