produced by the emancipation? In the first place, to my certain
knowledge the Catholics have long since expressed to his Majesty's
Ministers their perfect readiness TO VEST IN HIS MAJESTY, EITHER
WITH THE CONSENT OF THE POPE, OR WITHOUT IT IF IT CANNOT BE
OBTAINED, THE NOMINATION OF THE CATHOLIC PRELACY. The Catholic
prelacy in Ireland consists of twenty-six bishops and the warden of
Galway, a dignitary enjoying Catholic jurisdiction. The number of
Roman Catholic priests in Ireland exceeds one thousand. The
expenses of his peculiar worship are, to a substantial farmer or
mechanic, five shillings per annum; to a labourer (where he is not
entirely excused) one shilling per annum; this includes the
contribution of the whole family, and for this the priest is bound
to attend them when sick, and to confess them when they apply to
him; he is also to keep his chapel in order, to celebrate divine
service, and to preach on Sundays and holydays.

In the northern district a priest gains from 30 to 50 pounds; in the
other parts of Ireland from 60 to 90 pounds per annum. The best
paid Catholic bishops receive about 400 pounds per annum; the others
from 300 to 350 pounds. My plan is very simple: I would have 300
Catholic parishes at 100 pounds per annum, 300 at 200 pounds per
annum, and 400 at 300 pounds per annum; this, for the whole thousand
parishes, would amount to 190,000 pounds. To the prelacy I would
allot 20,000 pounds in unequal proportions, from 1,000 to 500
pounds; and I would appropriate 40,000 pounds more for the support
of Catholic schools, and the repairs of Catholic churches; the whole
amount of which sum is 250,000 pounds, about the expense of three
days of one of our genuine, good English JUST AND NECESSARY WARS.
The clergy should all receive their salaries at the Bank of Ireland,
and I would place the whole patronage in the hands of the Crown.