I have heard of some curious differences of opinion as to the point of view in which the fixing of these "Stations" at particular houses is regarded. A Protestant gentleman of Ireland stated before one of the Parliamentary committees, that the priests often appointed "Stations" at particular houses, as a means of punishment for some offence given by the master; the expense of a Station, as involving a public breakfast, &c. being always considerable to the householder. On the other hand, I was told by Catholics, that the allocating of a Station was generally desiderated, not merely as implying honour to the entertainer, but as conferring actual benefit, in the form of "good luck" to the house.

7. Pew-Rents, or Seat-Rents, in the galleries of the chapels, produce something for the incumbent, but not much. The rents are very low, and the seats not generally numerous; the great body of the church being open and free to all.

8. The Visitation of the Sick, which includes almost always the administration of the last Sacrament, is also one of the ordinary sources of revenue. The fee for this, among the poor, is only 1s.: I am told that in some dioceses no fees are now taken.

It is to be remarked that the Catholic visitation of the sick, with its formal administrations, is very different from that of the Protestant Church. In the former the first visit is often the only one, even though the sick person should live a considerable time thereafter.

What is done at that visit is un

derstood to have an abiding efficacy, and therefore needing no repetition. The opinion of the common people is that so long as the sick person keeps in bed, there can be no fresh commission of sin, and, consequently, no need for absolution; but that if the party remains out of bed for some days, the presence of the priest is again necessary to prepare him for his end; and for this he receives the usual fee.

9. Occasionally, also, as we have seen at Limerick, the priests derive a part of their emoluments from voluntary contributions at the chapel-doors; but this, I believe, is unusual. Collections at the chapeldoors are, however, common for other purposes: as for the repairs of the chapel; for poor parishioners who may have met with some special misfortune, &c. On these occasions, the ordinary contributions in country parishes do not exceed one halfpenny or a penny.

10. Presents. A real, though uncertain source of revenue, is the system of voluntary gifts made by the more wealthy parishioners to their pastor. These gifts may be in money, but are more commonly in the form of matters of domestic utility, such as corn for horses, young pigs, &c. &c. Much money is also saved to the priest by the assistance rendered in many of his wants, as in carrying his turf, corn, &c. &c.

The whole amount raised by these various means is usually considered as a common fund for the maintenance of the parish priest and his curates, be

they two or more. The division of the spoil varies in different places, but the more ordinary practice would seem to be for the priest either to receive one half or two thirds, and divide the remainder among the curates; or to take the whole, and grant a small salary of 20l. or 30l. to each curate, beside boarding and lodging him at the same time in his house, and finding keep for his horse. Sometimes the curates are boarded elsewhere, and their board paid by the priest.

The total amount of the respective salaries of the parish priests varies much in different places. Some few parish priests in large and rich parishes make as much as 400l. a year; but the great majority of them do not make the half of this sum: many make 1501., and many not more than 1007. The curates' incomes may be stated generally as varying from 301. to 50l. But, of course, all these sums are subject to great variation, depending on numerous contingencies.

According to his degree of popularity or unpopularity, or according to the wealth or poverty of his flock, the priest may have his income greatly increased or diminished. In some parishes, all contributions, personal gifts and all, go to the common parochial treasury, and are shared according to a fixed rule, whatever that may be. In other cases, the individuals, whether priests or curates, are allowed to hold all gifts presented to them as their own. In this manner, sometimes a popular coadjutor may ex

Thus, I

ceed in income his less popular superior. learnt that in a country parish, a coadjutor recently dead had actually left behind him, in the bank, between 300%, and 4007., all saved during a residence in the parish of only four years, and all derived from the numerous and large presents made to him by the farmers and others of his parishioners.

Generally speaking, the style of living of the rural priests, whether parish priests or curates, is hardly what would be called in England genteel or even comfortable; partly in consequence of their scanty revenues, and partly, perhaps, on account of the comparatively isolated and lower social position they occupy. Unlike the clergy of England, whether Protestant or Catholic, the priests in Ireland are permitted to hold but rare social intercourse with the gentry in their own neighbourhoods-greatly, I should say, to the discredit of the gentry, and greatly to the loss of the community. Knowing this, and knowing, moreover, how much they suffer from the res angusta, I own I was surprised to find, in my limited intercourse with the priests of both degrees, how well they preserved the character of gentlemen, both in their manners and external appearance. found them always well-dressed, very polite, and with the conversation of men who had been welleducated.

I

I heard but one report of the priests; and that was that their character and conduct were uniformly excellent and exemplary. In an earlier stage of my

journey I have made a similar statement, and I now repeat it as the result of all I saw and heard in Ireland. I do not believe that a more favorable report could be made, by an impartial observer, of the character and conduct of the Protestant clergy of England or Scotland; and no one, I believe, will think of denying their claim as a body to moral and social excellence. I never heard a charge of personal immorality brought against any priest-and I made particular inquiries on this subject; and it was generally acknowledged that they were indefatigable in the discharge of their official duties. In most parishes these duties are very severe, partly on account of the immense number of persons in every cure, and partly from the quality of the religious services required and the nature of the people. The lower class of Irish are remarkably timid when sick, and the attendance of the priest is expected on all such occasions, by night as well as by day.

It has been recently stated that such summonses are disregarded by the priests unless previously assured of payment for the religious offices they are called on to perform. I believe this charge, generally speaking, is most unjust: it is certain that if such delinquency came to the knowledge of the Bishop of the diocese, it would receive severe ecclesiastical censure.

That these good men, however, should all be beyond the limits of fault or failure, no one, of course, will expect; they have their failings and weaknesses, no doubt, as other men and other