ON TITHES IN IRELAND.
11
Colonel Sir Jofoi .Hartiejr,
There are 75 parishes under composition in this county, so that the larger propor-tion is under composition ; but the remark I have made with respect to Grai<me applies very generally I have understood.
* 29.
Do you conceive that one of the great difficulties that lies in the way of the *9 January 1832 clergy, is from the very large number of persons upon whom their claims are to be enforced, as compared with the amount they are to receive from each ?
Cer-tainly.
30.
And consequently, that the expenses to which they are subject by any legal process are such as will render it impossible for them to enforce their ri^ht without ruin to themselves ?—That
is my firm impression.
31.
Have you contemplated any remedy for the state of things which you have described ?—The
two remedies that have occurred to my mind, upon an imperfect acquaintance with the subject, after a good deal of consideration of it, are a com-mutation of land for tithe, or a moderate land-tax ; and I am of opinion that a small land-tax would operate far more equally than any other arrangement, by including the property of the absentee landlord ; but I am satisfied that the former would be more acceptable to the clergy, because it maintains their connection with the soil, by giving them a proportion of land in lieu of their tithes.
32.
What are the present pecuniary circumstances of the clergy in the county of Kilkenny ?—Nothing
can be more destitute or pitiable in the parishes where the opposition has prevailed.
It is within my knowledge, that the Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory has lately assembled his clergy ; and that immediately after that event took place in which several lives were lost in the county of Kilkenny, he proposed to them, in consequence of that occurrence, that no further proceedings should take place till the legislature disposed of the question : he stated, that he was perfectly aware of the destitute situation of many of those to whom he addressed himself, that he had therefore taken the liberty of arranging the salaries, and arrears of salaries, of all the curates; and with respect to the beneficed clergy, that as far as his means went, he was quite prepared to give, to such as had no friends or relatives able to assist them, such pecuniary assistance as was in his power.
33.
Are there a considerable number of the clergy who have not received any tithes, or a very small proportion, for the last two or three years ?—I
can state that from my own knowledge.
34.
Have the claims of the clergy upon the people been in general rigourously enforced, or the contrary ?—I
should say, the contrary.
I conceive there are very few instances in which there has been rigour or harshness; and I hold in my hand a paper which distinctly speaks to tnat.point;
it says,, that the clergy in general of this county are resident, and, I believe, are humane and charitable.
Since the determined violence and opposition to their demands, some rectors have left the charge of their parishes to their curates.
35.
Do you conceive that there is any probability of the present agitation upon the subject subsiding without some legislative enactment upon the subject?—Cer-
tainly not; they look to the proceedings of the Legislature at this moment; and till the result is made known, I am satisfied that no clergyman in that part of the country will receive a shilling of tithe.
36.
What has been the general feeling of the people in your district towards the police up to the present moment; and what have been the terms upon which the police and country people generally live together?—I
think they have been re-garded as extremely well-conducted persons; they have been rather looked up to than otherwise, and they have not been obnoxious to the population till this late question of the tithe was agitated.
37.
Has this question of tithe created, what you would apprehend to be a per-manent bad feeling between the people and the police ?—I
think it has engendered such a feeling; in the first place, it has introduced a feeling of distrust between the Protestant and Catholic policemen which never before existed.
I do not mean to say that the Protestant policeman is afraid that his Catholic comrade will not do his duty ; but I do mean to say, that he apprehends that in any collision with the people, the Roman-catholic policeman will be favoured by his countrymen, and that the vengeance of the people will be wreaked upon the Protestant part
^ 3^8.
Have you ever had any reason to perceive any difference in the zeal and good conduct of the Protestant and the Roman-catholic policemen under your com-mand?—Much
the contrary, speaking generally; and even in this late occurrence, where the Catholic policemen were favoured by the people (although without their 177.
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