of our times is a disposition to scurvy; a third seems to think, that all mankind are contriving how to get rid of the tooth-ache; and a fourth considers the effect of bowel complaints as "the chief end of man." Political Projectors are not less convinced, that the object of their attention must be the object of every body's attention, although they cannot but allow that the trade of Political Pro jection is nearly over-stocked, and that the majority of mankind ought not to be very severely blamed, if they withdrew their minds from what is passing in Europe, to attend a little to their own domestic and commercial concerns. But thus it is, that Projectors of all kinds are apt to think that their schemes must necessarily be the schemes of all the world; and when they find how little notice they have attracted, they complain of unmerited neglect, without ever reflecting that there may possibly be objects of attention rather more important than they have been pleased to offer.

I know not how long I meant to have pursued this strain, nor to what point I should have brought it at last, for, as I was mending my pen to begin a new sentence, I received the following Letter from "A Country Parish Priest," a character which I revere, because I connect with it the ideas of duty well performed, and good done. But he shall speak for himself.

SIR,

TO THE PROJECTOR.

AS you have entertained us with many agreeable and useful Projects for a long season in Mr. Urban's pleasing Miscellany, it is but right that we should sometimes give you a little respite from your monthly labours, by suggesting matters of no inconsiderable importance, that may stand you in some stead. And if the subject of the following Address should be of a more serious cast than the generality of your Lucubrations, yet, I presume, at the present time this will not be considered as an objection by your intelligent Readers.

You need not be told, Sir, that complaints have often been made of the Non-residence of the Clergy. And where this evil exists in any considerable degree, it is doubtless right

to look after expedients that may serve either to prevent or remedy it. For this purpose, the Legislature seems to have thought fit to interpose with its authority, and to consult for the requisite production of such wise ends and happy effects as a Parochial Clergy were designed, and are well calculated to promote. Several Statutes have been framed with this or the like view; and the conduct and practice of the Clergy, even in these busy and momentous times, have not escaped the cognizance of Parliament. One of these Statutes was of an exclusive character: that the Clergy might attend more closely to the duties of their function, it was thought expedient to exclude them from a seat in the Commons House of Parliament. And, although this end might perhaps have been fully answered, by refusing to receive individuals of this body that were occasionally returned, as their right was always esteemed at least dubious; yet now they are totally disfranchised from such doubtful right, and excluded altogether by Law. How far this measure was just or fitting, I shall not attempt to consider, nor am I disposed to arraign the acts of the Legislature; yet, as all nations, at almost all times, have availed themselves of the assistance and judgment of their Clergy, the policy of the measure may be deemed somewhat problematical.

Another Statute was made by way of amendment of a former Law, that had enacted grievous pains and pe nalties to be exacted from the Clergy, chiefly for Non-residence. And so far as pains and penalties may be judged expedient in this case, this explanatory Law appears to be lenieut and gentle, and likely to answer, in a good degree, the end proposed. The Clergy also are hereby relieved from litigious and vexatious processes of law, calculated more to swell the pockets of the inforiners than to promote the real interests of the publick. And as this Act exercised the attention of the Legislators for a long season, I am inclined to suppose it the best model of pains and penalties that could at present be devised. A third Act was passed to make a better provision for Curates, or those Clergyinen that resided

1

resided on Benefices, and did the whole of the duty of the parish, whilst the Incumbents were resident elsewhere. For the better provision of persons of this description, it was enacted, among other things, that in some cases the Bishop of the Diocese might augment the Curate's salary to near a hundred pounds a-year; and thus far all was acquiesced in, as far as I know, with out a murmur. But still all these Acts have a tendency either to diminish the privileges of some of the Clergy, or to reduce their income: and they affect all the Clergy, of whatever age, character, or condition, that may fall within their in

fluence alike.

