246 ECGLESIASTICA L R E P O R T S S I N 1807, [ Limerick GENERAL OBSERVATIONS: Containing ANSWERS to QUERIES id, Sedlion 6th; and Queries ; d, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th;— all the other Queries being anfwered in the Columns. Query j. Seft. 6th.— THERE is by Aft of Parliament a fufficient power lodged in the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council, and the Bithops of the feveral Diocefes in Ireland, either to unite or aifunite Parilhes, when either may be deemed advilable ; and the Archbifhops and Bifhops are enabled, by Aft of Parliament, to form a Diftrift ( part of a large Pariih) into a feparate Pariih, under the title of a Perpetual Curacy; by which means feveral large Parifhes in Ireland have been aftualiy divided into two or more feparate and diftinft Parifhes. Query 3d.— THE Board of Firft Fruits can augment fuch Livings by purchafing Glebes and impropriate Tythes, cut ; of the produce of the Firlt Fruits and Twentieth Parts granted for that purpofe by Queen Anne, ar. d by aflifling the s Incumbents of them with money for the ereftion of Glebe Houfes; but this Fund is fmall, and unequal to the efFeftaal 1 augmentation of fuch Livings. THERE is alfo another Fund arifing from a charitable bequeft of the late Dr. Boulter, Primate of Ireland, and vefled £ in the Board of Firft Fruits by Aft of Parliament, out of which Fund the Board of Firft Fruits is enabled to augment 1, Livings under One hundred Pounds by the year; by adding fo much Salary yearly to the Incumbents of fuch Livings, ,1 as will make their annual Incomes One hundred Pounds. There is at prefent no other mode of improving fuch fmall Livings; but thefe Funds may be increafed by the bounty of the King in Parliament, fo as to render fuch fmall Livings capable of affording to the refident Incumbents thereof the means of comfort in cafes where the Funds already mentioned are infuflicient. 5.— IT is apprehended by the Bifhops of Ireland that the prefent Canon Law, as hitherto exercifed here, is fufficient to remedy the evil of Non- refidence ; but at prefent the execution of the Canon Law, in cafes of Non- refidence, has been obftrufted by appeals: and there is a cafe now depending before certain CommifTioners of Reviesv, appointed h by His Majefty, which, if it fhall be decided in favour of the Ecclefiaflical authority exercifcd in that cafe, will eftablifii 1 fuch a precedent in the cafe of Non- refidence, . as will fuperfede the necefiity of recommending to the Legiflature to make any other provifion for the purpofe of enforcing Refidence in Ireland. But, if the decificn in that cafe fhould bp ; otherwife, it may then become advifable to apply to the Legiflature to enaft fome Lav/ for enforcing the Refidence of the Clergy in Ireland. N° 6.— WE apprehend that the Laws already in being eflablifh the beft mode of applying fuch Funds as are now applicable, for the purpofe of building or repairing Churches or Glebe Hoafes, and the improvement of Glebes. N° 7.— THE Laws now in being are, we apprehend, fully fufficient to prevent Unions, perpetual or Epifcopal, from being improperly made, and to preferve Churches and Glebe Houfes from dilapidations when duly enforced. N° 8.— We are of opinion that the due execution of the now exifting Laws, with the fmall alteration which we have fuggefled ( if found neceflary on the contingency already mentioned) and fuch grants as His Majefty and the Parliament may in their bounty make for the augmenting the Incomes of poor Livings, purchafing Glebes, and sflifting the building of Churches and Glebe Houfes, will be, fufficient for the prefent improvement, protection, and fupport of the Eftablifhed Church in Ireland. € H As Limerick, Ardfert & Jghadce. j ft November 1806. — N° 2.— continued. United DIOCESE of ARDFERT AND AGHADOE