The Sun.
London, England, 1835-03-20 00:00:00

NORWICH..

The average amount of incense, taken upon the three years ending
Dec. 31, 1831, exceeds the average annual value of the revenues
of the see, if computed upon the receipts for the last seven years,
by the sum of 7001. per annum; and there will be a reduction of
income by the augmentation of small livings in the gift of the see.

OXFORD

A decrease in the revenues of the see must be expected. The
average of fines on renewal of leases for the three years ending
Dec. 31, 1831, is found on calculation to exceed the average re-
ceipts from the same source which may reasonably be expected in
future by about the .sum of 1,060/., and a deduction of 901., must
be allowed for the depreciated value of tithei in hand. If the
Crown shall be pleasedltiirenew a lease granted on account of the
small revenues of the see, Which will expire in the year 1837, it
is expected that, cornmunibus annis, the net value of the see will
amount t 0.1,6581., or about that,

VETICRBOROUCH.

The total receipts may be expected to be less in future than the
average of the three years ending in 1831, as the fines upon re-
newals of leases, as well as the tithes or Castor, a rectory per-
manently annexed to the see, are continually decreasing in
amount.

ROCHESTER.

No expected increase or decrease.

SALISBURY, ,
If-the calculation were taken upon an average, embracing a period
of years in which it is probable that most of the leases for liv6s,
as well as for years, would be renewed, the result would exhibit a
net income, communibus annis, of not less than 5,000/., or be-
tween that sum and 6,0001. per annum.

WORCESTER

There if: reason to expect a decrease of income, from the diminu-
tion of the amount of fines upon renewal of leases.

Net Income on Three
lieut.' Average,
ending Dec. 31. 131.
£19,182

Estimated
ft eure
Net Income.
. £17,060
[gradually increasing to
20,7001. in 1873.]
10,600
12,204
[after 181).]
17,890
10,750
5,930
3,814
5,500
2,350
3,000
[after 13%:3.]
3,261 '
4,229
1;897
11,105
2,713
:)32
2,516
3,923
4,342
924
5,395 • 4,700
.. 2,649
[subject to a contingency.]
Peterborough
Rochester 1;459
Salisbury
Worcester 6,569
According to the foregoing table, the net income of all the
-biihoprics of England and Wales in the year 1831, amounted,
on an average of three years, to the sum of 157,737/., and may
now be calculated at about 148,8751. ; hut it appears that this
• amount is very unequally distributed; the incomes of one half
of the bishoprics falling below the sum necessary to cover the
expenses to which a bishop is unavoidably subject. A diffe-
rent distribution of the episcopal revenues is the natural re-
medy of this inconvenience. Incomes must also be provided
for the two new sees which are to be erected.

1'2,629
13,929

19,066 .
11,151 .
6,301
4,464...
5,946 .
151
2,'913

If the total amount of the net income of the bishoprics had
been liable to no further diminution, we apprehend that these
objects might have been nearly accomplished by such a distri-
bution, without any addition to these incomes by means of
commendanzs, either with or without cure of souls ; the
former of which additions we think ought to be altogether
discontinued.

This might be done, by enabling the future incumbents of
the richer sees, either to transfer part of the estates to the
poorer bishoprics, or to pay over annually a portion of their
incomes to the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty, to be ap-
plied to the augmentation of such bishoprics; or either of
these modes might be adopted, according to the particular cir-
cumstances of each case.

The total amount, as above stated, cannot be, however,
considered as the future income, for the reasons alleged, which
shows a diminution of nearly 9,0001. per annum ; and a fur-
ther diminution is also to be expected from the application,
either in whole or in part, of impropriations, which form a
considerable portion of the incomes of many bishoprics, and
which in most instances they were compelled to accept, in
exchange for manors and estates, for the improvement of
populous and poorly endowed vicarages and curacies connected
with them.

The total income of the bishoprics in England and Wales
will thus no longer be sufficient to afford an adequate income
to each bishop, merely by a different arrangement; and the
most . obvious mode of supplying the deficiency will be per-
manently to annex to some of the poorer bishoprics certain
cathedral preferments, particularly in the chapters of St.
Paul's and Westminster, on account of their position in the
metropolis.
In considering the incomes of the Archbishops and Bishops,
it is proper to advert not only to the expenses necessarily in-
curred in journies for the purposes of confirmation, consecra-
tion, and other official duties ; in maintaining ancient and ex-
tensive houses of residence ; in keeping hospitality ; and in
contributing to all objects connected with religion and charity,
in a manner suitable to their station ; but to a burden which
presses heavily on newly-promoted bishops, who are seldom
men of wealth. • The unavoidable expenses attending their
appointment are so considerable, that they may be calculated
at the income of one whole year in most of the sees, and at
much more than a year's income in the smaller ones.
Upon the whole, we are of opinion that where the annual
income of a bishop amounts to 4,5001., it is not necessary to
make any additiOn ; nor would we recommend any diminution,
unless it exceed 5,500/. But we think that the two arch-
bishoprics, and the bishoprics of London, Durham,-and Win-
chester, ought to have a larger provision than the rest.
These arrangements, if carried into effect, will tend to pro-
mote the desirable object of diminishing the frequency of
translation.