ch. 107. (set forth in Appen intentions for augmenting the maintenance of the Poor Clergy." This Act is set forth in the Appendix, as is also an Act for enlarging the powers of the Governors, which passed 44 Geo. III. chap. 107,-intituled, "An Act 43.G.3 Act for effectuating certain parts of an Act passed in the 2nd and 3rd years of the reign of her late Majesty Queen Anne, intituled, An Act for the making more effectual her Majesty's gracious intentions for the augmentation of the maintenance of the Poor Clergy, by enabling her Majesty to grant in perpetuity the revenue of the First Fruits and Tenths; and also for enabling any other persons to make grants for the same purpose, so far as the same relate to deeds and wills made for granting and bequeathing lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods and chattels, to the Governors of the Bounty of Queen Anne, for the purposes in the said Act mentioned; and for enlarging the powers of the said Governors." And in the Appendix, another Act is introduced, viz. "An Act passed 45 Geo. III. chap. 84.-intituled, "An Act for making Act 45.G.3. more effectual the gracious intentions of her late Ma- ch. 84. (set jesty Queen Anne, for the augmentation of the main- Appendix.) tenance of the Poor Clergy, so far as relates to the returns of certificates into the Exchequer and gifts of personal property." The collection of the Tenths under the system adopted before the grant of them to the Governors having been found to be badly contrived, the Governors for some years after their incorporation, suffered much consequent inconvenience and loss; and they were much employed in devising means to correct the evil, and at length they obtained an Act of Parliament, forth in Act. 3. G.1. in the 3rd year of the reign of King George I. chap. 10. for better collecting intituled, "An Act for the better collecting and levying Fruits and the revenue of the Tenths of the Clergy." the First Tenths. Great augmentation of Livings by the Go effected vernors. The further Proceedings of the Governors. After the heavy incumbrances of the annuities charged on the revenues of the Clergy were removed, and after the new regulations for the better collection of the Tenths had been acted upon, the Governors proceeded by virtue of the Charters and Acts of Parliament by slow degrees, with as much effect as their funds permitted, to augment small livings, according to the rules prescribed in the second Charter. But since the munificient grants have been made by Parliament, eleven in number of 100,000l. each; the Bounty and first of which was voted in 1809, to be applied by the Governors for the same purposes as the Royal Bounty; the augmentation of small livings, especially those of large population, has been effected in a most extensive manner; as will appear by the account of augmentations which is set forth in the Appendix. By the Royal the Grants made by Parliament. Advantages to the Clergy Public. The greatest benefit has been conferred on the Church by this Corporation, in the way of increase to and to the the incomes of the Clergy of the poorest class of livings in this kingdom, particularly since the large means placed at the disposal of the Governors by Parliament has enabled them to augment to a considerable amount, livings containing a large population; pro the advantage to the community has been in portion, for the Governors have taken care to recommend where augmentations were made by them, that increased duty in cases requiring and admitting it, should be performed. The residence of the Clergy has been also promoted by the proceedings of the Govenors of Queen Anne's Bounty, as well by advances of money made by them to incumbents on mortgage of their livings, as by their applying money appropriated for the benefit of particular livings, in defraying the expences of purchasing buildings, or improving houses for the residence of the incumbents thereof. The Acts of Parliament enabling the Governors to make such loans and so to apply appropriated money are hereinafter referred to, and instructions are given in what manner incumbents are to proceed, who are desirous to avail themselves of the powers thereby given. Augmentation of Small Livings by means of the The rules contained in the second Charter prescribe The Rules. what livings were to be augmented by the Governors, and in what manner. Rule. By the second rule the stated sum to be allowed to The 24 each cure to be augmented is 200l. to be invested in a purchase at the expense of the Corporation. By the third rule the Governors were directed to The 3d begin with augmenting those cures which did not ex ceed 107. per annum. Rule. By the fourth rule the Governors were authorized, The 4th Rule. The two last extended. The 11th Rule. Rule 22d March, 1824. in order to encourage benefactions, to give the sum of 200l. to Cures not exceeding 35l. per annum, where any persons would give the same sum, or a greater sum or value in lands or tithes. The two last rules have from time to time been extended, as livings have gradually become augmented to a higher amount. By the eleventh rule the mode of augmentation of Livings to be augmented, otherwise than by benefaction, is prescribed to be by lot. The Governors are at the present time enabled by rule under the Royal sign manual, bearing date the The Gover- 22nd of March, 1824, to augment by lot out of the augment Royal Bounty Fund, those cures which are fitly qualified, and do not exceed 60l. per annum. nors may Livings by lot up to 601. per an by Rule 14th June, And by num. And rule also under the Royal sign manual, bearing date the 14th day of June, 1820, the Governors are ena1820, they bled to give a sum of 200l. from the same fund, to cures not exceeding 200l. per annum; where any perLivings un- son or persons, in order to obtain the Bounty, will give may meet Benefactions to der 2001. out of the per annum 2001. or a greater sum in money, or the value thereof, in land or tithes, or a clear yearly rent-charge or annuity of 157. Royal The New 1809, of Livings under 1507. And Sup Returns. In the year 1809 returns to the Governors of Queen Returns in Anne's Bounty were made by the Archbishops and Bishops of the several dioceses in England and Wales, per annum. of the yearly value of all benefices and cures not explemental ceeding 150l. per annum; and subsequently, whenever a Bishop has discovered that any benefice or cure within his diocese, not exceeding the said yearly value, was not included in the said returns, it has been and now is the practice of such Bishop, either without reference to the Bounty Office, to issue queries respecting any such benefice or cure, and on receiving answers to such queries to make to the Governors a supplemental return under his hand and episcopal seal of the yearly value thereof; or to apply in the first instance to the Secretary to the Governors, to issue a special commission of enquiry as to the yearly value, end other circumstances of any such benefice or cure directed to three beneficed Clergymen and three laymen, (usually recommended to the Bishop by the Incumbent,) and for the Bishop, on the receipt of the answers to such commission, to make a return of the yearly value to the Governors. augmented The returns so made by the Bishops in 1809, and the supplemental returns since made, are called the New Returns, and are the main foundation of, and have been always referred to in making the augmentations which have been since granted by the Governors. Nearly all such beneficies or cures which by the new Livings returns were certified not to exceed 50l. per annum, as up to 50%. were by the Governors found to be fitly qualified to be per annum augmented, (to judge of which qualification queries were in every case issued as to the annual value, duty, and other particulars, and the answers thereto duly considered by the Governors,) have been lately augmented to that amount without lot by virtue of the before-mentioned rule under the Royal sign manual, dated the 22d day of March, 1824. without lot. augment The mode of augmenting them to such amount Mode of adopted by the Governors, was by giving to every living them. ing not exceeding that annual value according to the new returns so many sums of 200l. each, as reckoning the interest thereof at 4l. per cent. raised the same to that amount. The Governors reckoned the rate of |