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two things seem essential: first, that it should not contain any provisions inconsistent with the spirit of the religion it proposes to teach: and secondly, that it should be conducive to its end. In both these essentials the Establishment of the Church of England appears defective. The Christian religion is in no respect whatever aristocratic; but obviously intended to equalize the condition of mankind. If the word" orthodoxy" is to be employed on any occasion, by one set of sectarians against another, the most rational interpretation seems to be " consistency with the precepts and doctrines of Christ, as contained in the New Testament." If this definition be true, the Church of England cannot be called an orthodox Church; neither does it appear conducive to the end of its institution, viz. the inculcation and diffusion of the knowledge of the Scriptures. This also proceeds from its aristocratic character, which necessarily produces inequality among the members of the Church; and on this account particularly, it is to be desired, that the loyal idea of identifying the monarchical and hierarchical powers were exploded, and a more equal and republican form of ecclesiastical polity introduced.

The injustice and impolicy of permitting the majority of the clergy to live in comparative

want, while the dignitaries and fortunate pluralists wallow in affluence, has long attracted the attention of the Legislature. In the reign of Queen Anne an attempt was made to augment the value of the poor benefices; but this truly benevolent project has been defeated by a shameful evasion of the statute, commonly called Queen Anne's Bounty. As this subject is important, and is but imperfectly understood, it may be acceptable to the reader to be presented with a brief account of the origin of the Fund, and the finesse by which the intention of Queen Anne and her Ministers has been frustrated.

When the Pope exercised a spiritual jurisdiction over this kingdom, among other exactions, he demanded the first year's profits of all spiritual preferments. This branch of ecclesiastical revenue was called the "First Fruits." When England embraced the reformed opinions, this revenue was annexed to the crown, Henry the Eighth being declared Head of the Church. This financial operation was effected by statute 26 Hen. VIII. c. 3, and confirmed by statute 1 Eliz. c. 4.* Commissioners were appointed in every diocese to certify the value of every ecclesiastical bene

* Blackstone, vol. 1. p. 284.

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fice; and according to this valuation, the first fruits were to be collected in future. This valor beneficiorum is what is generally called the King's Books. The first fruits continued part of the royal revenue from the reign of Henry the Eighth to that of Anne. "At length," says Blackstone, "the piety of that Princess restored to the Church, what had thus been indirectly taken from it. This she did, not by remitting the first fruits entirely; but in a spirit of the truest equity, by applying these superfluities of the larger benefices to make up the deficiencies of the former. And to this end she granted her royal charter, which was confirmed by 2 Anne, c. 11, whereby all the revenue of first fruits is vested in trustees for ever, to form a perpetual fund for the augmentation of poor livings. This is usually called

Queen Anne's bounty. To this passage in

the Commentaries, Mr. Christian has added the following note. Though this was a splendid instance of royal munificence, yet its operation is slow and inconsiderable; for the number of livings certified to be under fifty pounds per annum (to which alone the bounty was applicable) was no less than 5,597, of which 2,558 did not exceed twenty pounds. per annum each, and 1,933 between thirty

* Blackstone, vol. 1, p. 286.

and fifty pounds per annum, and the rest between twenty and thirty pounds per annum. ; so there were 5,597 benefices in this country, which had less than twenty-three pounds per annum each upon an average. Dr. Burn calculates, that from the fund alone it would require 339 years, from the year 1714, when it commenced, before all the livings can be raised to fifty pounds per annum.

When Mr. Christian published his edition of the Commentaries, nearly a century had elapsed since the statute of Anne had been passed; yet the 5,597 livings had, on the average, only been augmented nine pounds per annum each!! It is clear, therefore, that the scheme adopted by Queen Anne and her Ministers has proved inoperative, and that it does not hold out any prospect of affording effectual assistance to the minor benefices. If the abilities of the statesmen who devised and framed Queen Anne's Bounty were estimated by this statute, neither their prudence nor foresight would appear worthy of commendation. But Godolphin and Somers were men of wisdom and experience, and it cannot be supposed for a moment that they would hastily, and without mature consideration, have supported a measure, which time has shown to be unavailing. How then are we to

account for the failure of the scheme, unless we attribute it to the want of knowledge in the projectors? We answer, that the plan is in itself excellent, and would have produced most beneficial results, if the intentions of the legislature had not been frustrated by the avarice of the clergy themselves. This is a serious charge, but it is easily substantiated.

It has been already observed, that the value of all ecclesiastical benefices is rated according to the valor beneficiorum, as settled in the reign of Henry the Eighth. If a clergyman, on taking possession of his living, pays, as first fruits, to the fund, a sum of money equivalent to the value as settled in the King's Books, he satisfies the letter of the statute. But does he by this payment satisfy the equity of the statute? Does he, in point of fact, do that which Queen Anne and her counsellors expected would have been done? Certainly not. It frequently happens, that benèfices rated in the King's Books at twenty pounds per annum, produce, at the present period, one thousand pounds. Justice and common sense require the payment of the improved value; but the law only compels the payment of the original sum, and thus the intentions of those, who founded the bounty, are frustrated. Mr. Christian justly remarks, that if the old system

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