PROFESSORS AND PENSIONERS AT BELFAST, & C. 31 Sir, _ Rathfriland, 12 May 1862. I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your communication requiring me to state " what are the services I perform as clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church," and inclosing an Order of the House of Commons, ordering ( inter alia) a return of " the amount paid to clerks of Synod, and the names of such clerks, and whether for any and what services." I beg to state that the clerks are, senior clerk, Thomas Mayne Reid, M. A.; junior clerk, Robert Park, M. A. ; that the amount paid to them respectively is 461. 3s. Id., and that their services are as follows:— Noting the organisation of new congregations, ordinations, installations, removals, and death of ministers; and preparing accordingly the roll of the Assembly for the annual meeting. Attending on the annual meeting of the Assembly, and recording the proceedings. Attending on special meetings of the Assembly. Attending on meetings of several committees of Assembly. Preparing minutes of the proceedings of Assembly for the press, and forwarding duplicate copies to every minister and congrega- tion under the care of the Assembly ; official correspondence ; searching the records of the Assembly, and furnishing extracts when legally required. I'have, & c. The Under Secretary, Dublin Castle. ( signed) Thomas M. Reid. Sir, Ballymoney, 9 May 1862. I BEG to state that in July 1841,1 was appointed clerk of the General Synod of Ulster, and since that year have attended all the meetings of that court, whether annual or special; have taken minutes of all its proceedings, prepared them for the press, and had them printed and circulated; have conducted all correspondence connected with or arising from these meetings, and have had charge of all the records and papers of the Synod, whether printed or written. For all these duties and responsibilities 1 have received from the Parliamentary or Government grant the annual sum of 50/., late Irish currency. That in the same month and year ( July 1841) I was elected junior ( acting) clerk of " the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland," composed of " the General Synod of Ulster," of which 1 am sole clerk, and " the Presbyterian Synod of Ireland, distinguished by the name of Seceders," of which the Rev. Thomas Mayne Reid, the senior clerk of Assembly, was and is the sole clerk. Since 1841, I have attended all the annual and special meetings of the General Assembly, and taken minutes of the proceedings ; have prepared them for the press, and have had them printed and circulated amongst the mem- bers of Assembly; have conducted all the correspondence of the Assembly, except what was given in charge to committees; have the custody of all the records, books, and papers of the Assembly, and am accountable for them ; and have had the sole and whole responsi- bility of the business of the Assembly since the year 1854, the senior clerk having been unable since that year to attend any of the meetings. For all these duties and responsi- bilities I have never received any remuneration. The General Synod of Ulster, of which I am clerk, and receive 50/., late Irish currency, as an annual salary, as abovemen- tioned, holding its meetings during the time of the sittings of the General Assembly. I am, & c. ( signed) Robert Park, A. M., Clerk of the General Synod of Ulster, and Junior Clerk of the General Assembly of the Sir Thomas A. Larcom, K. C. B., Presbyterian Church in Ireland. & c. & c. & c., Dublin Castle. Sir, Stourbridge, " Worcestershire, 12 May 1862. I AM in receipt of your favour of the 7th instant, which was forwarded to me here from Belfast. The following are the duties of the clerk of the Remonstrant Synod, viz. :— To attend annual and special meetings of Synod, and record the business thereat trans- acted ; to prepare once a year, conduct through the press, and issue to the members, the minutes of Synod; and to act as custodian of synodical records and documents. I have, & c. Colonel Larcom, Dublin Castle. ( signed) D. Maginnis. 304-