between different parties in the State, as particularly between the landed and trading interests, how much trade helps the country, and the country, trade. The latter tends to prove how beneficial in the way of example, the amiable qualities and benevolent views of a true Country Gentleman may be, from the visible effects they produce on those dependent upon them, or benefited by them.

CLERGY.

THERE is one class of persons much out of the way of honors and distinctions; I mean the Clergy. I know a certain number of them, (about a fifty-seventh part or so of the whole) may become Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Archdeacons, Canons, Prebendaries, &c. But it is most particularly of those who do not become so, that I mean to speak, and who very possibly may, in abundance of cases, as well deserve to be honored and distinguished, as many who obtain titles, &c. &c. merely on the score of professional merit. We have spoken of the order of Knighthood being conferred on medical persons, and even people of trade; but who ever heard of an aged Clergyman being knighted for having past the best years of his life in close residence upon a country benefice, in pious and strict discharge of his parochial duties, in reclaiming the wicked, in encouraging the good, visiting the sick, and administering to the dying?

I know what I am talking about. I do not really mean to say that Knighthood should be conferred on such persons. I apprehend that according to the rules of Chivalry, it could not be, unless they resigned those very benefices of which I am speaking, for I have read that when a Sir John de Gatesden, in the reign of Henry III. being "Clericus et multis ditatus beneficiis," (a Clergyman and pretty considerable pluralist) was to be knighted, he was made to resign his preferment," quia sic oportuit," because it behoved him so to do, and then, (after having done so) he was girt "baltheo militari," or in other words, knighted.

In ancient times indeed, Sir was a common title of the Clergy, at least of the inferior orders, being the regular translation of Dominus, the designation of those who had taken their first degree in the University. Hence we have in Shakespeare Sir Hugh, in " the Merry Wives of Windsor;" Sir Topas, "Twelfth Night;" Sir Oliver, in "As you like it ;" and Sir Nathaniel in "Love's Labour's lost." But that this title was quite distinct from Knighthood, is plain from what Viola says in Twelfth Night, "I am one that had rather go with Sir Priest, than Sir Knight."

But indeed I am not going to say more of the Clergy, than what I think is due to them. I am intending to speak merely of their exclusion from such public honors as seem open to every other profession, and almost every other calling. It may be well enough to say, they are servants of a KING, whose "kingdom" is "not of this world," it is fair enough to allege that they ought not to be worldly-minded. I agree to all this; but why then, as is the case, so continually cast upon them the reproach of being worldly-minded, when they so contentedly forego, what is judged to have the greatest of all attractions for worldlyminded persons, titles, honor, and personal distinction?

Besides many of them have families; and why should such families in no instance whatsoever derive honor from the worth or eminence of their parents; for this is an exclusion that extends to Bishops and Archbishops, as well as the inferior Clergy? I know the Clergy may, if the King see fit, be made Baronets, or Peers of the realm, but only in case they should be rich enough to maintain such dignities; this makes the exclusion of the poorer only the more marked, and though I intend no slight to those who may be endowed

with wealth, yet surely it is amongst the poorer Clergy that we must look for those retired virtues, and that modest worth, which might be rendered more exemplary, by some sort of fixed remuneration.

There could be no harm in this, after the services performed. It would not interfere with the retired habits of a Country Clergyman, while discharging those duties, if after a certain series of years, every truly pious resident Incumbent were to be rewarded for his pains and attentions, and removed to some easier or less anxious post. A snug stall in some Cathedral would, I doubt not, be far better, than all the orders of Knighthood in the world? But who is to bestow it upon them? for after all, there is really no proportion between the gifts and the claimants. For what are 200 Stalls, I will not say to 18,000 Clergy, (though I might say so,) nor yet to 10,000 parish ministers, but even to the half or third part of 10,000, with the contingencies of suitable vacancies?-For unless they were constantly bestowed on very old men, what prospects of succession could old Incumbents have? And what chance would there be for them, if it should ever become the custom to bestow them on very young men ?