to the advancement of the Catholic doctrine, arising from the discipline established by the laity with regard to church property. I have been able to learn, from persons who have spent some time in this country, and have been able to make accurate observations on this subject, that the system of Church government is more on the Presbyterian manner than on any principle of the Catholic religion. The congregation chooses trustees, who are the managers of every thing-the clergymen their servants, who are employed to earn the rents of the pews, all which the trustees receive, and they pay the clergyman, as they do the sexton, the grave-diggers, and the other servants, though, if this head-servant refused to officiate, he would get no money. They who keep or give this money pretend to regulate only the temporalities of the church; but if the clergyman will not regulate the discharge of spiritual duties as they like, they will either stop or curtail his wages. In Philadelphia and New York, they have it in their power to treat the bishop in the same way, and I am told they have often done so, particularly when the bishop suspended a priest who had made a party for himself, or would not suspend a priest against whom a party was made. This shew you what the veto would be in Ireland. Another great obstacle is, that most of the churches are divided into pews, which are rented, and many people who cannot afford to pay the rent of a pew, which is sometimes very high, feel ashamed to go to church (for church it is called here); and thus, though there is often but half the number of pews rented, twice as many persons as would fill the church stay at home, and often go to the Methodist meetings, where there are no pews rented. But the principal evil is the want of good priests, who would co-operate with the bishops. I know very little, except of New York and Charleston. In the diocess of New York five or six good clergymen would find ample employment, and could do much good. It is a pity to see the aged and virtuous prelate of that diocess so bereft of assistance as he is. In the diocess of Charleston the territory is immense, though much of the land is unoccupied. The population is nearly two millions, and the Catholics are spread through several parts of these vast regions; many of them are some hundred miles from a clergyman. Methodists and Baptists are continually going through the country -the Catholics calling for clergymen to aid them, and the bishop is left to return the distressing answer "that he cannot supply them." The right rev. Dr. England has determined to have neither pews nor trustees in the churches. He has met great opposition to this determination, but he appears inflexible upon it, and I have no doubt but he will succeed. The great majority of his flock, though they at first opposed, now approve of his plan. He has a large temporary church without pews, which is always filled with the most respectable persons of other denominations. His present object is to form, if he can, as asso ciation of clergymen, who will devote themselves in academies, and to go on missions in the several parts of his diocess; to have a community of funds from the profits of the academies and the offerings of the faithful, by which candidates for holy orders may be supported, and the wants of the mission supplied. If he could obtain six or eight good clergymen to aid him in this project, there can be no doubt but he would very soon have a peaceable well organized and flourishing church. He has already in this city one of the most respectable aud numerous academies in America. The reputa tion which it has acquired would ensure success to his plans, could he obtain such clergymen as he seeks, but without this aid he must relinquish all hopes of success. He is, however, determined to be very scrupulous in the examination of those who may apply, but he has informed me that he will always consider certificates of good conduct, piety and learning, given either by the rev. Dr. Crotty of Maynooth, or the rev. Dr. Fitzgerald, of Carlow, as quite sufficient. He would ensure situations for ten or twelve clergymen, or candidates for orders, who would enter into his views in the formation of a society of missionary priests, and bring such testimonials as I mention. It is principally to Ireland America has to look for missionaries. And it is to be fondly hoped that that island, which has in past ages enlightened several countries on the continent of Europe, with the piety and learning of her children, will continue to diffuse the blessings of religion on this great western continent. I beg to submit these reflections with all due respect and submission to the consideration of the R. C. prelates and clergy of Ireland. Unless timely aid be afforded to the Catholic church in America, we must be left to the sad reflection, that the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light, and that the fanatics of the 19th century have outdone the true followers and ministers of Christ, in their exertions to diffuse their respective religious principles. Your's most respectfully, JOHN M'ENCROE, R. C. Priest of St. Finbar's church, Charleston. P. S. I would be thankful to the editor of any other paper, who may be kind enough to give insertion to this letter, from the Dublin Evening Herald or Weekly Register, The wider it is circulated the greater probability there will be of obtaining the desired object. Establishment of her Majesty Queen Catherine, Consort of King Charles II, CATHERINA R.