and some provision might be made
for the residence and maintenance of his curate in the single case
of absence with the bishop's licence, from _extreme necessity_ of
sickness). When the living amounted to L70 or upwards, he would
have the choice, as at present, of residing, or finding some legal
excuse for non-residence; but in the latter case he would be
obliged to provide a curate _constantly_ resident. And in both
cases proper certificates of residence would be required to be
produced to the _visitants_.

The hardship, whatever it was, which this regulation would bring on
the body of the clergy at large (I do not speak of particular
cases), would be amply compensated by the addition which the
Legislature would thus make to the smaller livings; and the expense
of this last measure would be much more than compensated to the
public, by the benefit which must arise from the constant residence
of a clergyman in every parish throughout the kingdom.

By what I have called _stated duties_ above, I mean, that from
these resident clergymen, who would no longer have the plea of
other duty to perform, I would certainly exact, by enumeration,
many points of their duty (evening service, catechism, visitation
of sick, and other points), which are now growing, or grown into
disuse.

You would much oblige me by your ideas on these points. On the
first I have been told that it is no more, or little more, than the
law as it now exists. All I can say is, that I am sure it is not
the practice as it now exists; and that this is not the only case
where it has been found to be highly useful to re-enact, with small
variation, the existing law, in order to call the attention and
excite the zeal, both of those who are to execute the law, and of
those who are to obey it.

You are not, I am very certain, one of those extremely profound
politicians who have, among other happy discoveries of this age,
found out that the religion of the people has no influence on its
morals, or its morals on the prosperity and good government of the
State. You will not, therefore, think that an attention to this
subject is either unbecoming Government and Parliament, or is ill
suited to such a moment as the present.

God bless you, my dear brother.

Ever most affectionate