I

Yet, as if all was not enough that has been hitherto contrived, a further Act is preparing, which is meant to augment the Curate's salary, in some instances to £250 a-year. know it will be said, that the Curate's income is often too scanty, and I am ready to allow it:--but from what quarter should it be augmented? The Rector's or Vicar's is often scanty enough in these dear times. Why then should the Incumbent, who has got, perhaps, from ail his preferment, but a bare maintenance for himself and family; and which he has waded through many early difficulties to acquire, of the like sort, perhaps, with those of his present Curate-why should he, at the latter part of his life, be mulcted with an unusual defalcation from his hard-earned income, to supply new demands, which were not foreseen or expected ? Let the extraordinary claims of the Curate be provided for by Government, or some other method; but let not the Incumbent suffer, who perhaps may be prevented by age or infirmities from doing his duty, or by some other just and unavoidable cause; let us not, in such cases especially, to quote an old adage, be found robbing of Peter to pay Paul. I am aware it will be also said, that the grand design is to enforce Residence, or to compel the Clergy who have Benefices to reside on them, rather than leave the care of their parishes to substitutes. Now, however desirable it might be to promote residence, yet I fear the methods devised from pains and penalties would but poorly

are

Now for this purpose, why should not our attention be turned to patronage? or why should not corrections be sought after in this quarter? However it may be too commonly regarded, patronage is certainly a serious trust-a very important talent committed to the care of some distinguished personages for the general benefit of the community. Within the compass of this trust in the Established Church there many dignities or higher preferments, such as Deaneries, Canonries, Prebends (for I will not meddle with Bishopricks); which might be wisely and usefully improved for this valuable purpose. Let these be held out as rewards, and given to none but those who have been resident Parochial Clergymen. By such arrangement the proper patrons need not be deprived of any share of their respective patronage. It is only wished to restrain or confine it within certain limitations, a few of which I will beg leave to point at.

The first I would propose is, that no Clergyman should be promoted to any dignity in the Church, till he could bring sufficient proofs that he had resided on some Parochial Cure, and discharged the duties of it, for a term not less than seven years. Another might be, that every Clergyman who could adduce satisfactory proofs that he had resided on a Parochial Cure or Cures, whether as Rector, Vicar, or Curate, for thirty years, and had obtained no higher preferment, should be ranked in a class called the Emeriti, or those who were worthy of superior ho

to better their condition; or whenever, in short, the Church becomes at all a subject for discussion; we have to remark an unusual degree of jealousy, a narrowness of mind, and sometimes a bandying of disrespectful epithets, all which seem to indicate an indifference to that which preserves principle, decorum, and order in society; and without which we should soon share the fate of those nations, in which Religion has been banished by the higher orders, or left to the casual support or neglect of the mob. When we hear the terms "Priest," and "High Priest," frequently used in debate or conversation, if we look attentively, we shall find that such epithets of contempt proceed from those, who, being conscious that themselves have long shaken off the substance, fancy they see among the rest of the world nothing but the shadow.

LETTER LI. ON PRISONS.

" All punishment supposes the infliction of pain; but pain is not the proper object of punishment. To punish merely for the sake of inflicting pain on the individual is, instead of the considerate humanity of a legislator, to exercise the ferocity of a savage."

CRIT. REV. Ser. 2. vol. XII. p. 99.

Mr. URBAN,

F

Sambrook Court, June 11.

☑ ROM the letters occasionally received, I am sensible that many Readers have had their attention excited by these periodical communications on the state of Prisons; and perhaps not one of them had previously formed any adequate idea of the misery of a large portion of their fellow-creatures. Could they have imagined that a poor debtor was frequently placed in a more miserable state than the worst criminal? That some, whilst living, were entombed in dungeons, that required candles to light the passages, and formed without chimneys for venti lation? That in the Debtors' County Prison the rooms are without bedding, or even straw to lie upon? That in 1803, there were two sick in a hired bed, one in the jaundice, and a fourth dying in a consumption; and that no medical aid or assistance

had been extended to these objects? magistrate is said to have

That

no

come there; nor is there any employment for the incarcerated mechanick or labourer ? - Could any Englishman have suspected that these things existed in the polished and opulent city of Exeter? And what effects, except to give pain and misery, without the prospect of reformation and industry, are they calculated to produce? Can there be reformation of morals, where there is no Chaplain, nor any religious duties performed or encouraged ? Can habits of industry be acquired where no employment or labour is promoted ?-no magistrate to enforce the exercise of those duties, which their office empowers them to do?

Gentlemen of Exeter have formed a literary society, whose publications evince their learning and refinement. May their philosophical researches descend to the investigation of the cause and prevention of human infelicity! J. C. LETTSOM.

EXETER. The CITY and COUNTY GAOL.-Gaoler, Richard Tarbart. Salary, £30. 10s. Fees, for debtors, 168.8d.; besides which the Under-sheriff demands 3s. for his liberate. No fees for felons. For the conveyance of transports, Is. per mile.-Garnish, for debtors, not yet abolished, 2s.Chaplain, none. Surgeon, Mr. Walker, for felons only. Salary, none; makes a bill.-Number of prisoners, Sept. 26, 1806, debtors, 4; felons, &c. 9.-Allowance, to debtors, see the Remarks; to felons and criminal prisoners, one pound and half of bread per day, sent from the baker's, and which I have always found of full weight.