* AN ESTABLISHMENT of ordinary wages, fees, allowances and pensions, yearly allowed by us unto our officers and servants of our revenue, viz. from the feast of St. Michael the Archangell, * In a letter from the Rev. George Gray, London, 30th May, 1662, is an interesting account of the enthusiastic reception which the queen met with on her first arrival in England in that month of the year. The sagacious and pious writer extols, in the following words, her exemplary and consistent conduct in refusing to be married to King Charles II by a Protestant minister, until she had previously been married by a Catholic clergyman. «Illud certè Annalium memoriâ dignissimum nunquam reticebit Catholica Posteritas. Cum sub ipsum ejus in Insulam ingressum, primi Procerum Anglorum et Regis Consiliarii, Concilio habito, contenderent contractum matrimonialem ab Episcopo Protestantico et ritu Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ celebrari oportere, respondit illa, Religione se et Con scientiâ prohiberi, quo minus id pateretur. Cumque illi conglobatis rationibus vehementius instarent, Regi nec honorificum nec tutum fore alio quam patrio Ritu ac Lege contractum ejusmodi fieri; imo prolem omnem Regiam exinde nascituram, in dubium vocari posse, restitit illa nihilominus, RELIGIONEM CONstanter obtendens. Ad extremum ultimâ admotâ machinâ illam expugnare pitebantur, nempe ipsius Sponsi Regii blanditiis amatoriis et precibus penè sup in the yeare of our Lord, 1671, unto the feast of St. Michael the Archangell, in the yeare of our Lord, 1672, that is to say, for the space of one whole yeare To the Ld. Visct, Cornbury, our Ld. Chamberlain for the yr. afsd.. More for paper, books, and other necessaries, for the same time GENTLEMEN USHERS OF THE PRIVY CHAMBERS. To Sir Hugh Cholmondley, Bart. George Porter, jun. John Hall, Alexander Stanh pe, and Francis Roper, Esqrs, each CUPBEARERS. To Sir N. Stanning, Knt. of the Bath, and Henry Guy, Esq. each CARVERS. To Sir Gabriel de Sylvius, Knt. and Sir John Elwes, Knt. each SEWERS. To Sir Charles Windham, Knt. and John Griffith, Esq. each GENTLEMEN USHERS DAILY WAITERS. To Messrs. Edward Wood, David Mead, Charles Rogers, George GROOMS OF THE PRIVY CHAMBER. £. s. d. 100 00 66 15 4 50 0 0 100 0 -0 26 13 30 0 0 33 6 8 33 6 B To Messrs. Thomas Chiffinch, John Every, Edward Wingfield, John Quinn, Anthony Pane, John Walthen, Jerome Gehors, Andrew Gallwey, and Charles de la Guard, each GENTLEMEN USHERS QUARTER WAITERS. To Messrs. James Bagnall, John Maxfield, Thomas Pegge, William More in consideration of his bills CHIRURGEON.-To Mr. Alexander Boscher More in consideration of his bills 20 0 0 60 0 0 11 8 0 50 0 0 plicibus: verum tunc quoque et perstitit invicta Heroina, disertè asseverans malle se, re infectâ, in Lusitaniam retrocedere, quam postulatis reclamante conscientiâ, cedere; seque extremâ Classis naviculâ ad reditum contentam fore, quæ tantæ Classis impendio ac molitione et totius Europæ strepitu in Angliam navigasset. Tandem itaque pervicit, ut ritu Catholico matrimonium perageretur: quamvis non recusarit (quod salvâ conscientiâ potuit) quin illud jam peractum ab Episcopo Acatholico ratum declararetur. Hoc Constantiæ documentum mirè et meritò deprædicant Catholici; admirantur etiam Acatholici, quibus nunc erepta est falsa illa persuasio, quâ hactemus credebant Reginam, teneram scilicet cereamque Virgunculam, à Rege, quà luberet, fingi flectique posse." This truly Catholic queen died at Lisbon, 31st December, 1705, aged 67. £. s. d. PAGES OF THE BACK STAIRS. To Messrs. Henry Picott, Richard Stevens, John Forbes, James PAGES OF THE PRESENCE. To Messrs. Hugh Smith, Robert Hillar, James Moody, and Hugh MEN OFFICERS BELONGING TO THE ROBES. 40 0 3 6 More for his livery, and all other claims formerly issuing out of the Robes 80 0 0 More due to him in lieu of his claims issuing out of the robes 40 0 0 More in lieu of his claims issuing out of the robes' To the said William Hemington, Groom More in lieu of his claims out of the robes TAYLOR. To Lewis Rocke, our Taylor, for his fee at 2s. per diem, which is for the same time More to him in lieu of his claims To Thorpe Groome, our Shoemaker, for his fee at 2s. per diem, for the same time GROOMS OF THE GREAT CHAMBER. To Henry Norris, John Robinson, Simon Menselle, John Maxwell, To Edward Dammaris, Henry Gill, Thomas Hone, George Axe, James Sackes, Francis Charleton, William Church, George Ellis, Thomas Howard, Thomas Gardiner, George Thorpe, George Patricke, Thomas Odson, John Bernard, Edward Hatfield, Thomas Jeane, John Geetar, John Scott, Henry Biggs, William Perkins, John Parrott, Ivett George, Philip Saywell, and Daniel Dammaris, each LADY OF THE ROBES.-To the Countess of Suffolke More for her livery and all other her claims, formerly issuing KEEPER OF THE SWEET COFFERS. To Mrs. Charlotte Killigrew 27 7 6 20 0 0 326 |