There are in proportion more impropriations in Ireland than in England, which, added to the poverty of the country, make the livings of very small and uncertain value, so that five or six are often joined to make a revenue of 50l. per annum: but these have seldom above one church in repair, the rest being destroyed by frequent wars, &c.
The clergy, for want of glebes, are forced, in their own or neighbouring parish, to take farms to live on at rack rents.
The queen having some years since remitted the first-fruits to the clergy of England, the bishop of Cloyne, being then in London, did petition her majesty for the same favour in behalf of the clergy of Ireland, and received a gracious answer. But this affair, for want of soliciting, was not brought to an issue during the governments of the duke of Ormond, and earl of Pembroke.
Upon the earl of Wharton's succeeding, Dr. Swift (who had solicited this matter in the preceding government) was desired by the bishops of Ireland to apply to his excellency, who thought fit to receive the motion as wholly new, and what he could not consider till he were fixed in the government, and till the same application were made to him as had been to his predecessors. Accordingly an address was delivered to his lordship, with a petition to the queen, and a memorial annexed from both houses of convocation; but a dispute happening in the lower house, wherein his chaplain was concerned, and which was represented by the said chaplain as an
from the bishops having been too long, and not to the purpose. See his letter of Oct. 10.
