The Political Anatomy of Ireland (1899)/Chapter III

by William Petty

 

 

[CHAPTER III.]

Of the Church and Benefices.

 

IF ½ the Non-Papists are Non-Conformists, then there are but 50000 Legal Protestants in Dublin and all other Cities, Towns, &c. which require but 50 preaching Ministers.

And if there are but 50 M. Legal Protestants in the rest of Ireland, they require but 100 Ministers, at 500 to a Flock^[1], whereof ⅓, viz. 166 are Children.

If there be in England and Wales about 9000 Parishes, and under 30 Bishops, then every Bishop must have above 300 Parsons in his Charge.

So as one Bishop in Ireland is more than 30 in England.

Wherefore 25,000l. would afford 150l. per Ann. of each of 150 Ministers, and 2500l. to the Bishop.

The value of the Church-Lands and appropriate Tythes, is ^[2] per Ann. above the Kings Rent due out of them.

If 100 Ministers can serve all Ireland, they must have Precincts of neer ¹³⁄₁₄^[3] Miles square, and consequently they must be Itinerants, and as Lecturers on week-days; and other honest ordained Men must be Priests. |17|

If 150, nay, if 250 Ministers would serve all Ireland, then 10 per Ann. will supply their Mortality: And consequently a Nursery of 100 will send forth 10 yearly of 10 years standing. Perhaps the Nursery need not be above half so large.

1. Cox, 'The calculaċon of y^e number of Ministers from Number of Auditors is very Strange because they may live at such distance y^t tis impossible to attend them, for example in Kerry, phaps there are not above 500 prot & yet one Minister could never suply y^e Cure, y^t is visit y^e sick, Christen, bury &c.'
2. The amount is wanting in all editions.
3. 1719, '13 or 14.' In margin of S, 'about 18000 square miles in Ireland.' The version of the second ed., therefore, probably represents Petty's intention.