REMARKS:- This Prison is within the South-gate, from which it sometimes takes its name; and consists, amongst others, of two rooms in the Keeper's house, called the Long room, and the Shoe. The latter, it seems, was first denominated from a Shoe that was formerly suspended by a string from the irongrated window towards the street, to solicit the charity of passengers: but the practice is now discontinued, by order of the Magistrates. This room is set apart for such debtors as bring their own beds, and pay sixpence per week.

The long-room is for the debtors to walk in, here being no courtyard. There are also nine other rooms, rooms, to which the Gaoler furnishes beds and bedding, at from 3s. to 10s. 6d. per week, according to the ability of his prisoners.

It is a singular circumstance; but every week sixty penny loaves (weighing, Oct. 6, 1803, nine ounces and a half each) are sent to the debtors of this Gaol. If only one debtor, he has the whole batch: if more, they are equally divided amongst them. From what source they come was not known in the Gaol; but the Keeper gave me the following account:-Mr. and Mrs. Seldon's legacy, 2s. 6d.; Mrs. Pengelly, 1s.: Mrs. Reed, 6d.; and the Chamber of Exeter, 1s. Total 5 shillings.

On the side of the gateway opposite to the Gaoler's apartments, are the three wards appropriated to the felous, dark, dirty, and offensive ;we went into them with lighted candles: they have no chimney for ventilation; no court-yard belonging to them; nor water, except what was brought by the Keeper, at his pleasure or convenience. Nothing could exceed the squalid wretchedness of the prisoners.

At my visit in 1803, I found the old Gaoler had been dismissed; a new one appointed; and windows were now made through the wall, which gave sufficient light, without the assistance of candles.

The cell for women (No. 1.) is 16 feet 9 inches by 9 feet 6, and only six feet high. It has barrack bedsteads, with two straw-in-sacking beds, and three rugs each; and is lighted by a window of three feet and an inch, by 2 feet 8 inches.

Cell No. 2, for men, is 9 feet 6, by 8 feet 9, and 12 feet 6 inches high; fitted up with two wooden bedsteads, straw-in-sacking beds, and rugs. The window of this cell is 2 feet 6 inches, by 2 feet.

No, 3, is also a cell for men, 18 feet 6, by 11, and 12 feet high, fitted up as the former, and lighted by a window of 3 feet, by 2 feet and an inch.

Over these miserable night-cells are two day-rooms; the one 17 feet 6 inches by 14 feet 9, and 13 feet 6 inches high, with a window 2 feet 5 by 2 feet; the other, 16 feet 3 by 9 feet, and only 6 feet 3 inches high, with a window of 2 feet 3 inches by 2 feet. Both these day-rooms have

fire-places; and coals are allowed for. them by the Chamber of Exeter during the six winter months. When prisoners are indulged with the use of these day-rooms, a trap-door is opened in the floor; and they ascend through it, by a ladder, from the ceil below.

Besides the foregoing weekly allowance of bread to the debtors, the Taylor's Company give 1s. 4d. on every Easter Eve; and, at the same time, debtors receive from the Chamber, 36 penny loaves; and as many more at Christmas.

Two painted boards are here put up, containing memorials of sundry bequests: they are not dated, and one of them seems to be very antient, viz.

LEGACIES.

[Not paid these many years.] "Prisoners in the Sherive's ward, Gaole, and county of the City of Exon.

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The other memorial, on the second board, is thus:

"Exon South Gate.

"Mrs. Hester Reed gave six-pence a-week, for ever, to this Prison; to be paid out of a tenement called Ven, in the parish of Cullumton, and laid out in middling wheat bread, and distributed always to the prisoners in the Shew (Shoe)."

The following memorial is framed and hung up:

"Francis Pengelly of this City, apothecary, by deed, dated the Ist of January, 1700, gave two pounds twelve shillings a-year, to be laid out in bread, for the use of the debtors in this prison, for ever; issuing out of his estate called the Dolphin inn, and premises adjoining, situate in the parish of St. Mary Major, in the said City."

This estate was sold in 1805, and £1095. 198. 6d. Three per Cent. Consolidated Annuities purchased with

the