§ On the Motion of the Bishop of London, a Bill for the purpose of amending the above Act was brought up and read a first time. The right rev. Prelate took that opportunity of correcting a misstatement which had taken place with regard to some of the observations he had made on the previous evening. He was represented to have said, the average income of the Clergymen of England was 155l., and that of Archdeacons 600l., when, in fact, he stated, that the one was 185l. and the other not more than 100l.
Lord Kingsaid, he was surprised at so low an average as 185l. a year; for, calculating that there were 10,000 parishes, the tithes could not amount to more than between two and three millions, while, in fact, they were between four and five millions.
The Bishop of Londonsaid, that according to the returns made in 1825, the tithes amounted to 2,300,000l., a great part of which was paid to lay impropriators. He was sure, that the average income of the Clergy, if above 185l., was under 200l.
The Earl of Radnorsupposed, that the rev. Prelate last night included all the income of the Clergy; but he found now that he confined himself to tithes.
The Bishop of Londonsaid, that he had taken into calculation the one-third of the value of ecclesiastical leases; but, as the maintenance of Curates was to be deducted, it would be found that his calculation was correct.