Star.
London, England, 1829-10-30 00:00:00

THE CHURCH AND DISSENTERS.

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE ON THEIR 01,11 CLERGII ET THE PEOPLE
Who ARE NOT HEARERS OF THE ESTAILISIIED CHURCH IN ENGLAND
AND WALES.
ilearers.

6,000,000

...
The opinion is very prevalent, that of the twelve millions of
people, lye millions only are hearers of the Church of England,
and seven millions are hearers of ministers not under her control.
Some of these ministers have doctrines and liturgy extremely near
those of the Established Church, but differing sufficiently to let
them and their flocks remain proprietors and masters of their own
place of worship, and also to let thtm teach their peculiar point of
doctrine without episcopal interference and censure. In the pre-
sent estimate are Included all who are not subject to her Bishops,
nor p acalting of her revenues.
Maces of Worship
Considerable pains have been taken, hitherto without success,
ro ascertain the number of places of worship of the sects differing
lions the es* Nl:lament. In the House of Lords it was stated, and
not controverted. on both the 18th and 26th March, 1811, that
upwards 01 12,000 licences had been taken otit since the accession
of George 111. for such pl4-es of Worship ; hut many of them
being large rooms not built for places of worship were liable to be
•' Indoned and turned to other uses. The same want of success
has attended the inquiry as to the number of ministers or preachers,
and their income. But after a good deal of investigation, it is
offered as an approximation that there are about 8,000 places of
worship, averaging a minister or preacher for each, with an aver-
age income of £6O or £7O a year ;—in all about half a million of
money.
Clergymen B,OOO
One Place of Worship to 750 hearers.
One Clergyman to 750 hearers.
Income
_ _

Voluntary Contributions at an average rate of ,E 6.5 for each
Clergyman.
Six millions of bearers, at £85,000 per million.... £510,000

MITTRATZD munuouxuaa ox THE CLIZOT OF THAT FART OF THE
rooms {OHM 30URSTSZI DO NOT =VMS menu* FROM THE
LEE Of SCOTLAND.

Bearers 500,000
Places of Worship

At an average of one place of wonbip for every 1,500 persons,
as in the Kirk.

Clergymen .......... 400
At an avenge of siz Clergymen to five Places of Worship.
Inc0me....
Voluntary Contributions at an avenge of £llO each to 400
Clergymen.
A Place of Worship to every 15,00 bearers.
A Clergyman to every 12,50 hearers.
500,000 hearers, at £90,000 per million

ARSON.

From the Sheffield Iris.

During the night between last Tuesday and Wednes-
day, a stack of hay and another of clover, value about £7O, De-
limiting to Mr. Machen, Stubbing House, near Eccles&ld, and
about five miles from Sheffield, were most nefariously set fire to
od destroyed.Tbere can be no doubt that some incendiary or incen-
diaries intentionally caused the damage to Mr. Machen's property ;
and from two anonymous letters given below there is ground for
supposing that the villain or villains were led to commit the mis-
chief in consequence of Mr. Machen's not having complied with
the requirements contained in the letters to dismiss a workman in
his service, who, after attending the proper hours of labour at Mr.
Machen's, was employed night or morning by an individual or two
in the neighbourhood, to take care of game. It seems he bad by
some means rendered himself obnoxious to the writer of the two
following letters :

Bradfield August the 30 1329.

Mr. Smith this is to inform you a little about tenting game you
are a man that i respect very well But if you let
a tenant of yours until the first of Oct. i shall certoinly set fire to
all your hay and corn stacks so help me god so you must not think
it a gest a idle rogue Blast him I have got something ready for him
that is very ofull is a tenter But I will stop his walk if be
remains a tenter until first October so Mr. Smith I do not think no
worse of you if you get rid of him by that time But if you do not
I Shall do as above mentioned if my god whom I serve spates me
my life until that time so no more from me a well wisher
for of yours

Mr. Joseph Smith
Cross House
Near Grennside
The other letter was sent more than a fortnight after the first.
as appears by the date :

Wadaley September 16th 1829
Mr Smith this is to inform you a little about tenting Game you
are aware that I respect very Well but if you let ... be a
tennant of yours any longer then the first of October i will set fire
to all your hay and corn stacks. So you must think it is not a gest
I have got Some thing ready for him a idle rogue G— Blast him i
will settle of with him Befor it be long I will Like wise set tire to
all Mr. Machens stacks if they imploy Mon working for them so be
so kind as let them know I shall do as above mentioned if you do
not get rid of him Before the First of Octobtr 1829 i respect Mr.
Matben's very well but i ham determined to quiet in .. so
do not think it a jest
So help me god i will do it
So no more at presant from me your eaver well wisher
if I live I will do as it is here written

For 'Mr. Joseph Smith
Cross House

with speed G renoside
We have seen the originals, and are of opinion that although the
orthography is disguised, the handwriting is in the regular manner,
or nearly so, of the author. Mr. Machen, jun. passed the stacks
at about ten o'clock of the night when they were set fire to, so that
it was probably near midnight when the diabolical act was com-
mitted. The mischief was not found out until morning, when a
servant man rose at the regular time to go to work.
A reward of .ESO has been offered for the discovery of the of-

fender or offenders, and we should hope the means used to bring
the perpetrators of so diabolical an outrage to justice will be suc-
cessful. The individual on whose account the above threatening
letters were sent has resigned his situation as gamekeeper—not on
account of the personal intimidations used with reference to him-
self, but because he would not be the cause of danger or suffering
to others.