The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

Sr a,—The importance of the scibjeel is my apology for
troubling you with a few observations on the remarks of a
" BT- S ANDY in the Morning Herald, of the 27th inst.
It is certainly to be conceded, that whilst the public
press and the general feeling of parishioners have been
loudly expressed aga!nst the attempt of the Clergy alai
Lay Impropriators, to exact the sum of two shillings and
ninepenee in the pound, the latter have remained silent,
anal for this plain reason—that, with the exception of the
puny reasoning of a " Hy-Standee' (who, be it observed,
does not attempt to justify the principle of this inordinate
claim), they are totally unable to adduce any solid or
equitable argument in its support.
As to the subject not being understood, there is not one
in which more has already developed,to spew how
deeply the impropriety of the claim is felt, both from
research, and every day's experience. When will
the supporters of omit venerable and excellent Church
Establishment leant wtsclom ? Do they act wisely, either
to refer to the original foundation of the claim, or the pe-
culiar Circumstances under which it is now made? Will
tux every true Christian and lover of the Church turn
from the inquiry with disgust and lamentation? Will a
" By-Standee' endeavour to depreciate the conciliatory
and praise-worthy feelings which actuated both Clergy anal
parishioners, in concluding by honourable parliamentary
arrangement, the disputes which existed on this subject in
the parishes of St. Dunstan in the West, anal St. Andrew,
Holborn ? If he does, let me tell him that his sentiments
are of the most dangerous stud unjustifiable tendency; and
that they are out in unison with those of the Right Rev.
Diocc'kii of London, the Right Honourable Secretary of
State for the Home Deputtnent, and those of numerous
Members of both Houses of the Legislature. That a
" By-Stander" did not wish such a happy result to take
place in those cases is apparent; and also, that no relief is
to be carved, front the indefensible line of argument lie
has espoused.
The fact of acting upon a had or invalid law, a "
By-
Stander" wishes to convince us, cures its original defect of
non-etwolmeno ; and he contends further, that whether
enrolled or not, it should now be submitted to. Inch-pen-
dently of the hardship and absurdity of such doctrine, any
child would anstrer, that the Constitution of England
utterly repudiates the very semblance of the idea. I will
go further, and say, that whets a defect in the original in-
strument upon which a law is supposed to be founded, is
discovered, all the Judges in the land cannot, and ought
not, to presume it to be' good. If, therefore, the Clergy
and Impropriaton flare built their claim upon such a
lotion, it may he asked, is the taking from them their
' alleged right under it, to be termed a wresting front them
1 their property ? Anal if tle., Legislature substitutes a fair
and equitable provision for them, instead of unjust anal
inordinate claims, is such a course to he deemed an attack
upon the Church? Or, is it not rather an honourable
Ind just interference, to uphold the character of the
Church, and promote peace and good will among the
parishioners.
A " By-Stander" justifies the oppression at this moment
exercised in the parish of St. Gregory by St. Paul's, where the
parishioners, in addition to the provision made by Parlia-
ment in the reign of Charles 11., and spin in riot, for
the Rector, are visited within comparatively a few years,
with the overwhelming weight of Os. ml. in the pound to
the minor canons of St. Paul's. Shall resistance in such a
case be branded with the epithet of noisy clamour to de-
prive the Church of its property in London ?
Well, however, does a " By-Stander" fear that public in-
quiry would produce an alteration, and if the alteration
should happily take place, it would be termed by him a
spoliation of the Church. He fears lest tilted stipends
should be granted, as under the Fire Arts, and he would
rather leave the matter open to the liberality and justic., of
the Clergy and I coproprietor', to take small sums of some
and larger of others, as favour, tanner, or resentment
might, in the beet of men, sometimes dictate. I leave to
you, .Ir. Editor, anal to the public at large, to decide
cehether a discreti 111 l of such a nature is not liable to, and
is not now actually an alarming abuse and grievance in
many parishes.
As to compensations to set in and worthy professional
men, who assist to the utmost of their talents and abilitiat
in the protection of the pariehes, they are but just acknow-
ledgments to such individuals, who, in the zealous and
arduous discharge of their duty, are fully entitled to the
reward and approbation of the parishioners ; but what will
every man of correct and feeling mind say to the recom-
mend 3 t ion of a " Hy-Standee' to )fr. nestle), the !micro-
priator at Alelgate, that if he hs• but nerve enough, anal
(mark ye) money enough, he should carry his cause through
the Court ; thus setting aside the justice of his cme, and
waiving every overture for conciliation and equitable ar-
rangement. Mr. Kynaston is to have the letter of his bond
whatever the tamsequences may be. Surely, after this ad-
vice there weds strenuous legal assistance' to enable the
parishioners to stem the torrent, which must otherwise in-
gulph them.
IVhatever sarcasm a " By-Stander" may throw upon
Vestry Resolutions, permit me to ask what other legitimate
tootle is there by which the parishioners can express their
sentiments as a body ? Is it not the only course which
parishes can adopt ? and the Resolutions, if erroneous,
are open to censure; and if correct, admit of no fair con-
ttacliction.

BM, Mr. Editor, is not the real object of a" By-Slander"
chiefly to revive again the question of compensation to the
incumbents of the Fire Act parishes? I strongly anticipate
that he is one of that Reverend Body, and as a body, I ant
bound to speak of them with the highest respect. The merits
of that question, as recently urged before Parliament, for an
inerc.ise upon that made in the year ltlo4, stand upon a
foundation totally distinct from those of the parishes now
more immediately under consideration. The stipends
fixed by the Fire Acts, did not include the whole of the
emoluments of the incumbents, for which see the state-
mem laid before Parliament in Ire 10, and although the
total receipts of the ineuenbcnta, in some of the small
'parishes, w not considered as more than adequate
in the clerical duty performed, or the resources of the
earishes. yet such email stipends were only mule use of as
a stepping-ateme, to obtain au increase in other parishes
where it 010 io •.sly was not required. The object was seen
and the attempt was defeated. And surely the proceed-
ings of a " BpStantler," in upholding the monstrous doc-
trine be attempts to inculeme, respecting parishes already
steering to an coot-mous extent, such as Alilgate. Et. I /lave
Hart-street, St. Gregory 'uy St. Paul's, and others, may
well be looked upon with great and just alarm. Let him
seriously reflect upoo the effects he wishes to produce, and
though. he admits that the 'es. 9d. in the pound is too
heavy a tax upon the people, vet the tenor of his übsevva.
dons goes completely to establish it ; and if he calls upon
the I uctimbenta, Bishops, and Parsons, ta open their eyes,
1 humbly and earnestly call upon the parishioners to open
theirs. I feel it my imperative fluty to do so, and in that
cast I fear not a just result.
The remark of an Alderman upon the occasion of the
(laer, I suppose) application of the Fire Act Clergy to
Parliament, namely, that if the claim to vs. oil. in the
pound was relinquished, be would undertake to hiring all
the perishes in the city over to agree to pay Is. in the
pound, however well meant, was certainly tUuteiltal upon
an unjust calculetion. Time has proved it se. lies the
demand for Os. 941. in the pound been waked? If it lied,
the worthy Alderman might ea about his well-intended
object, but until these it war futile.
My advice, then, to • " Ify-Stander" is that which, in
cf!et he nmonsmends to others—go home, and quietly Mid
seriously consider the subject. To get a general and equi-
table artimpinent„ he %%ill that it is not proper to
tell the parishes, as he presumes to do. that 84 to intro-
priatious, there is no remedy exe.lat by porehave, which
must be etworenseell as meaning a purchase upon the value
the linpropriatora themselves atfix, upon the principle
of the SU. 94. Let a " By. Stander" reflect. that to
sup-
- estii of the